Food Supply, Maintenance and "Float" for Disasters

[caregiver222]

The concept of "Float" in military supply systems means that for every critical item, a number of "spares" are kept on hand according to a pre-arranged plan. This, if you are assigned six two-and-a-half ton trucks, your supply room should have "x" number of spare fuel pumps, "y" number of spare alternators, etc. In terms of disaster preparedness, equipment such as a generator, should have sufficient replacement parts on hand to insure operation in the event of something failing. The most common item to have on hand in the case of diesel generators, for example are spare injectors. In the case of a gasoline powered automobile, spare spark plugs, points, fan belts, tires and a condensor might meet the requirements.

Now let's take the case of "food", and float.

The easiest way to maintain a reserve of essential food is to purchase six times worth of everything that you require, with the exception of perishables. Six is an arbitrary number, of course, but you have to start with some number. Think about this, and pick a number you are comfortable with.

This, if you use a can of soup per child per day, instead of buying a single can every day and serving the can, you keep a supply of six cans on hand, and when you buy a new can, you use the oldest can and put the new can to the back of the line. Of course expiration dates are usually measured in years for canned goods, but you get the idea.

Instead of the necessaity of having a "special storage area", your emergency supplies simply consist of enlarging your "ready" storage area and purchasing food to replace stocks that have been partially used.

In the case of corn flakes, you resolve to have a dozen boxes, for example. Use four and purchase four, so you end up with eight always on the shelf. These eight boxes are called "float".

You always purchase in quantity from one of the discount houses, such as Sam's Club, Wal-Mart or Cosco.

There is a certain unavoidable stigma attached to those who hoard food in below ground shelters to prepare for the inevitable nuclear attack. This way, you simply keep a full closet and can tell your neighbors "I buy a lot at a time because it saves me money".

You can then enjoy the "oohs" and "ahs" that accompany admiration for a sharp shopper, rather than the furrowed looks of disdain often shown a "survivalist".

Shhhhhhh. Keep your little secret from others.

But keep the shelves full in your house, to the limit of possibility.