Survival Tips for a Hurricane: Cooking Non-Perishable Meals when the Power is Out

I've been a Floridian for practically all my life and a hurricane survivor. I'll be honest that from June 1st to November 30th is not my favorite time of year, but with a little planning and preparation, I have learned to endure the stress of the storm season.

Most hurricane survival guides tell you to stock up on non-perishable food items for at least 5 days and this is of utmost importance as grocery stores go through depletion prior to the wake of the storm and it sometimes takes days for trucks to come to restock. Make sure to have a supply of canned meats in your survival kit. Many meals can be created with can tuna, chicken, Spam, and salmon. When you can't get fresh meat, these items are a blessing.

Prepare to have fresh produce at home as these will last without refrigeration. Keep a supply of canned vegetables, beans and legumes, and soups. Think about dried fruits, applesauce, and fruit leather as snacks.

Dry goods like crackers, chips, pretzels, popped popcorn, nuts and such are great munchable snacks. Add a little squirt cheese from the can or peanut butter and you have some protein to add to your diet. Cereals can be used as a dry snack without milk, but for breakfast you may want to mix up some dry powdered milk with water or evaporated milk in the can. Very palatable milk is almond milk that comes in boxes and stores without refrigeration for a day or two. Also, make sure to stock up on several loafs of bread, which is a staple in your survival menu.

During my last hurricane experience I was without power for six days, so I had to get innovated in preparing meals for my family - breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the gas grill just like the old days as a girl scout. Here are a few of my meal plans with a few fun ideas to get creative with non-perishable foods.

Start Your Day with a Good Breakfast

- Eggs can sit out for a week, so scrambled eggs cooked in a frying pan on the grill was a blessing.

- Yes, you can make pancakes with the premade mixes that only require water. Pour the batter onto a Pam coated frying pan and serve with syrup.

- Make sure to have an old-fashioned coffee pot to brew your morning java on the hot grill, or rough it with some instant coffee and heated water in a pot.

Lunching on the Patio

I found making grilled cheese sandwiches was easy. In my survival kit, I keep the boxed Velveeta cheese and placed slices between two slices of bread. Most butter and margarine will keep without refrigeration, so slather on the butter and grill the sandwiches in a frying pan on the grill. Adding a slice of tomato in the middle makes it fresh, delicious and healthy.

Lettuce wraps make fun sandwiches. Just fill leaves of iceberg or romaine lettuce with canned tuna, salmon, or chicken. Chop up some other fresh veggies like peppers, avocado, onions, and tomatoes to fill the lettuce boats. Drizzle on some simple vinaigrette (olive oil and balsamic vinegar) and you have a tasty salad type meal.

Dinner on a Dime

Well, we are not talking gourmet or fine dining, but staples can be put together to make a dinner meal. I used to keep cans of Chinese food in my pantry. In one pot I would heat up the Asian delight and the other pot was cooking boil-in-a-bag rice on the hot grill. Plate the two together with a few crunchy noodles and you have Chinese take-out on your patio. An added box of fortune cookies makes it fun for the kids.

Now, let's not forget about Spam (a ham, pork-like product) that tastes pretty good fried in a pan on the gas grill. I love to put this ham tasting meat along side my sweet potato bake that is easy and delicious to make from cans. Take a baking dish that can cook on the grill and place a drained can of sweet potatoes inside. To that, add a can of apple pie filling, some chopped pecans, and drizzle this with brown sugar. Just heat this through (as everything is pre-cooked) and you have a ham and yam southern dinner.

It's not hard to get creative during a hurricane power blackout as long as you prepare early with the products at home. If you live in a hurricane zone, try writing out a meal plan for several days in a notebook and take this to the grocery store to prepare your hurricane dining kits. Store these products in plastic bins or boxes that are labeled for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Once prepared, you will feel less stressed and never go hungry.

Sources:
Sun-Sentinel
"How Long Do Foods Last Without Refrigeration?"