Edited

If you believe there is a chance in the growing months and years that a famine might occur in your neck of the woods, then you might want to consider purchasing a gun. After all, guns are no doubt beneficial to the hunting process. In fact, it may also be needed to defend yourself.

Then again, there are many in society that are strongly against the purchase of firearms. Thus, that represents a conflict for them.

The good thing is that there are alternatives (like bows, for example). Though, to be frank, nothing works better in hunting than a firearm.

Further, here is a list of related hunting supplies you might want on hand if it all went down.

1. Fishing pole
2. Rabbit trap
3. Bait
4. Crabbing gear (if you live in an area where this is possible)
5. Camouflaged clothing
6. Hunting knife

And there are hosts of other things that might come in handy depending on what you're hunting for and the area of the world you live in. In fact, here's a hunting store that might serve to get you thinking the right way-


Storing Food

Preparation is the key to everything from coaching a football team to rallying your friends and family to survive during famine / mass starvation. Thus, if you're worried - and if you look around, you'll probably realize that you should be - you might want to start buying non - perishable food items that expire way down the road.

After all, growing food and hunting when the demand is high will probably not always go your way. Thus, non-perishable food items (dry foods) would certainly help you and your family get on their feet.

Along with this, it would be prudent to get your hands on foods like white rice, wheat, and beans. When appropriately packaged and stored, these foods can sometimes last for decades. Speaking of storing dry foods appropriately, here are some things to consider.

1. Have #10 cans on hand.

2. Have foil pouches (made multilayer laminated plastic and aluminum).

3. Buy some bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PETE bottles). These are used for long term dry food storage.

Further, dry foods should be stored at a temperature of 75 degrees F/ 24 degrees C or lower (recommended). If this prerequisite cannot be met, the foods should be rotated. Beyond that, moisture should be kept to a minimum (one way to help this along is to keep containers off the floor).

Also, keep things like cooking oil and long term storage items (oftentimes in PETE bottles) out of the light. And, of course, keep all foods protected in pouches or bottles (as this will serve many functions, one of which is to protect from insects / rodents).

Finally, to help in reducing the threat of moisture, oxygen absorbing packets may be utilized for sealed items.

There are several different formulations for this depending on the type of food and other factors, so read the directions carefully. In fact, this should always be done as significant problems can occur in food storage when directions are not appropriately followed (this is true for food storage in general, not just oxygen absorbing packets).

When in doubt, check with emergency personnel and professionals in the field.

Last, but certainly not least, there's the perishable items. Obviously, meats will need to be stored frozen. Further, it would be prudent to consume these first. The same can be said for fresh vegetables and fruit. Don't go into your dry food stash until it's needed.

In sum, famine is truly a broad topic that can come about for a host of reasons. Thus, the way it must be combated can change depending on the situation. This article provides a brief summary of how a famine might be dealt with and is designed to get you looking in the right direction.


Famine Caused by Natural Disaster or Nuclear Attack

If your area is hit by a devestating natural disaster, such as an earthquake or tsunami, or if multiple cities in the United States are nuked by terrorists (as talked about in other articles on this site), access to food can shut down fast.

In a situation like this, you may find yourself quickly without food (and without drinking water, depending on the severity of the disaster). Many experts recommend having a backup supply of food and water that will support you and your family for up to 90 days.

If things get really chaotic in the world, you may want to go for a backup that will last up to six months.

In this day and age, stocking up on non-perishable foods, large jugs of water, and cash (if your bank is closed indefinitely or there is no power for an extended period, credit cards / debit cards won't be any good) is probably a smart thing to do.


Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Longer-Term Supply

For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.

These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply.


Product Recommendations



The following suggested amounts are for an adult.

U.S. Standard or Metric.


Quantity
for One Month Recommended
Products Long-Term
Storage Life
25 lbs. Wheat, white rice, corn, and other grains 30+ years
5 lbs. Dry beans 30+ years

You may also want to add other items to your longer-term storage such as sugar, nonfat dry milk, salt, baking soda, and cooking oil. To meet nutritional needs, also store foods containing Vitamin C and other essential nutrients.

Dry products intended for longer-term storage should be low in moisture (about 10% or less) and free from insects.

Packaging Recommendations



Recommended containers for longer-term storage include the following:

# 10 cans (available at Church home storage centers)
Foil pouches (available through Church Distribution Services)
PETE bottles (for dry products such as wheat, corn, and beans)
These containers, used with oxygen absorber packets, eliminate food-borne insects and help preserve nutritional quality and taste. Oxygen absorber packets are available at Church home storage centers or through Church Distribution Services.

Under certain conditions, you can also use plastic buckets for longer-term storage of wheat, dry beans, and other dry products.

Warning: Botulism poisoning may result if moist products are stored in packaging that reduces oxygen. When stored in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers, products must be dry (about 10% or less moisture content).

Financial Reserve

Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount.



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