urricane Katrina has forced us to think about the worst happening in California. Since natural disasters are on our minds and weighing heavy in our hearts, there is no time like the present to give you the information you need to create an emergency food plan for your household.

Preparing your family for a disaster includes having an emergency plan and preparing an emergency supply kit. As part of your emergency plan, identify several escape routes from your home, teach everyone in the house how to turn off the valves for gas, water, and electricity if it becomes necessary, and designate a meeting place outside of your home if you need to evacuate. It's a good idea to talk about the possibility of earthquake and fire with your family and to practice taking shelter in various rooms under tables or in doorways, away from windows, bookcases, mirrors, and other heavy furniture.

It has become very clear that having emergency supplies of water, food, and medications can be life saving. Designate a cool and dry place in your home where you can store emergency supplies. It makes the most sense to pack your reserves into two waterproof duffel bags that can be carried on your back easily. A large plastic crate or trash can is not practical if you need to evacuate. High-quality duffel bags and much of the other gear you may need can be found at REI or www.rei.com.

When deciding what to pack, also consider how much you need. Most experts suggest three to seven days' worth of supplies per person plus enough for your pets. Healthy people can survive for weeks without food if there is adequate water around, but not necessarily vice-versa. Therefore, water should be your first priority. Military studies of troops stranded in the desert suggest that a person can survive, though not comfortably, on a minimum of a quart of water a day. Three quarts a day is more comfortable. If you have four people in your house, plan on stocking three gallons of water for all of you for each day.

In terms of food, I have several suggestions for shelf-stable foods that you can keep around for about one year. Although you may just want the comforts of chocolate cake and macaroni and cheese in a disaster situation, it's important to have healthy foods to maintain your immune system, energy levels, and mental clarity. The foods you stock should be somewhat familiar to you, so taste my recommendations before you store them. Alternatively, check the shelf life of your preferred brands of packaged foods; if they will last for at least one year, then you can put them into your supplies. The foods I have selected for the list will be good for up to one year from the time of purchase, their packaging is protective in case it gets wet, no heating or cooking is required, and they do not require refrigeration (even the cheese!). The meat and fish are in individual or small packages so they can be consumed in one sitting. I've tried to make the best choices within the categories I was looking at, but not all are perfect. For instance, the peanut butter has some partially-hydrogenated oil in it, but that is what allows it to remain unrefrigerated once open. The jerky is salty, but it is less salty than other brands, and it is an important source of protein. I've never tasted the military's MREs (meals ready to eat), but I would consider stocking them for an emergency situation since they do not require heat, cooking, or any other preparation, can last up to five years, and have more than 50% of our daily calorie needs in a serving. You can find them at surplus stores and online. Also remember that if you do not have to evacuate your home, eat the food in your refrigerator first, then the food in your freezer, and then your pantry goods. Open the refrigerator as seldom as possible so the cold air does not escape.

Obviously, going without fresh food and running water is not ideal, but I have tried to make things as simple as possible. Many emergency preparedness checklists expect that you'll pack pots and pans and portable stoves. The items on my list should help you get by for just a few days and do not require the addition of heat or water. Pack most or all of the items on my list and rotate the food every 6-12 months. Since we'll be changing our clocks soon, you may want to use the daylight savings schedule as a reminder to eat and replace the food in your kits and test the batteries. All of the foods and many of the supplies (with the exception of the MREs) on my list can be found at Gelson's. Use this shopping list as a starting point for preparing for an emergency situation. No one likes to think about the possibility of a disaster, but if you take the time to prepare your family and your household now, then you will have gone a long way towards preventing the devastation that follows a disaster.

Beverages   Bottled water in unbreakable plastic containers Gatorade Carnation Evaporated milk     Food   MREs (military meals ready to eat) S & W canned low sodium beans Skippy peanut butter Bumble Bee pouches of albacore tuna Chicken of the Sea pouches of pink salmon Valley Fresh cans of chicken Snack Masters beef and turkey jerky Health Valley ready to eat canned soups & stews Canned vegetables (preferably low sodium) Canned fruit in natural juices Melissa's organic dried fruit Flanigan Farms nuts Clif Bars energy bars Kashi granola bars New York Style pita chips The Laughing Cow light Swiss cheeses and mini baby bel cheeses     Kitchen Items   Manual can opener Cups Plates Plastic utensils   Safety   Two waterproof duffel bags, one for food, one for nonfood items Map of your area protected by plastic Compass Portable radio with extra batteries Flashlight with extra batteries Waterproof matches Candles First aid kit First aid manual Pocket knife Plastic whistle Masks Work-weight gloves     Personal Needs   Medications Extra clothing Blankets Sunglasses Sunscreen Money     Sanitation   Hand Sanitizer Hand Wipes Household bleach Soap Toilet paper Paper towels Toothbrushes and toothpaste Plastic garbage bags