FEMA and other federal and state agencies play an important role in major disaster recovery, but who has boots on the ground first? It’s the community and the local non-profits who know the area and have a vested interest in its survival and recovery. Crystal Beach churches and their congregations have been quick to respond with immediate assistance not just for hurricanes, floods, and fires, but also for personal disasters. Crystal Beach Community Church provides local outreach programs including Disaster Assistance, a Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, Medical Support, Mental Health Counseling and many more. The presentation will be at the church Tuesday June 23rd at 5 pm. It’s open to everyone and there’s no charge. Bring a copy of “Disaster Prepping For Dummies” and the author will donate $10 per book in your name to support the church’s community outreach programs. We’ll also have local experts that can answer questions from homesteading to self-defense law.
Here’s a quick disaster preparation food tip. Following a disaster with long term loss of power, water and grocery stores, fat is actually your friend. During a major disaster, dieting and improving your cholesterol isn’t the goal. The goal is to get by with limited access to grocery stores. Fat has significant advantages in this situation.
1) Fat carries more than twice as many calories per pound as carbohydrates or protein. You can store more calories per cubic foot, which is important when your pantry is your grocery store.
2) Carbohydrates often contain fiber, which is normally a good thing. However, fiber produces more solid waste, which can be a bad thing if you have limited water to flush toilets, not to mention toilet paper.
3) Simple carbohydrates spike blood sugar, which often overcorrects to low blood sugar making us hungry sooner. Fats and proteins don’t spike blood sugar which slows hunger.
4) The combination of higher calories with a longer time between hunger reduces consumption and extends our food supply.
Here are a couple quick examples. The first is the much-maligned Spam. It’s a compact, high-fat, high-protein food with a long storage life. This is true of most canned meats like fish and chicken. Macadamia nuts and walnuts are also good sources of mono-unsaturated fats (the good fats). The book covers more many more food options that are also good for long-term storage.
Disaster Prepping For Dummies won’t be available for purchase at the talk, but it is available online and in most bookstores. The author will be happy to sign books if desired and will donate for every copy, even extras for friends and family. Digital versions qualify too.
