Survival In Your Own Home

(Page 3 of 3)

September/October 1974
By Dorothy J. Christina 
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How about damage by heat? It's well known that high temperatures tend to rob food of vitamins, and fat—an essential in the human diet—melts at 95° F . . . so storage in an uninsulated garage probably wouldn't be a good idea. Darkness is also important: a food-keeping area should have doors, or the items should be packed in boxes or metal containers to keep out vitamin-destroying light.

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Speaking of vitamins, it is possible to meet human nutritional requirements, for short periods, without food. One day in my health food store I browsed across Minuteman Survival Tabs, from VIVA, Division of Biolab Corporation, Norborne, Missouri 64668. The label says: "A compact, lightweight, lifesaving food ration for any emergency. Ultra-high-calorie food tablets provide all essential vitamins and minerals, protein for strength, fat for endurance, dextrose and lactose for fast energy." Twelve of the large tablets are supposed to sustain a person for one day. The product is probably meant for survival under other conditions than I have in mind—for use in case one got lost backpacking, for instance—but you can bet they're now part of my emergency rations.

What I've said is meant as a brief introduction for those who are interested in a short-term storage plan. I've made no mention of containers, for instance, since special packaging isn't needed for limited periods. My teachers, the Mormons, are planning for long-term stockpiling and have written the most helpful guides on that subject. The best basic information I know at this time is Bob R. Zabriskie's Family Storage Plan (Bookcraft Publishers, 1848 West 2300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120, $1.95), which contains instructions for the storage of various items and a graph for determining yearly needs.

A final thought: When the emergency arrives it's too late to prepare. As Robert Preston puts it, "it is far better to be ready years too soon than to be one day too late."

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