Disasters are scary and affect us in many ways. To help reduce fear and anxiety, stay informed and on track with your disaster preparedness plan. Food is central to any plan.
The key to being safe is knowing what could happen in your area, so you can prepare basic food, hygiene and water supplies.
One disaster that emergency managers are gearing up for is the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.
Scientists say there is a 37% chance that a major earthquake will occur along the Oregon Coast sometime within the next 50 years. The earthquake is expected to come from a rupture of the 600-mile fault called the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The fault sits from 30 to 100 miles off the Pacific Coast and runs between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Northern California.
After the Cascadia earthquake, you will need a variety of healthy foods and nutrients to better manage the next steps in the disaster. Your brain will need to be well nourished and hydrated so you can keep calm, have an optimistic outlook and make good survival decisions for many days and weeks.
Immediate actions
When the earthquake shaking stops, grab your go bag and carefully exit the building. Those in tsunami or landslide areas need to move immediately to community Assembly Areas or other safe places at higher elevations. Stay there for at least 24 hours to avoid the risks of tsunami surges. Wait until after the surge risk has passed to unite with loved ones.
Once you are in a safe place, check for any injuries and conduct first-aid activities.
Before you try to re-enter your home, assess it from the outside. Take photos to document any damage for insurance or FEMA assistance. Then, if clear, take care re-entering, again taking photos of any damage you note, unless you can see it is unsafe. Avoid unnecessary risks. There likely will not be enough first responders to tend to all injuries. The safety of you and your family is a priority.
There will be many aftershocks over the next weeks and wave surges over the next 24 hours. After the disaster, keep updated on weather reports, supply distributions or other news through local emergency managers or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio broadcasts. NWR is an “All Hazards” radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information.
If your house is safe for re-entry, local emergency managers want you to “shelter in place” in your own home. You may be able to use perishable foods in the refrigerator for the next meal and access foods from the freezer for the next few days. Then, you will need to use the nonperishable food you have stocked for an emergency. If your home is in an expected tsunami zone or other high-hazard area, set up a two- to four-week food supply near your family’s evacuation meeting site.
Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and other organizations offer suggested supply lists, but there is no one size-fits-all. Every family has unique considerations: food preferences, nutritional needs, cooking equipment and skills.
Think nutrition, hydration and health
These tips to support optimal nutrition, adequate hydration and food safety will help ease your mind.
Avoid procrastination and denial to get your plan in place. A large earthquake could damage roads and bridges and cause landslides, blocking supply routes for weeks or months. Supply drops may begin in some areas within about three days for some of the most severely impacted regions.
Having routine meals with familiar foods will help improve moods and boost optimism. Balanced nourishment will help you take steps for recovery and rebuilding. Think about favorite, healthy meals your family enjoys. How can you include these in your emergency supply?
Menu and meal planning
There are many ways to plan meals. You can find helpful ideas for simple, inexpensive, menus at MyPlate.gov. MyPlate’s five food groups help you select foods for balanced meals; just pick foods from each group. Vary the colors of fruits and veggies for maximum nutrients, and think about the recommended daily servings for your meals and snacks.
Meal planning can be daunting, so start by planning for a short time span at first. Then reuse or vary the menu cycle moving forward. This will give you enough variety and nutrients to help you be at your best in stressful times. A manageable plan for novices includes meals for 72 hours, or three days. For more variety, some may want to make a plan for a full week and then replicate it. The minimum goal for the state is meals for two weeks, but many local emergency managers recommend four weeks’ supply. This ensures that you have enough food and water until community needs are assessed and supply drops can arrive for distribution.
Try to choose the healthiest options when available. Comfort foods are important to include, too. They can help keep spirits up.
Use MyPlate.gov or the app from your smart phone store, Start Simple with My Plate. Determine the number of servings and portion sizes for you and your family. These factors vary with age and activity level. After a disaster, survivors may have greatly increased outdoor activity levels. Download menu-planning sheets to help you develop menus and a shopping list. Print hard copies if you prefer.
A tip borrowed from those who plan meals in hurricane regions: Put your meal items for the first three days in labeled, paper shopping bags. Staple or tape the bags shut. Store them in waterproof crates labeled for each day. This can help keep family members from eating these supplies before a disaster. It will also help you establish mealtime routines more easily after the disaster. Regular mealtimes during stressful times can benefit all family members but especially children.
Plan for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
Remember special dietary considerations when planning. Tailor menus to the nutritional needs and preferences of your family. This is not the time to surprise young children with new foods. Save your menus in a watertight zip-style bag. This way, you can easily assemble your meals, even when you are highly stressed.
Try to choose foods from each food group for meals and snacks using the MyPlate planning tools. These suggested pantry items are organized by food group to give you ideas for a variety of tasty, nutrient-rich foods.
Water, preferably unflavored and unsweetened, is not in a food group, but it needs to be in your pantry. Water is essential for your health and wellness. Store at least 1 gallon per day per person (and pet). Half of that water is for drinking. The other half is for food preparation, hygiene and cleaning.
Sample breakfast menu
- Orange juice
- Ready-to-eat cereal or oatmeal
- Raisins
- Skim milk
- Tea, coffee or water
Sample snack
- Dried apples
- Nuts
- Water
Sample lunch menu
- Chunky beef and vegetable soup (ready-to-eat style)
- Crackers
- Fruit cup
- Vanilla wafers
- Milk
- Tea, coffee or water
Sample dinner menu
- Cheese
- Canned bean burrito or peanut butter and jam sandwich
- Three-bean salad (canned)
- Pudding cup
- Milk
- Tea, coffee or water
Choose foods from each food group
| Food group | Portion size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetables | 2½ cups | 1 cup counts as: 1 cup raw, frozen or cooked/canned vegetables; or 2 cups leafy salad greens; or 1 cup 100% vegetable juice |
| Fruits | 2 cups | 1 cup counts as: 1 cup raw, frozen or cooked/canned fruit; or ½ cup dried fruit; or 1 cup 100% fruit juice |
| Protein | 5½ ounces | 1 ounce counts as: 1 ounce cooked or canned lean meats, poultry, or seafood; or 1 egg; or 1 tablespoon peanut butter; or ¼ cup cooked beans or peas; or ½ ounce nuts or seeds |
| Grains | 6 ounces | 1 ounce counts as: 1 slice bread; or 1 ounce ready-to-eat cereal; or ½ cup cooked rice, pasta or cereal |
| Dairy | 3 cups | 1 cup counts as: 1 cup milk; or 1 cup yogurt; or 1 cup fortified soy beverage; or 1½ ounces natural cheese or 2 ounces processed cheese |
Vegetables group
Vary your veggies and make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
- Canned or single serving vegetables, soups or juices
- Canned three-bean salad
- Salsa
- Spaghetti sauce
- Dried vegetables
- Instant potato products
- Fresh root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, yams, onions and winter squash
- Vacuum-packed chips
Fruits group
Focus on whole fruits and make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
- Canned or single-serving fruit or fruit cups in its own juice
- Dried fruit
- 100% fruit juice
- Packaged raisins, apricots, cranberries, etc.
- Fruit cocktail
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Dried fruit drink mixes
- Fresh apples, oranges, and grapefruit
- Trail mix with fruit
Protein group
Vary your protein routine.
- Meat soups
- Canned tuna, ham, salmon, sardines, chili, corned beef hash, stews, ravioli
- Beans (kidney, lima, lentils, etc.)
- Peanut butter
- Bean spreads
- Nuts and seeds
- Beef or turkey jerky
- Vienna sausage
- Dried eggs
- Flavored gelatin for a warm drink
- Trail mix
Grains group
Make half your grains whole grains.
- Breakfast cereal
- Crackers
- Oatmeal
- Breakfast/nutrition bars
- Rice cakes
- Whole wheat or multigrain bread
- Taco shells
- Tortillas
- Vanilla wafers
- Bread sticks
- Muffins
- Dry pasta
- Graham crackers
- Pretzels
- Boston brown bread with raisins
- Melba toast
- Instant rice
Dairy group
Move to low-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt.
- Nonfat milk (powdered, canned or shelf-stable)
- Puddings
- Nutritional drinks
- Hot drink mixes like cocoa
- Processed cheese or cheese spread
- Cream soups
- Dried buttermilk
Extras
- Bottled water, instant iced tea, instant coffee, teabags, powdered drink mixes
- Jelly
- Small packets of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise
- Infant food and formula
- Food for special diets
- Staples like salt, pepper, favorite spices and herbs, sugar, honey, flour, baking powder and soda, creamers, soda pop, other bottled drinks
- Pet food
Water, preferably unflavored and unsweetened, is not in a food group, but it needs to be in your pantry. Water is essential for your health and wellness. Store at least 1 gallon per day per person (and pet). Half of that water is for drinking. The other half is for food preparation, hygiene and cleaning.
Tips for meal preparation
There are many styles and options for cooking equipment, some you may already have on hand. You may choose ready-to-eat products, but over time some home-cooked options can lift the spirit. You can find lightweight equipment and supplies at outdoor stores in the backpacking department. If using a Dutch Oven, spend some time practicing. If you’re cooking over an open flame, allow time for the burning materials to turn to coals for even cooking. Open flames are good for boiling water, but cooking with them usually results in burned food on the outside and undercooked food on the inside. Flames have less heat at higher elevations — you will need more fuel for cooking than you would at lower elevations.
After a disaster, keep updated on supply distributions of additional food, water and other supplies, weather reports, or other news through NOAA Weather Radio or other recommended sources from your local emergency manager.
What is your budget for additional food, water and supplies?
It can be overwhelming — and expensive — to try to stock up on emergency food and water supplies all at once. Add a little extra each time you shop and purchase items that are on sale to save money. Before you know it, you will have a significant supply stocked up. The amount of money you need will vary with the types of foods you choose, your family size and what you have on hand. Buy or store serving sizes that won’t need refrigeration once opened.
Shopping tips in times of disasters
Plan now and stock your pantry with foods that can be used in emergencies. Use coupons, watch for in-store sales and BOGOs (buy one, get one free) offers. Stock up before grocery shelves are empty.
Be proactive! Shop now and regularly to avoid last-minute panic and large crowds. Shop early when it is easier to avoid crowds. Spread costs over several weeks or months. Seasonally available foods are often of superior quality and cost less to preserve at home and use later.
Cooking supplies
Consider what kind of prepration, cooking or heating method you need for your menu plans. Make a list and gather the equipment and supplies: bowls, measuring cups and spoons, utensils, knives, sauce pans, griddles, stove, aluminum foil, tongs, thermometer, hot mitts, fuel, etc. Remember a can opener, unless you can manage the fold-out tool in a pocket knife. Include plates, bowls, cups and eating utensils. If you are using freeze-dried food, you will need more water to rehydrate and digest it.
Cleaning supplies
Include hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, paper or reusable towels, unscented regular household bleach with medicine dropper, and kitchen gloves. Look for hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Stock at least three reusable face coverings per person. Include three N95 or KN95 masks per person; these work well for dust and smoke.
Think food safety
You will likely have a fair amount of food on hand already. Work your way through refrigerated and frozen supplies first, keeping food safety in mind. Consider variety, balance and moderation. Will foods need to be cooked? While you could survive on freeze-dried foods or MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for two full weeks, you will feel better with some familiar foods each day. Lastly, store foods that your family will eat. This will ensure that you can regularly cycle through the foods in your emergency supply kit to ensure the freshness of the stored foods. Pantry lists can give you some ideas.
Stock canned or nonperishable foods. Foods should not require refrigeration. Limit cooking foods that need additional water or special preparation unless you have the supplies, space, skills and experience to be successful. Leftovers can become unsafe without refrigeration. Foods held in the “Danger Zone” (40°F to 140°F) for over two hours can cause someone to become sick.
Consider how you might use a wood stove, gas or charcoal barbecue, Dutch oven, propane camp stove, rocket stove, solar oven, fondue pot or fire pit to heat water or cook food. Determine how much extra fuel (propane, butane, wood, charcoal briquettes, etc.) you need to prepare food for two to four weeks.
Keep seasonal or weather variations in mind when cooking outdoors. Solar cookers will not work well in cloudy regions during Pacific Northwest winters. Gas stoves might not work during cold or windy days. A windbreak made of safe materials could help. Practice using these tools before it becomes a necessity. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when using grills and other cooking equipment. Use them in well-ventilated areas. See No Power? No Problem: Tips to Help You Thrive in the Face of Disaster for more information.
Power outages
Foods that can be stored without refrigeration and risky foods to discard
When the power goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. All foods in a refrigerator can be safe for four hours if the door is kept closed. When the temperature in the refrigerator rises above 40°F, most refrigerated foods can be stored for no longer than two more hours. Dispose of risky foods. Keep other foods that benefit from refrigeration for extended quality in a cool, dark, dry and ventilated location. Watch for signs of spoilage such as off-odor, mold or sliminess. Immediately dispose of food showing signs of spoilage.
Full freezers can keep food safe for 48 hours. Half-filled freezers keep food safe for 24 hours. Before a disaster, fill empty freezer space with water in clean, sanitized food-safe containers. Fill containers halfway, then freeze. The ice will expand. Add another inch of water and freeze again. Repeat until there is 1-inch headspace, then replace the lid. The extra ice will help the freezer run more efficiently and keep the freezer colder longer in an emergency. When it melts, it will provide safe, drinkable water.
Foods that will be SAFE without refrigeration unless you DETECT SPOILAGE
Risky foods should be eaten immediately or discarded.
Some foods that are commonly refrigerated to maintain quality can be shelf stable for short times. These foods could be consumed in early days or weeks after the Cascadia earthquake or other lengthy power outage.
Fresh foods
Fresh foods require refrigeration, freezing or consumption within a relatively short time to avoid spoilage. These include fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy foods. Rinse and rub fruits and vegetables that will be consumed raw in cool, clean water.
Dehydrated foods
Dehydrating is a method of food preservation in which the moisture in food is removed using a dehydrator, oven, sun/solar dryer or smokehouse. (Examples: dried fruits, nuts, vegetables, jerky and meals or meal ingredients).
Home-canned foods
Use up-to-date, tested recipes from reliable resources for best quality, safety and to avoid risk of botulism. Boiling water canners are used to preserve most fruit, salsa (only tested recipes), pickles, jams, jellies and spreads. All vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and wild game must be pressure canned. See safe recipes and directions at OSU Extension. Vacuum-sealing low acid foods and storing them at room temperature can create an environment for botulism toxin to grow if these foods would normally be refrigerated or frozen. Do not can water, butter, dairy products, grains, leftovers, cakes, quick breads or cured meats.
Commercially canned foods
Canning is a method of food preservation in which the foods are processed and sealed in an airtight container (usually a tin can or a glass jar). The seams of “pop-top” cans are fragile and may not withstand the shaking and jostling during an earthquake with extended shaking. (Examples: canned fruits, vegetables, soups, sauces and meats).
Meals Ready-to-Eat
MREs are a self-contained complete meal. MREs are the main food ration for the U.S. armed forces.
Freeze-dried foods
Freeze-drying is a process that involves freezing food then removing the moisture in a vacuum chamber. Most freeze-dried food is then stored in an airtight, moisture-resistant container. (Examples: Freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, meats and meals or meal ingredients.)
Store some of your food in portable containers in case you must leave your home. This way you can easily take some of your food and supplies with you. Transport perishable foods in a container filled with ice, if possible. After the Cascadia earthquake, the best transportation available for some time may be wagons or cargo bikes.
Food safety tips
Clean: Wash your hands and surfaces often
Germs that cause food poisoning can survive in many places and spread around your kitchen. Practice proper hand washing before you touch or handle food. Wet your hands, add soap, lather for 20 seconds, then rinse. Wash again after you touch risky foods like raw meat or poultry or raw eggs. Clean hands are healthy hands. Clean hands can save lives. Wash your utensils, cutting boards and countertops. Clean and sanitize food preparation surfaces often with hot, soapy water. Keep eating utensils, grills and stoves clean. Remember to clean and sanitize knobs and handles, too. Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in water.
Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate
Raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods — unless you keep them separate. Use separate cutting boards and plates or clean and sanitize between uses for raw meat, poultry, seafood and ready-to-eat foods. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from all other foods while shopping and in the fridge.
Cook: To the right temperature
Food is safely cooked when the internal temperature gets high enough to kill germs that can make you sick. The only way to tell if food is safely cooked is to use a food thermometer. You cannot tell if food is safely cooked by checking its color and texture.
A digital metal stem thermometer has the sensor in the tip, while dial metal stem thermometers need to be inserted 2 inches into the meat, stew or other food.
Chill: Refrigerate promptly
Bacteria can multiply rapidly if left at room temperature or in the Danger Zone between 40°F and 140°F. Never leave perishable food out for more than two hours (or one hour if it is hotter than 90°F outside). Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below and know when to throw food away. Refrigerate perishable food within two hours.
Food storage
In general, food will maintain a longer shelf life if kept in a cool, dry, dark location. However, that location may not be the best to withstand an earthquake. Basements and root cellars can be excellent places for long-term food storage. But if your home collapses, you will not be able to access your food supply. A corner of the garage near a window or entry door or a root cellar may be a better location in terms of easy access following an earthquake. In some areas, homes that are considered or have been made earthquake-safe are likely to be safe to re-enter. In small homes, consider storing food in bedroom or coat closets, under beds or behind furniture. Monitor food supplies for water, insect and rodent damage. When in doubt, throw it out.
Use only food-grade containers designated for food storage. Harmful chemicals may leech into the food from containers not meant for food storage, making it unsafe to eat. While glass can be an excellent food storage medium, it is also fragile and may not withstand the shaking of an earthquake or falling debris. Protect canning jars in boxes with cardboard strips or crumpled newspaper between the jars. Commercial canning jar crates made of hard plastic can protect the jars from breakage. Canned foods can become dangerous if stored in temperatures above 95°F.
Consider reinforcing food storage shelving. Line open shelves with rope, trim boards or other materials. This can prevent jars from shaking off the shelves. You can add child locks to cabinets to keep food from falling out and becoming damaged or turning into a projectile during an earthquake.
Food storage methods and considerations
Food preservation is an economical way to store bounty from your garden and from local farmers. Home-preserved foods can maintain flavor, quality and nutritional content. They contain fewer additives or allergens than commercial equivalents.
Use up-to-date, tested recipes from reliable resources such as Oregon State University Extension. Check with your local OSU Extension county office for upcoming food preservation workshops and resources.
Some overly stressed people may react by binge-eating several days of food or liquids before the first meal. Practice activities that will help you stress less now to help manage “stress eating” during the disaster later. See Survival Basics: Stress Less for more information.
Think broadly about your existing food and water resources. These can include food already in your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer as well as your garden. Do you have chickens or other livestock that can provide food for you? Some aspects of your food supply vary by season, so consider how your resources will change throughout the year and what will be available.
Plan your work and work your plan. Being prepared helps people survive emergencies with better resiliency and well-being.
Resources
- 2 Weeks Ready. Oregon Office of Emergency Management.
- Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply. Centers for Disease Control
- Fires and Food Safety. USDA. Food Safety and Inspection Service.
- Food and Water Needs: Preparing for a Disaster or Emergency. CDC.
- Food Safety during a Power Outage. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Food Storage for Safety and Quality, PNW 612. University of Idaho Extension.
- Food, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Information for Use Before and After a Disaster or Emergency. CDC.
- Four Steps to Food Safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill. CDC.
- Fruit and Vegetable Safety. CDC.
- Guidelines for Refrigerated Foods. SP 50-677, Oregon State University Extension.
- How You Can Prevent Foodborne Illness, PNW 250. Oregon State University Extension.
- If Your Home Freezer Stops, SP50-470. Oregon State University Extension.
- Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies: Power Outages, Floods & Fires. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
- MyPlate. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Natural Disasters and Severe Weather: Earthquakes. CDC.
- Natural Disasters and Severe Weather: Tsunamis. CDC
- No Power? No Problem: Tips to Help You Thrive in the Face of Disaster, EM 9778, Oregon State University Extension.
- Preparing for a Weather Emergency. USDA FSIS.
- Preserve @ Home online food preservation course, University of Idaho Extension and Oregon State University Extension.
- Preserving Eggs for the Home. Circular No. 25, Utah State University (in consultation with Jim Hermes, Poultry Specialist, retired, Oregon State University).
- Start Simple with MyPlate. USDA.
- Survival Basics: Stress Less, EM 9287. Oregon State University Extension.
- Survival Basics: Water, EM 9285. Oregon State University Extension.
Acknowledgment
Project supported by National Institute of Food and Agriculture Smith Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (Award# 2018-41210-28702).
References
Adapted from: Marty-Jimenez, B. Think Nutrition During Hurricane Season presentation at National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences 2020 Annual Session.
Rabb, C. Food Storage for Emergencies, SP 50-833, Oregon State University Extension.
Project supported by National Institute of Food and Agriculture Smith Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (Award# 2018-41210-28702).