Hurricane season in the United States runs from June 1st  through November 30th. I usually get supplies in early June and put them in a plastic container under the bed to hide them from my chickens. For some reason, they love to steal the Hurricane supplies.

You can get a comprehensive list of recommended supplies suggested by the Department of Homeland Security here. In this post, I will focus on the food we stash in our house just in case a hurricane comes our way. This list is designed for three people and a little dog for three days with no electricity, and it can be modified according to the size of your family.

Days before an imminent storm, try to cook and eat the food you have in the freezer. If the electricity goes during the storm and the fridge goes dead, the food will spoil. Following is our basic food kit. You can use any brand you favour; this is just how we roll. Remember that this is not about nutrition. It is about surviving without a fridge for three days.

• 12 bottles of Zephyrhills Spring water, like the one pictured. I like these because they stack and take up less storage space.

• 9 cans of salmon.

• 9 cans of Vienna sausages.

• 6 cans of Chef Boyardee ravioli or whatever flavours you like.

• Fresh fruit (bananas, apples, pears, etc.). Not too much in case the electricity goes kaput.

• Canned fruit.

• One or 2 boxes of CapriSun juices.

• Ducales crackers because they taste so good and are very crunchy and delicious, even on their own.

• Ketchup and mustard, which you most likely have in your pantry already.

• 1 or 2 cans of butane gas to use with your wok, assuming you have a wok and gas stove, which have served me well in the past.

• 1 bag of dry dog food. Remember dry-in, dry-out, wet-in, wet-out. It will be wet enough outside, no need for runny dog caca inside the house at this time.

• Paper plates, plastic utensils, kitchen paper and garbage bags

• The biggest bottle of Vodka you can afford to keep the parents calm. You can substitute with your poison of choice – wine, beer, whisky, and bourbon. Whatever.  Keep away from children and dog.

 

Suggested Hurricane Menus

Breakfast – Vienna Sausages with ketchup. Box of juice. Fresh fruit.

Lunch –  Salmon mixed with a little ketchup and mustard to make a spread. Crackers. Canned or fresh fruit. Box of juice. Vodka for Mommy, in moderation, to calm the nerves because of lack of air conditioning and constant and inevitable proximity with two female teenagers and a dog

Dinner – Chef Boyardee, straight out of the can if there is no way to warm it. Juice. Fruit.

*Doggie gets his dried food and water *

I mentioned the wok because if you have one with a gas stove, you can give your family a warm meal even if you do not have electricity. Always a treat when your regular stove is out-of-order.

As usual, I am hoping that we do not get attacked by a hurricane this year. If we do, we will be at least well-fed if there is still a roof over our head.