Jul 19 2008
Pandemic Flu - Food Preparedeness
Awareness of the need for pandemic flu preparedness came 2 years ago when the risk of a pandemic outbreak from the avian flu virus (H5N1) escalated.
Fortunately, a flu pandemic did not materialize and the risk has abated somewhat.
However there is always that risk present as there were 3 pandemic outbreaks that occurred in the last century. And present conditions, even with the technology and medical knowledge available today, make the occurrence of a pandemic flu no less likely nor the impact less severe than in the past.
From a preparedness point of view what can we expect and plan for?
Here is a statement from the PandemicFlu.gov website;
A pandemic may come and go in waves, each of which can last for six to eight weeks.
An especially severe influenza pandemic could lead to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts can range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.
With possible reductions in the food supply and a general desire to limit your exposure to other people and thereby risk of infection it would be highly desirable to have a food reserve of up to even 3 months for you and your family.
While it may be tempting to think that you will have time to prepare if the threat escalates again in the future, the fact is many preparedness food options will quickly become difficult to obtain.
Recently with the awareness of food price increases and as well as the threat of food shortages, which for the US became somewhat exaggerated for a time in some circles, the result was survival food quickly went out of stock with long lead times of 6-8 weeks.
While the availability of freeze dried food in #10 cans has come down to 2-4 weeks lead time now, based on this recent experience you can imagine what will happen when a future pandemic flu threat escalates and starts to get more and more news coverage long before the actual pandemic occurs.
So why wait?
Freeze dried food reserves for 3 months can be had for as little as $2.90 per meal.
Published under Emergency Preparedness Advice, Pandemic Preparedness, Survival Food Preparedness in the News
The pandemic flu site also mentions in the section “Individual Planning” for individuals and families under the heading Be-Prepared;
“Store foods that:
* are nonperishable (will keep for a long time) and don’t require refrigeration
* are easy to prepare in case you are unable to cook
* require little or no water, so you can conserve water for drinking”
The survival foods that best meet these requirements are MRE and freeze dried food.
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Me and my daughter are taking precaution with this pandemic, because with her being around at least one thousand kids a day, she may get the flu. I would suggest wearing masks for the mouth and maybe eyes.
I think it’s a great idea to be prepared for a pandemic. My thought is what about the the people around you that did not take preparedness measures and have nothing if an event ever occurs… Do you turn your friends and people that live right next door to you with children away? I think we should set up community preparedness centers that can store the supplies for those folks who aren’t ready for such a disaster. I don’t anyone on my block that is even thinking about storing food and water. Most of them are just trying to get through these tough times.
Hi Bobby,
With a long term food reserve you can share with neighbors and friends in need as well as your relatives.
Unfortunately for a pandemic situation, the less social contact everyone has with each other the better. If we want to minimize social contact and the spread of the flu virus one way is for everyone to have enough food so they don’t need to shop every week or for even a month.
This is a problem as our inventory systems at food stores are designed to be just in time which is effective and profitable under normal business conditions. However if people need to stock up in an emergency they run out quickly and there are off and on shortages immediately. The more people who purchase long term food storage like freeze dried food, the better it will be for all.
Hopefully the swine flu threat subsides soon, and we can in the future all consider self preparedness a community responsibility.
I think being prepared is better than having something happen (like this flu possibly) and not having anything to eat when the grocery stores run out quickly. As for taking care of our neighbors: How does one do that. I am an older lady. None of my neighbors call me or check to see if I am alive. Do I owe them food when they read the signs of what may happen as well as I? I think not. I am a Christian and a giver
and I do believe in giving. But , at the time of a big disaster, I will try to figure out how to live, have enough good water and enough essentials for just me to survive. I think if we have children or Grandchildren living away that we need to make some plans if we should meet at that time and where. All that is a consideration as well.
Maybe it won’t be as bad as we think it could be. God knows and He can tell us in the still small voice what to do. Each individual may be doing different things at the time when this happens according to their circumstances.