Partner Update - Somerset Council
The recent Storm Goretti promoted a conversation in the Emergency Planning Team about what sort of things we keep at home in order to be prepared for emergencies including bad weather.
It turned out that most of us had the basics of an emergency kit including non-perishable food, bottled water, torches and first aid kit etc. But everyone thought of something extra to add for the winter eg wind up radio, stock of essential medicines, power bank - and a manual can opener!
What you can do
Check your household readiness. Do you have a working torch? Head torches are best as they leave your hands free. Think about picking up a few extra cans of food for the kitchen cupboard. And what about needs of vulnerable family members and pets?
Here’s a link to the Somerset Prepared website for advice and suggestions and a “household plan on a page” PP-Plan-on-a-Page.pdf
Here’s the link to the UK Government recommended list for a home emergency kit: Get prepared for emergencies - Prepare
Top tips for starting an emergency food stockpile
• Think long life, non-perishable food
• Add one or two items a week, if you don’t want to bust your budget
• Take advantage of multi buy offers like ‘buy one, get one free’
• Switch to own-brands and value range items to keep costs down
• If kitchen space is tight, keep a few cans under the bed or at the bottom of your wardrobe
• Rotate stocks to stop food going off, pulling items with the shortest dates to the front
• When you use something from the stockpile, replace it next time you go shopping
• Think about storage, for example keeping flour in a tightly sealed container
• Set aside space in your freezer. Consider keeping some essentials handy, like a sliced loaf, frozen peas,
• Choose items your family will actually eat. No point storing lentils or quinoa if your loved ones won’t touch them
• Even without an emergency, these supplies could all come in handy for a self-catering holiday or last minute camping trip
Essential items for an emergency food stockpile - What would you include?
• Porridge oats
• Cereal
• Powdered milk or long life milk
• Long life fruit juice
• Tea
• Coffee
• Hot chocolate
• Rice
• Pasta
• Flour
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Baking powder
• Honey
• Peanut butter
• Tinned beans, like baked beans or kidney beans
• Chickpeas
• Lentils
• Tinned tomatoes
• Tinned fish like tuna, salmon and sardines
• Tinned meat
• Tinned potatoes
• Tinned fruit, like peaches, grapefruit, pears or pineapple
• Dried fruit like raisins or apricots
• Curry paste
• Pesto
• Tomato puree
• Stock cubes
• Spices and flavours like chilli powder and soy sauce
• Cooking oil
• Salt and pepper
