| Have you ever been in a natural disaster? If you | | | | dessert, bread or crackers and a spread. You also |
| haven't, you can count yourself lucky. For those | | | | get a beverage mix, coffee and other accessory |
| who have, they can tell you what a harrowing | | | | items. All food items included, an MRE meal has on |
| experience it is to be holed up in your home or | | | | average more than a 1200 calories. To put it in |
| shelter while waiting for the emergency crews to | | | | perspective, the average woman should have a |
| arrive. The experts say that you should have a | | | | daily food intake of 1500 calories while the |
| 72 hour kit prepared as that is how long it could | | | | average man should consume 2500 calories. So if |
| take the clean up crew to clear the area. Can you | | | | you're a woman eating an MRE, that meal alone |
| really wait it out that long? Do you have enough | | | | represents almost your daily caloric intake. If |
| food and water available? What happens if the | | | | you're a man, two MRE meals will do. |
| power goes out? Will you be able to prepare the | | | | Perhaps what is literally warming in an emergency |
| food otherwise? That is a feeling of helplessness | | | | situation is that the MRE package also includes a |
| that no one should feel. | | | | flameless ration heater. Even if you're without a |
| One of the most ideal food rations in emergency | | | | source to heat your food, you'll still be able to |
| situations is the MRE or meals ready to eat. | | | | enjoy a hot meal with an MRE because it has a |
| Originally, they were military issued but now you | | | | flameless heat source that is activated by water. |
| can also purchase civilian MREs as well. There are | | | | Just make sure you have a prepared water |
| little differences seeing as the manufacturers are | | | | supply in your emergency kit as well. |
| mostly doing the same kind of business providing | | | | With all the talk of global warming and climate |
| for the military and the public. | | | | change, it should be warning enough for everyone |
| Meals ready to eat have a shelf life of 3-5 years | | | | to prepare for natural disasters by keeping their |
| if stored in the right conditions: dry and at cool | | | | emergency supplies well stocked. Having a couple |
| temperatures. Each package of an MRE is a | | | | of cases of MRE and water jugs on hand will |
| complete meal including a main dish, side dish, | | | | sustain until help arrives. |