PREPARING against a financial/catastrophic crisis - SURVIVAL TIPS

[Abigail]

RRuth, I was so glad to see that your family made it through this storm OK. Don't feel bad, with all my talk about what Katrina taught me, I'm not nearly as organized as I should be either. My preps are all over the place and even packed away beneath a mountain of boxes because we're in the process of relocating out of this area. This in the middle of hurricane season. I'm disgusted with myself about this, too.

Still, I think the Lord uses these near-misses for the good of those of us who seek him. I'm learning many small lessons about this all the time. The thing is, everyone's circumstances are unique, so there is no one perfect formula to follow with respect to prepping.

For example, your experience with utility "customer service" reps just reinforces the lessons of Katrina. We can't count on "official" channels to help us in widespread disasters. We've paid dearly for our modern conveniences with more than just $$$$. We've paid with losing the knowledge and ability to be self-sufficient. I think the price is too high...

Amen about counting your blessings, too. We're not only way too dependent upon "official channels" for supplies and disaster relief, we're all spoiled too! Another good thing we all were reminded of with your experiences during this latest storm. Thanks for sharing.

Abigail

[JC Refuge]

Hello all. First post here.

I own Safecastle LLC, a crisis preparedness provider. I noted that we had been getting a good amount of traffic to our site from this thread. Earlier one of our buyers club members had posted a link here to our club store, mentioning our emergency storage food.

I don't intend to "sell" anything here, as I believe that is against the forum rules. But I WILL point out what it is we are about ...

Safecastle Royal is a buyers club where our members get 20% or more off everything in our store AND free shipping. You do the math, you'll be very hard pressed to find better deals out there, period.

Our biggest seller in the club is Mountain House food--in cans, it stores for 30years. It's lightweight and delicious--the biggest seller in the world in the preparedness marketplace. They are raising prices for the first time in 6 years on September 1. So we are giving our members a last shot at some great prices--giving them 25% off every Mountain House listing and free shipping to the lower 48.

The membership is a one-time $19 fee--good for a lifetime of buying. Let me know if you have questions.

Vic

www.safecastleroyal.com

[RRuth]

Hello all. First post here.

I own Safecastle LLC, a crisis preparedness provider. I noted that we had been getting a good amount of traffic to our site from this thread.

Vic

www.safecastleroyal.com


Welcome Vic! I will most definitey check out your website.

I wanted to point out that the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing on our list should be: Having our hearts right with God.

Like unexpected blackouts, Christ could arrive TODAY, or at midnight.

[RRuth]

Tonight, my husband has agreed to join me on shopping for provisions. We have decided on purchasing enough water/food to last our family for 3 weeks. Preferably more, but we figured we'll add on, as we get a chance. We're filling up our gas tanks as well, and I'm searching for those flashlights and candles NOW (That I couldn't find in yesterday's blackout!) ;-)

[tygerkittn]

Hello,

The first link you provided won't go through.

I was hoping to find information on SHELF LIFE of items that are labeled as EXPIRED. I'm hoping to stock and save food items for YEARS, not 6-months at a time. Also, since I'm cleaning out my pantry and cabinets, I don't want to be wasting/tossing "expired" food that I can REALLY keep around longer.

For example, I ALMOST tossed out my new bottle of Helms Mayo. It expired in 2005, but someone here posted that it could last for YEARS.

Thanks for any information!

Ruth

Hey,
I posted a link to this website in an earlier post, here's some of the expiration dates (Like I said they're a little conservative, they say one year for a can of tuna and my tuna has an exp date 2 years from now! On a lot of things, ketchup, mustard, etc they're good indefinitely but the taste chages
# Brown sugar

Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

# Chocolate (Hershey bar)

1 year from production date

# Coffee, canned ground

Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

# Coffee, gourmet

Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

# Coffee, instant

Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

# Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)

Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

# Dried pasta

12 months

# Frozen dinners

Unopened: 12 to 18 months

# Frozen vegetables

Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

# Honey

Indefinite shelf life

# Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)

Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

# Ketchup

Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Maple syrup, real or imitation

1 year

# Maraschino cherries

Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

# Marshmallows

Unopened: 40 weeks
Opened: 3 months

# Mayonnaise

Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Mustard

2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)



# Olives, jarred (green with pimento)

Unopened: 3 years
Opened: 3 months

# Olive oil

2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Peanuts

Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated
Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container

# Peanut butter, natural

9 months

# Peanut butter, processed (Jif)

Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

# Pickles

Unopened: 18 months
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.
# Protein bars (PowerBars)

Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package.

# Rice, white

2 years from date on box or date of purchase

# Salad dressing, bottled

Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date
Opened: 9 months refrigerated

# Soda, regular

Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected

# Steak sauce

33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Tabasco

5 years, stored in a cool, dry place

# Tea bags (Lipton)

Use within 2 years of opening the package

# Tuna, canned

Unopened: 1 year from purchase date
Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

# Soy sauce, bottled

Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 3 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Vinegar

42 months

# Wine (red, white)

Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines
Opened: 1 week refrigerated and corked

# Worcestershire sauce

Unopened: 5 to 10 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened: 2 years

[Maximilian]

Hello all. First post here.

I own Safecastle LLC, a crisis preparedness provider. I noted that we had been getting a good amount of traffic to our site from this thread. Earlier one of our buyers club members had posted a link here to our club store, mentioning our emergency storage food.

I don't intend to "sell" anything here, as I believe that is against the forum rules. But I WILL point out what it is we are about ...

Safecastle Royal is a buyers club where our members get 20% or more off everything in our store AND free shipping. You do the math, you'll be very hard pressed to find better deals out there, period.

Our biggest seller in the club is Mountain House food--in cans, it stores for 30years. It's lightweight and delicious--the biggest seller in the world in the preparedness marketplace. They are raising prices for the first time in 6 years on September 1. So we are giving our members a last shot at some great prices--giving them 25% off every Mountain House listing and free shipping to the lower 48.

The membership is a one-time $19 fee--good for a lifetime of buying. Let me know if you have questions.

Vic

www.safecastleroyal.com

Hi ya Vic!
I bought a bunch from you the other day.
Good to see we hang out at some of the same web forums.

Tree of Liberty is the other forum
Keep the screen name a secret...:thumb

I posted a link to your place for peopple to buy here and at a few other places.
Trying to tell as many as possible to start stocking up!

[dramama]

I just wanted to post a warning about using veterinary medicines on humans....Please make sure it's made in america at least!!! I have read articles and seen reports about chinese veterinary medicines (which flood the american market) being of sub-prime quality and containing toxins....

[Abigail]

Abigail,

Hurricane Dean is now a category 3. According to the computer models, it is headed STRAIGHT for the gulf. It may hit you or me direct. ARE you getting things ready for another "Katrina?" I will pray for your family.

Tonight, my husband has agreed to join me on shopping for provisions. We have decided on purchasing enough water/food to last our family for 3 weeks. Preferably more, but we figured we'll add on, as we get a chance. We're filling up our gas tanks as well, and I'm searching for those flashlights and candles NOW (That I couldn't find in yesterday's blackout!) ;-)

Ruth

Ruth, Thanks so much for the prayers; I'll be praying that we BOTH get spared, OK? Guess we need to pray for the Lord's protection for whomever it DOES hit, too.

From what you've said, you're on high ground, so flooding isn't a concern for you. In my opinion, that's a great place to be in; our entire region is on low ground; we're only a few feet above sea level and only a few miles from Lake Ponchartrain. The only reason we didn't flood during Katrina was the location/angle/windspeed of the storm when it made landfall. Big trees around the house too, and the fact that these things spawn tornadoes that don't care what the altitude of your house is...so it's just dangerous to stay.

Therefore, my choice is ALWAYS evacuation; the rest is just stuff. With that said, I'll put as much "stuff" high up in attic or at least high shelves as possible. That tactic didn't work for all areas during Katrina, but it's the best we can do to salvage critical food/supplies, short of hiring a truck and hauling it out, which is tough to pull off.

One thing I didn't notice you mention; I'd suggest several 5 gallon red gas cans; I had ONE prior to Katrina; Ten now. Gives me more than two whole fillups in addition to what's in my vehicle. What with what happened to Houston during the Rita evac, I think it's prudent. Those cans were nowhere to be found at any price after Katrina. Even if you DON'T fill them up, I can guarantee you'll be glad you have several empty ones when out scouting for gas, burning gas as you go...they're relatively inexpensive too, and never go bad. They're good "insurance" to safely store/transport critical fuel.

I plan on filling mine tomorrow, and getting more cash from the bank. Cash/Gas was something I didn't do timely enough last time, and got caught with the crowds during the evac as a consequence! Just need to top off on on our supply of individual water bottles, AA batteries, bleach, TP. We've gone a little too deeply into the preps for regular use on those items. That's a really short list, and easy to get NOW.

Yeah, I've got "holes" everywhere in the food stocks, but nothing we couldn't do without, or work around. We plan on "eating up" the perishables over the weekend so there's no waste if we lose power. I don't have a separate freezer, and during hurricane season we don't load up the side-by-side to the max, for just this reason.

Blessings, Abigail

[Abigail]

Hey Tygerkittn, thanks for the post on shelf life of these common staples! Good to know how much to get to avoid waste in any given area, too.

Abigail

[tygerkittn]

Hey Tygerkittn, thanks for the post on shelf life of these common staples! Good to know how much to get to avoid waste in any given area, too.

Abigail

You're welcome! I'll be praying for ya'll through hurricane season!