Food Storage & Safe Travel

Food Storage, Utilization & Safe Travel After Disaster

In a nuclear aftermath, food may be contaminated and traditional supply chains will break down. This guide covers how to store food for years, identify safe wild edibles, test for contamination, and travel safely through dangerous areas.

Part 1: Food Storage & Utilization

Long-Term Food Storage Methods

Proper storage keeps food safe for years:

• Freeze-drying - The best method. Food lasts 25+ years. Remove oxygen and moisture.
• Dehydration - Remove 90-95% of moisture. Store in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers.
• Canning (pressure canner) - Essential for low-acid foods like meats and vegetables.
• Vacuum sealing - Removes oxygen, slowing spoilage. Combine with freezing or dehydration.
• Mylar bags + oxygen absorbers - Ideal for dry goods like rice, beans, flour.
• Root cellaring - Store fresh apples, potatoes, carrots, cabbage for months at 32-40°F with high humidity.

Stockpile Essentials

Focus on calorie-dense, nutrient-rich foods with long shelf lives:

• White rice (30 years stored properly)
• Dried beans (30 years)
• Hard wheat berries (30+ years)
• Rolled oats (25 years)
• Powdered milk (20 years if nitrogen-packed)
• Salt (indefinitely)
• Sugar/honey (indefinitely)
• Canned goods (2-5 years, rotate)

Testing Food for Contamination

After a nuclear event, fallout can contaminate food:

• Geiger counter - Test all food from outside. Discard anything reading above background levels.
• Protected food - Food in sealed cans, jars, or inside a shelter is likely safe.
• Washing - Remove outer leaves of vegetables. Wash thoroughly with clean water.
• Do NOT eat - Fresh produce from gardens (unless covered), wild game from contaminated areas, milk from grazing animals.

Identifying Safe Wild Edibles

If food runs low, knowing local edible plants is vital:

• Dandelion - Entire plant edible. Leaves rich in vitamins.
• Plantain (Plantago) - Leaves edible, seeds nutritious.
• Cattails - "Supermarket of the swamp." Roots, shoots, pollen all edible.
• Purslane - High in omega-3s.
• Acorns - Leach tannins; flour substitute.

Warning: Never eat mushrooms or berries unless 100% certain. Some deadly look-alikes exist.

Water Purification

You need 1-2 gallons per person per day. Methods:

• Boiling - Kills pathogens. Not effective for chemical/radioactive contaminants.
• Distillation - Removes all contaminants including radioactivity and salt.
• Filters (0.1 micron) - Remove bacteria/protozoa but not viruses or chemicals.
• Chlorine/iodine tablets - Kill pathogens; don't remove particulate.

Part 2: Safe Travel After Disaster

Route Planning Avoiding Radiation

Fallout drifts downwind. Before traveling:

• Obtain fallout prediction maps (included on Survival USB).
• Avoid major cities and military targets (likely ground zero).
• Plan to travel perpendicular to wind direction, not directly downwind.
• Identify intermediate shelters every 10-20 miles.
• Travel after first 48 hours when radiation drops significantly.

Vehicle Preparation

Your vehicle may be your lifeline:

• Full tank + spare fuel - Store 10-20 gallons of stabilized fuel.
• Spare tire and repair kit - No roadside assistance.
• 12V USB charger - Keep devices charged.
• Paper maps - GPS may be down.
• Emergency kit - First aid, water, food, blankets, tools.
• For EMP protection - Older vehicles (pre-1980s) are less vulnerable. Consider a spare ECU in Faraday cage.

Fuel Alternatives

When gasoline runs out:

• Diesel vehicles - Can run on vegetable oil (pre-heated) or biodiesel.
• Gasoline engines - High ethanol blends (E85) or wood gasification (complex).
• Electric vehicles - Charge with solar panels (takes days).
• Bicycles - Most reliable when fuel is gone.

Navigational Safety

Use the map reading skills from our guide. In addition:

• Travel during daylight hours only.
• Maintain low profile. Avoid roads with military or looters.
• Travel in groups when possible.
• Communicate using FRS/GMRS radios (store in Faraday bag).