Often, when I tell people I work in the food storage and prepping business, somewhere in the conversation that then tails this information, the so-called 'zombie apocalypse' is brought up. You'd be surprised by how many people actually consider this their number one motivation for prepping, or at least wanting to prep.

So, what's this whole zombie apocalypse thing really about? Let me try to explain. We've all heard of the media inspired walking dead with a cannibalistic taste for human flesh, and the domino effect of the infected. It's definitely been blown up in the cinematic spotlight reaching audiences all around the world who truly find this concept a worst case scenario/nightmare.

And really, the general idea of a zombie apocalypse is not that outlandish. It's about an infectious disease that spreads faster than a cure can be created and proven safe. This has happened a lot in history. It's about humans who lose their grasp of reality and start to eat each other (okay, not so common of an issue, but still, relevant to rabies and other such illnesses). The outbreak causes mass-panic and civilization erupts with anarchy; this has happened before.

Preparing for a zombie pandemic is like preparing for most crises: prepare so that you can hide out until it passes and trust only yourselves with the rations and supplies you've smartly collected independently of the government, since - let's face it - there's way too many people and not enough life boats. It's sort of like a societal fallout, when humans no longer behave like humans, and you can't risk being infected or killed.

According to the Zombie Response Team, bug-out bags are one popular and easy way to prepare for a pandemic of sorts (Keep an eye out for our new bags coming in 2019. We are partnering with some of the best tactical companies in the industry to bring you the best gear to keep you surviving.). Mylar pouches are the best containers and cans are the worst thing to have. Don't get slowed down by heavy cans of food, our freeze dried MREs are perfect for fleeing the panic and grab-n-go buckets make it easy to evacuate fast. Our Emergency Food Kits are perfect for short term needs. If you want to hide out longer, check out our Long Term Food Storage with a 25 year shelf life. All our meals are prepared by simply adding water.

Whether you're worried about zombies or not, preparing for chaos is always the best way to safeguard your role in the uncertain future. Please, don't eat people; eat My Food Storage meals!

In any sort of disaster crisis, your survival depends on a few major factors that help fuel your body's ability to pull through a rough situation. To secure your survival, make sure you address all of these threats in your emergency plan to keep your enemies at bay.

1. Panic: This intense emotion is driven by anxiety and fear, and can blur your focus and performance in a crisis. It is important to remain calm and act wisely, stick to the plan and do not allow your emotions to get the best of you. Falling a part in the midst of a disaster will compromise your ability to survive.
2. Temperature: If you are excessively hot or cold in a crisis, you will become fatigued and agitated. Extremely low or high temperatures can be life-threatening, which is why it is important to keep an alternate heating and cooling source. A generator can run a small space heater or fan without electricity.
3. Thirst: We cannot survive very long without water, it is the most needed resource in our survival. Be sure to store water year-round, and rotate as needed. Keep enough to last your family at least a week, preferably much longer.
4. Sleep Deprivation: Without sleep, parts of the body begin to shut down, starting with the brain. We cannot function without sleep, our ability to think and rationalize will quickly vanish, and our chance of survival dwindles.
5. Injury: With limited resources in the midst of a disaster, especially if you are hunkered down, a small injury can quickly become fatal. The best way to secure your safety is to stay inside, away from potential hazards, and keep a well-stocked first aid kit.
6. Boredom: In addition to your physical needs, like food and water, your mental and emotional needs are also vital to nurture in a crisis. Keep some games and books in your emergency supply to help stimulate your mind while waiting out the storm. This will also help to keep everyone calm and distracted from worry.
7. Hunger: Hunger sets in quickly, and will soon affect all areas of your well-being: mental, physical and emotional. Without food you will not survive very long. Store a long-term supply of food that is easy to prepare and store. We recommend at least 3 months worth to start.

It is important to remember all of these threats when preparing for disasters. Without proper preparation and planning, a crisis can be fatal. Avoid your enemies and secure your survival with your own long-term supply now.

In the midst of any sort of disaster, natural or man-made,  there are certain items you'll need that will be gone off the shelf in the blink of an eye. To prepare efficiently, store these items beforehand to prevent being left with nothing. We always recommend keeping a large supply of emergency provisions, such as food, water and survival supplies. This is the best way of safe guarding your future and ability to survive anything.

First 10 Things to Go in an Emergency:

1. Generators- We depend on power for just about everything, and sustaining it is typically the first priority of most people. Keeping your fridge or a space heater running can mean the difference between basic and a more comfortable survival.
2. Water and Water Filters or purifiers- Water is a must-have. If the pipes freeze over you'll need an alternate source, and if the water is not good to drink you will need a way to purify it. Having a filter is more efficient than boiling water; save as much heat as you can for cooking and warmth.
3. Portable Toilets- In case plumbing goes down you'll need one, and these typically are off the shelves fast in an emergency. It's a basic, but it's a very important one.
4. Firewood- Especially in a power outage, firewood is extremely important to stay warm. Alternate heat is vital in the colder months, and even in warmer weather it is important to have for cooking. Make sure your firewood is safe for indoors.
5. Lamp oil, lamps and wicks- Without power there is no other source of light, which is why oil lamps are another quickly oversold item, a safer and longer lasting alternative to candles.
6. Emergency Stove fuel- Store a lot of fuel for your emergency fire, we use more heat than we realize, the more you have the better.
7. Protection: knives, pepper spray, clubs, ammunition and guns- In an emergency we can become very vulnerable, lacking household security systems and electricity. Make sure you have everything you need to protect yourself before disaster strikes to keep your family safe.
8. Can openers and egg beaters- These items are important in order to eat your perishable supply before it goes bad, make sure they are a part of your emergency supply.
9. Sugar, honey and syrup- The sweet tooth prevails and these food items are often the first to go. Stock up and rotate as needed.
10. Grains, beans and rice- Those who do not have a long-term emergency food supply go for these items first. However, these components are difficult to prepare and can spoil quickly. Avoid expensive rotation and empty shelves by investing in our 25 year shelf life meals that simply require water. You'll be glad you did.

When putting together your emergency supply, keep all of these things in mind so that you're not left empty handed in a crisis. Our long-term food lasts you 25 years and is easy to store and transport in an emergency. It's high quality food with a great taste, prepared by adding water. It's an investment worth making and easy to do on My Food Storage. Our priority is your protection.

For the full 100 item list of things to go in an emergency, go here.