Thursday, September 3, 2015

Some things never change

My sister-in-law sent me an interesting pamphlet awhile ago:


Entitled "Family Food Stockpile for Survival," it was issued by the USDA in 1964.


Those of my generation (I was born in 1962) doubtless remember the "air raid drills" in which children were filed out into the school hallways and instructed to crouch on the floor with our hands over the backs of our heads.


This little pamphlet outlined the potential dangers America faced, and recommended a two-week supply of food and water. It even included a selection of "Sample Meal Plans" for the novice prepper.


The meal plans, we are assured, include foods that can be eaten "as is," as well as foods that require cooking. It instructs the reader to try and secure means of cooking, if possible. It also covers water storage and purification, etc.


Altogether it's a surprisingly comprehensive little publication. Obviously some things are a bit out of date, but most of the info is still sound.

But of course back then, as now, most people ignored it.

18 comments:

  1. We used to cover our heads and duck under our desks. (I was born in 1952) and remember it quite well. Also I am guessing that those that did not prepare feel justified because nothing catastrophic happened. If I ever have to explain, I simply state that now that I am moving to the country I might get a bad storm and be unable to get out, they will nod in understanding. In my many yard and estate sales that I go to, I will come across those pamphlets and booklets, I am guessing that people were more concerned then because they had all just finished up the depression and a world war. I think that today more than ever we should do all we can for any preparations.

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  2. Nowadays if you live in a city and get caught stockpiling you may end up on a right wing survivalist watch list!

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  3. I'm a 1950 model and remember the cold war well. Back then, our crazy great uncle was the only one with a bomb shelter. I do believe, though, that people are paying LOTS more attention today and taking more steps to prepare. It's been a while since Americans completely trusted their government!

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  4. Would love to get a copy of that pamphlet.

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    1. Me too!!! I would like the meal planning part. For some reason meal planning is what I get bogged down on. My 62yr old brain starts to panic, even though we have food stored, I just can't seem to plan and pull it together.

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    2. Get a copy of Enola Gay's cook book. She has substitutes using long term storage foods. Good Book!

      http://www.amazon.com/The-Prepared-Family-Cookbook-Enola/dp/1490544372/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377817362&sr=8-1&keywords=the+prepared+family+cookbook

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    3. You can download the 1977 revised version at: http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/catalog/CAT40000445

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    4. I feel so stupid. Am I the only one who buys things and then forgets she has them? Found Enola Gay's cookbook on my shelf along with a lot of books...maybe too many. I guess I should focus on one book...too many choices confuse me now;-).

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    5. You can download the original version of the pamphlet at http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=CAT40000444&content=PDF

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    6. Don't worry Ann- I've had plenty of those "Senior Moments" and I'm not even in that age bracket yet!

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  5. I bought 5 large containers of 'survival food' back in the late 60's (or was it the early 70's). After several moves and trying to find places to store it I finally decided to get rid of it. Out of curiosity I opened each large can and the stuff was no longer edible. From the looks of it, it may never have been edible.

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  6. Fact: The vast majority of Americans could survive an all-out nuclear attack and live through the difficult post-attack years.

    There is so much valuable information available. This is my favorite, If families have nothing else, I urge them to print out this FREE PDF file. It is an excellent easy-to-understand 7-step plan with one exception. Do Item # 7 Gather Supplies NOW! DO NOT WAIT until nuclear attack is imminent!

    http://www.alertsusa.com/reports/whattodo.pdf

    Montana Guy

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  7. I'm 68 and remember when I was in kindergarten my parents had an emergency cupboard in the basement. It had blankets, Aladdin lanter, Coleman cookstove, some food and water. We knew we had to go down there if anything bad happened. Moved the next year to a house with no basement, don't know what happened to the cupboard. Then when I was in the 3rd-6th grades we had drills at school where we went into the halls sat down and covered our heads.
    Now when I ask my adult children what preps they have for another upcoming bad winter it's why? The stores will always be stocked. Try to explain how bad it was down here after Charlie when stores were closed because of no electricity, but they don't listen. Meanwhile, we are always prepped for at least a month without access to any store.
    Still can't understand why anyone would not want to be prepared for any kind of disaster - manmade or natural.

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  8. They have an updated version...sort of...I think some of the old advice is better...and the Dept issuing this one is certainly suspect. http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1390924354566-342d2ac433fee813cf71642caeb08787/2014_PreparingMakesSense_16pg.pdf

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  9. Thanks for sharing this post. My problem is no basement, Hundred and thirty year-old house with no insulation and deep south summers. Hard to store things when you can't keep them cool like everyone says to.
    Enjoyed this. Thank you!

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    1. Perhaps a closet on the north side of your home or a small climate control storage unit would work. SuccotashRose

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  10. Sadly most Americans feel too secure. In the early sixties, my time it was all recent enough, the war, the depression, people still understood that hardships came and you needed to prepare for them.
    Our country hasn't had any hardships, they grow lazy.

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  11. Wow, what a neat find! The meal plan in itself is great. Looks like the suggestion of two weeks worth of preps still holds true today.

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