Whether you’re worried about surviving a zombie apocalypse, a natural disaster, or maybe even a layoff and loss of income, being prepared is important. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, in order to fulfill all of our human needs we must have our most basic needs met first. It can be easy in this high-paced society, where most of our basic needs such as food, shelter, and water are readily provided, to forget how important and necessary these needs are.
Because these basic needs are met, we are commonly more focused on needs higher up in the hierarchy, such as self-esteem, love, and relationship needs. While these are important and shouldn’t be neglected, it’s important to take a step back and recognize and prepare to meet our most basic needs. After all a pyramid can’t balance upside down, it needs a strong base to support it. Think of basic food and water storage as a secure foundation you can rely on in times of uncertainty.
Where to Begin
Being prepared and having food storage can be a daunting task, so where should you start? Storing food and water doesn’t have to be a monumental task. One easy way to store water is to reuse your two-liter bottles and fill them with water. Store these bottles full of water in your basement or a cool place, and you’ll have a small storage of water that can be used for cooking, drinking, or sanitary needs in an emergency. You can also purchase large water barrels in order to store greater amounts of water. When purchasing food for your food storage focus on buying foods in bulk that can be stored for years at a time. Always remember to replenish your food storage when it expires so when the time comes, it is fresh and not past its expiration.
Grow a Garden
Another great way to be prepared is to grow your own fruits and vegetables in a garden. The produce can be canned for future use and added to your normal diet. Those canned fruits and vegetables can last up to a year and will offer great variety to your diet while living off of food storage. By growing your own fruits and vegetables every summer you can replenish your canned food source yearly. Not only is growing your own fruits and vegetables healthy, but in a time of crisis growing your own fresh food will be an invaluable resource.
Life’s Necessities
72-hour kits are also an important part of disaster preparation. A basic 72-hour kit includes a change of clothes and underwear, nonperishable food items to last for three days, and personal hygiene items such as a toothbrush, soap, feminine hygiene items, etc. Most 72-hour kits are stored in backpacks or bags that can be easily taken with you if you need to move locations quickly. Other important items for your kit are essential medications, and a store of cash. While making your 72-hour kit, think of your most basic needs and make sure that the most important are filled. Focus on which items are essential to your survival. Having a 72-hour kit can give peace of mind knowing that you have all of your basic needs stored collectively in one easily accessible place.
So what?
The modern world has seen many advancements. Gone are the days where most people spent their time working on a farm and building up their food store for the winter, Today the average person works at a corporate job for 40 hours a week in order to buy their food and make their mortgage payment. While these advancements are in no way bad, it’s important to realize that the world can change in an instant. One day, making a trip to the grocery store to buy food could no longer be an option. The best thing we can do now is prepare. If things do take a turn for the worst, we can be ready to take care of all our basic needs.