Survival Food - Freeze Dried & MRE

The ReadyStore is having 5% off sale on survival emergency kits.

There are 24 different kits including kits especially for hurricane preparedness (see list below).

No date is given as to when the emergency kit sale will end.

Make sure you enter discount code “KITSALE” at checkout.

Here is a list;
ULTIMATE Disaster/Hurricane Survival Kit - 2 PERSON

Prepare early! This kit is designed for hurricane prone areas. This kit contains many of the essential items…
Save:     $31.36

ReadyBOTTLE Emergency Kit - 1 PERSON

Talk about portable! You\\\’ll be able to bring this compact READY Bottle Emergency Kit with you anywhere. Makes a…
Save:     $6.88

ULTIMATE Ready Evac Kit - 4 PERSON

Our most complete kit! You can have the peace-of-mind and security you want during an emergency knowing that your…
Save:     $174.69

DELUXE 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

This is a terrific kit for one person! You?ll have all of the food, water, shelter, warmth, light you?ll need for…
Save:     $16.47

Grab-N-Go Economy Personal 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Our Grab-N-Go ECONOMY Personal 72-HOUR KIT works great for people on a budget. Perfect for students or those…
Save:     $9.19

Sanitation & Hygiene Add-On Kit - 5-PERSON

Avoid illness during a disaster with good hygiene. When there\\\’s no plumbing available, this Portable Sanitation…
Save:     $7.51

DELUXE Emergency Bucket Kit - 5 PERSON

Our 5 Person Shelter in Place 72 Hour Kit is great for the workplace, classroom or home. Everything is packed in a 6…
Save:     $41.58

ULTIMATE Ready Evac Kit - 2 PERSON

Our most complete 2 person kit! You can have the peace-of-mind and security you want during an emergency knowing…
Save:     $98.35

ULTIMATE Ready Evac Kit - 1 PERSON

Our most complete kit/! You can have the peace-of-mind and security you want during an emergency knowing that you…
Save:     $71.09

ULTIMATE Auto Emergency Survival Kit

This Ultimate Auto Emergency Survival kit is great for every vehicle! It includes all of the essential items…
Save:     $27.87

DELUXE All-In-One Survival Kit - 1 PERSON

Our new One Person All-In-One? 72 Hour Emergency Kit gives you one kit for any situation: a quick evacuation or…
Save:     $30.36

DELUXE Emergency Bucket Kit - 20 PERSON

FREE Shipping! Provides food, water, warmth, sanitation, light, communication, first aid & more for 20 people…
Save:     $97.51

DELUXE Emergency Bucket Kit - 10 PERSON

FREE Shipping! This kit comes with two 5 gallon buckets with Port-A-Potty lids that are stuffed full of…
Save:     $67.03

BASIC Adult 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Our BASIC 72 HOUR KIT is your first step in emergency preparedness. If you\\\’re on a budget, but still want the…
Save:     $4.43

BASICplus Adult 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Our Adult BASIC PLUS 72 HOUR KIT is a great starter kit. It works great for kids as well. Includes all Basic Kit…
Save:     $6.01

High Rise Evac Kit - 1 PERSON

Includes 1 water pouch, 1 dust mask, 1 whistle with lanyard, 1 lightstick, 3 bandaids, 2 non-aspirin pain relievers,…
Save:     $0.82

Student/Child\’s BASIC 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Perfect for Elementary Schools, Day Care Centers, and Pre-Schools! Each kit is packed in a heavy duty ziplock bag…
Save:     $4.03

DELUXE Family 72 Hour Kit - 4 PERSON

\”\\\”\” FEATURES…
Save:     $38.77

DELUXE Auto Emergency Survival Kit

Essential supplies for your car. Don\\\’t get caught unprepared! Kit Includes: 2400 Calorie Food Bar 9 - 4.2…
Save:     $14.84

DELUXE 72 Hour Kit - 2 PERSON

Our 2 Person 72 Hour Kits give you all of the essential items needed to survive the first 72 hours of an emergency….
Save:     $21.82

DELUXE All-In-One Survival Kit - 4 PERSON

2 - 6 Gallon Bucket 2 - Toilet Seat 2 - Backpack 2 - Toilet Bags (12 packs) 2 - Toilet Chemical 4 - 3600 Cal…
Save:     $62.51

DELUXE All-In-One Survival Kit - 2 PERSON

1 - 6 Gallon Bucket 1 - Toilet Seat 1 - Backpack 1 - Toilet Bags (12 packs) 1 - Toilet Chemical 2 - 3600 Cal…
Save:     $37.31

Child\’s 72 Hour Kit - 1 PERSON

Works great as a supplement for young children (under 12 years old). Even young children, including infants, should…
Save:     $7.69

RESCUE V Evac Kit - 1 PERSON

The RESCUE V EVAC KIT provides enough food, water, and emergency supplies for 72 hours. Relief Agencies such as FEMA…
Save:     $14.03

The American Red Cross provides a list of items for survival backpacks, however few have taken the time to make one. (see their page for Survival Kit list)

I am wondering how many prefer to make their own rather than buying a 72 hour kit with most of the items in it. If people say they will make their own, do they actually get around to doing it?

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72 Hour Survival Kits

Having a good 72 hour survival kit ready at all times can be make a huge difference in the event of an emergency or disaster. One backpack can carry all you need if you pack the right items in it.

Rather than having one 2-person kit or one large four-person kit, I recommend getting 2-3 one person kits that you keep in each car and at home. You never know where you will be when you need them so I believe this is the best strategy.

The best one person kit I could find is the Executive 72 hour survival kit with solar radio upgrade.

This kit contains;

• Premium Quality Water Resistant Nylon Backpack
  with padded Shoulder Straps
• Heavy-Duty Tube Tent Shelter
• Deluxe Knucklemender™ 60 item First-Aid Kit
• 5 Year Shelf-Life Cookie Flavored Food Rations
• 5 Year U.S. Coast Guard Water Rations
• Emergency Space® Blankets
• 36 Hour Light/Heat Candle
• Protective Leather Gloves & Dust Masks
• Quality AM/FM Radio

CONTENTS INCLUDES:

Warmth & Shelter
• 2 - Compact Emergency USA Made Space® Blankets
• 1 - Deluxe Heavy-Duty Tube Tent
• 2 - Emergency Rain/Wind Ponchos

Cooking, Heating, & Light
• 1 - 36 hr. Emergency Candle
• 1 - Industrial “AA” Size Flashlight with Batteries
• 2 - Pair of Hand/Pocket Warmer Heat-Paks
• 1 - 12 hr. Instant Lightstick
• 1 - Box of Waterproof Matches (45 matches)

Water & Hygiene Items
• 24 - Purified Drinking Water Pouches (4.2 ounces each)
• 18 - Wet-Wipe Packets
• 2 - Compact Sanitation/Toilet Toilet Rolls
• 2 - Disposable Sanitation Bags

First-Aid
• 1 - 60 Item Knuckle Mender II™ First Aid Kit w/ Instruction Book

Food Items
• 2 - 3600 Calorie Cookie Tasting Ration Bars
• 1 - Bag of Survival Candy
• 6 - E-mer’gen-C® Energy Drink Packets

Miscellaneous
• 1 - Premium Heavy Duty Nylon Backpack
• 1 - 15-Function Swiss Army Style Pocket Knife
• 1 - Deluxe AM/FM Radio Flashlight w/ Batteries
• 1 - Emergency Survival Whistle
• 1 - 50′ Nylon Cord
• 1 - Pair of Leather Gloves (for digging through or clearing debris)
  or hand warming in cold weather
• 1 - Writing Pad, Pencil, and Ink Pen
• 1 - Deck of Playing Cards (time occupier for kids & adult at shelter or
  if stuck at work or school. Helps time pass much faster).
• 2 - N95 Hospital Grade Dust Masks

This is kit is available at Nitro-pak for $154.99 at the time of this post.

* Emergency Indentification Cards

Here is a good idea that is recommended by the American Safety and Health Institute;
EMERGENCY Preparedness Notification Cards - EMERGENCY Notification Cards for emergency preparedness and peace of mind.

What is the better choice for survival food? How do MRE, Freeze Dried Food (FDF), or storing canned food and bulk grains from the super market compare?

Below I have scored the options for disaster survival food against these factors;

• storage life
• storage space
• preparation time
• taste
• cost (per meal).

The scoring goal is to have an objective calculation. However the ratings are my subjective opinions, and are based on the facts and information I have been reporting in this blog. I have also added a second level score with a weight for each factor. Again, this is my opinion about the factor’s relative importance to a survival food strategy.

The weighted score total for the survival food options is out of 10.

It is also important to note that the scoring was based on a required food supply that will last 6 weeks to 3 months.

MRE would rate better in a 72 hour survival kit comparison with mobility and easy to heat as factors.

Here are the scores;

You can see that based on the way I have scored and weighted Freeze Dried Food is the superior choice especially for longer term preparedness of 6 weeks to 3 months. Since you may have different opinions you can evaluate the score and weight outlined here. I will add a poll shortly to get everyone’s opinion on the ratings for each of the factors and the factor weights. Then we can look at the results.

In the meantime I have also posted a link to the original excel file so you can change the weights and scoring your self as you wish and see the results. Here is the file link;

Excel File with Survival Food Scoring Calculations

Camping Survival.com Now Offers Over 20K Products Including MRE and Emergency Survival Kits

From wildfires to hurricanes or any number of other natural phenomena, disaster can strike no matter where you live. In some cases, you’ll be required to leave your home with only moments to spare. In other situations, you might have to take refuge inside your home and survive for days or weeks without essential services, such as water, gas and electricity. Because of this, emergency supplies are becoming mainstream commodities for disaster preparedness. In fact, the American Red Cross recommends assembling an emergency supplies kit containing water, MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) (http://www.campingsurvival.com/mreskits.html) , a first aid kit, clothing and bedding. They also suggest storing a tent, sleeping bags, mess kits, fire extinguisher, can opener, rain gear, and a map of the area for locating shelters.

“Nobody can forget the images of the people in New Orleans walking across the bridges to get away from the flooding,” said Tom Sciacca, President of Camping Survival.com. “More recently, we’ve seen the catastrophic effect of tornadoes. In a situation where you have to get out of your home quickly, an emergency supplies kit will be your best friend.”

The American Red Cross recommendations include a minimum three-day supply of food that requires no refrigeration or cooking. This can be ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables. MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) - a staple of US military and rescue operations - is another popular way to provide food supplies. MRE is convenient for also, as it’s pre-cooked and ready to eat from the pouch.

“The modern MRE is light years beyond the old military rations,” Sciacca explained. “The MRE we carry at CampingSurvival.com are available in a variety of flavors, including Beef Ranchero Meat Loaf, Jamaican Pork Chop, Chicken with Cavatelli and Black Bean and Rice Burrito. The MRE are not just entrees, but full meals, including side dishes, dessert, crackers, spread and coffee. MRE will ensure you and your family are fed while others are stampeding supermarket shelves in the aftermath of a disaster.”

The Red Cross guidelines also call for a minimum of a three-day supply of water available for each person. The recommend you compile a first aid kit (http://www.campingsurvival.com/firstaidkits.html) with bandages, antiseptic wipes, small scissors and latex gloves. Keep the most crucial items you are likely to need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container like a large, covered trash container, camping backpack, or duffle bag.

“In an emergency, you can never count on being able to find safe, drinkable water,” said Sciacca. “Bottled water is fine until you run out - will you be able to find more A water filter system (http://www.campingsurvival.com/watpur.html) is a long-term way to ensure safe water for your family.

With all the emergency supplies you could conceivably put into your emergency kit, you could spend an eternity shopping for the necessary items. Sciacca says that the easiest way is to purchase a high quality ”

Camping Survival.com Now Offers Over 20K Products Including MRE and Emergency Survival Kits

Disaster Survival Solutions Announces One-Stop Earthquake Relief Kits So Bay Area Families Can Be Ready and Safe For the Next Big One — With Just One Click

The QR Center is a customized, comprehensive personal Earthquake Relief Center. Minutes after a natural disaster occurs, an entire family can have a secure, warm, lit shelter with a week of food and water.

San Fransisco (Vocus/PRWEB ) January 22, 2008 — As California recovers from the year’s first big storms, residents might be readying for the next big weather event. One thing they should be more concerned about is whether they are properly prepared today for the next big earthquake, which could happen tomorrow — even during a major storm. Disaster Survival Solutions, a company located just miles from the epicenter of the 1906 earthquake, has taken all the guesswork out of earthquake preparedness and is now delivering and installing the QR Center for Bay Area residents.

The Quake Relief Center is a complete earthquake kit, housed in a durable weatherproof deck box, and designed to be located directly outside the home. It contains everything needed to be self-sufficient after a big quake, along with a personalized disaster action plan. Also available is a yearly maintenance service that includes an annual inspection, refresh of all perishable items in the kit, and an update of the personal disaster action plan. With QR Center, just minutes after a natural disaster occurs, Bay Area residents can be sure they will have a secure, warm, sheltered environment with lighting, hygiene essentials, and a week’s supply of food and water. The QR Center offers one-stop, comprehensive disaster relief not available elsewhere.

But they will resemble a shoe box filled with broken glass, debris, broken plaster and slippery liquids. And that box will be shaken again with each aftershock, causing even more damage. You won’t want to be living inside that house for hours, let alone a week — and it will be days to a week before vital services such as water, electricity, and gas service are restored.

“When the next big earthquake hits, our customers will be heading out the back door to open their QR Center, assured that everything they will need for at least seven days’ survival is ready and waiting. Meanwhile, those without the resources included in a QR Center will be heading out their front door in search of shelter, supplies, water and food,” says Chris McCloy, founder of Disaster Survival Solutions. “The QR Center is available for immediate delivery and provides complete peace of mind. It provides assurance that a family of up to seven people, plus pets, will have the food, water, shelter, sanitation and hygiene essentials, communication tools, and first-aid supplies they need to be self-sufficient until other resources become available.”

The QR Center is sold in various sizes from 2-person through 7-person. All kits include everything needed to survive outside the home for up to a week as well as the Quake Relief Plan — comprehensive binders that contain step-by-step instructions for before, during and after an earthquake. One binder is stored inside the box, and a second binder is kept inside the home. Copies of vital emergency contact information are printed on small cards that can be stored in wallets, purses, and children’s backpacks. Survival kits for cats and dogs are also available.

After a significant earthquake, McCloy says that many houses will still be standing and possibly even structurally sound. “But they will resemble a shoe box filled with broken glass, debris, broken plaster and slippery liquids. And that box will be shaken again with each aftershock, causing even more damage. You won’t want to be living inside that house for hours, let alone a week — and it will be days to a week before vital services such as water, electricity, and gas service are restored.”

About Disaster Survival Solutions
Disaster Survival Solutions provides the resources families need to sustain themselves for a week or more during a major disaster. The company delivers, installs, and maintains customized QR Centers supplied with the highest-quality provisions. Company experts also provide customers quarterly enewsletters full of timely information about how to protect their families during a catastrophic event. Disaster Survival Solutions is committed to its customers’ safety and wellbeing, and is 100% focused on ensuring its customers and their families get prepared and stay prepared in earthquake country. On the web at www.qrcenter.com.