10 Reasons To Invest In Bunker Food Storage

‍With all the saber-rattling going on, you might wonder if it is a good time for a long-term food bunker. What are ten reasons why you should invest in one?

Let’s face it. The world is becoming more dangerous and volatile every day. From wars to global pandemics to refugees flooding across borders, it seems as if there is a growing movement toward preparedness. Should something catastrophic happen, you want to give your family the best chance of survival, but is a bunker full of food worth it? What about the investment? What if you spend a bunch of money prepping for armageddon, and it never happens?

There are several reasons to consider a bunker food storage plan, and not all of them have to do with a future apocalypse. There are economic reasons, as well. A food storage unit will mean that your family will always have a resource to turn to whenever a need arises, no matter the reason.

More and more people are turning to self-sufficiency as our society begins to reaffirm the value of growing their food sources. From the casual gardener to the full-blown survivalist, there seems to be a movement toward returning to basics. Even restaurants are getting into the act, as you see the number of farm-to-table establishments becoming more popular than ever.

This article will explore why investing in bunker food storage is a good idea. While some reasons draw from the state of current affairs, other motivations include economic security and peace of mind.

‍A Food Bunker is A Plan for Preparedness.

A bunker is an underground fortification built to protect individuals during an emergency, like a nuclear holocaust. While the size and structure of these kinds of bunkers vary, the idea has been around for centuries.

In the days of the pioneers, families often dug root cellars that doubled as a place of food storage and a shelter that protected them from the storms that often swept across the prairie. In those days, there were no early warning systems or sirens, so as farmers often watched ever-darkening skies, they would often usher their families into the bunker or root cellar for safety. Many older homes in the Midwest still have these tornado shelters. As anyone from the Midwest will tell you, when a tornado comes, everybody starts looking for a good basement or wishes they had an underground place to hide. A bunker can help create a safeguard for family members in a crisis.

What Are Ten Reasons To Invest in a Bunker Food Storage Plan?

Natural Disasters

History leads us to the first motivation for a bunker food storage area. Resources will be limited if natural disasters happen (hurricanes, tornados, fires, or floods). During severe storms, power is out or unable to be quickly restored, and there is a huge need for emergency rations. While government agencies and aid services, like the Red Cross, are usually quick on the scene, it takes some time to logistically maneuver the supplies to affected areas. A bunker can ensure that your family has access to medical supplies or basic foodstuffs while they wait for other assistance to arrive.

One only has to remember Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it created for the Gulf Coast (it took nearly six weeks for the power to come back to some areas - the storm took 1,800 lives and caused nearly $125 billion in property damage). Even residents hundreds of miles from the coast were without power for a week or more.

There is no question that extreme weather events are happening more frequently. Wildfires consume acreage and homes yearly, flooding wipes out entire communities, and government agencies with limited resources are pushed to the brink. A bunker allows you to be proactive in your family's survival rather than jump through bureaucratic red tape just to find the help you need.

Nuclear War

With the conflict in Ukraine, there is growing concern on the part of experts that the world may be closer to a nuclear holocaust than ever before. When government leaders like Putin openly disclose that they are not afraid to wage such a war, the rest of the world should take notice. A bunker could create a buffer for your family's survival, assuming you do not live in an area affected by the nuclear fallout.

The devastation that even a limited nuclear exchange could cause would be a massive deterrent for survival. Most experts claim that what is left of humanity would have to endure a “nuclear winter’- where sunlight would be blocked from most or part of the planet. A food-storage bunker might be the only thing that keeps your family and loved ones alive.

A bunker ten feet below the surface protects individuals from nuclear fallout. If your location is close to the blast, a family must stay sheltered. According to the CDC, families should stay inside bunkers for 24 hours before venturing out in a radiation emergency. See their report at CDC.gov.

Worldwide Pandemic

The last few years have been tough for the world’s population as every nation has had to battle the Covid 19 virus and variants. From masks to shelter-in-place orders to people dying around us, the world has had to cope with constraints. (Remember how people were hoarding toilet paper, emergency supplies, or even essential food sources because they did not know when they would be able to return to the store).

Many governments struggled to keep up with the spread of the pandemic, and hospitals were stretched to the breaking point. While doctors, nurses, and caregivers fought valiantly to contain the destruction of the virus, Covid went through several waves, and without the vaccine, many more people would have died.

While the global pandemic seems to be easing this year, that does not stop the possibility of another virus or corona variant from sweeping across our land again. An indoor bunker can minimize exposure to people who might be infected and could spread the disease to you and your family.

Governmental Breakdown

If there is one thing that the riot of January 6th showed us, it is that our nation is very divided. A civil war between factions of our society is not entirely out of the question. No matter what side you favor, our government came perilously close to collapsing that day, and chaos ensues without a government in power. If martial law is declared or a civil war erupts, a food storage bunker could give your family a place to hunker down until things are stabilized.

Supply Chain Interruptions

Recently, a strike of railway workers was averted at the last minute. Since 40% of goods and services travel by rail, it is easy to see how this potential strike could have crippled our nation's infrastructure. If goods are not shipped, store shelves are not stocked, and there are no foodstuffs available to buy. Should the rails or trucking industry stop rolling, store shelves could be sparse quickly.

Economic Hedge Against Inflation

With the rising prices of goods affecting nearly every American’s pocketbook, a bunker food storage can provide some relief should an income stream vanish (you lose your job), or prices continue to escalate. While no one likes to pay higher prices for basic items, having a supply can allow your family to draw from reserves rather than depend on limited resources and income.

More and more Americans are feeling the pinch of rising costs, from groceries to essential utilities to medical care. You are just fooling yourself if you think that hard times like the Great Depression couldn’t happen again. Rampant inflation and widespread unemployment could force many families into survival mode before the decade.

FoodStuffs Could be Valuable Commodities During a Catastrophe

If the economic system collapses, essential items become much more valuable overnight. A well-stocked food storage bunker could be used as a source of barter or economic gain in a world filled with people willing to deal. The resources you collect might need to be sold or traded for items your family needs, such as gasoline to power a generator.

Imagine a world where essential water services are unavailable or undrinkable. (Actually, you don’t have to imagine - the recent water crisis in Jackson, Ms., where residents had no tap water for over two months, is evidence that services can stop overnight. The citizens have had to depend on donations of bottled water handed out at distribution sites by the National Guard just to have anything to drink).

Ability to Extend Aid to Others

Once the word that you have a well-stocked bunker filled with food gets out, you can expect people to come knocking at your door. While it is your decision about who you let in and who you lock out, you may decide to help an elderly couple or extended family members. You will need a significant enough supply of food to have that option. Many areas of our country are already experiencing some form of this very thing, having to house multi-generations who live in one house and pool resources just to survive. In the event of a catastrophe, this need for extended care is only magnified.

Safety For Family Members

Radiation is most lethal within the first 24 hours after detonation. After the first day, the radioactive levels drop reasonably quickly. Should things get crazy, having a food bunker means not having to venture out to the store and risk exposure to radiation. A place to hide underground can keep your family from walking out in the open in the middle of a war zone or taking your life into your hands just to find something for your family to eat.

Easy to Defend and Secure

Since bunkers are underground, they usually have one entrance. A home is harder to defend, and if your family needs a place to hide, they can enter the shelter and lock the door behind them. They will have the necessary supplies for weeks or months as things settle.

What Are Some Things One Needs in a Food Storage Bunker?

After you have secured a power source (you will likely need some form of an indoor generator to supply electricity) and a water supply (some kind of filtration system to handle both drinking water and waste). Many premade bunkers are installed in locations where they can tap into an existing septic tank.

Once you have run power to your bunker, you will need to invest in foods to stock in your bunker. What are some of the foods that are the best to store?

• Bottle Water
• Canned or Powdered Milk
• Freeze-Dried or powdered eggs
• Canned Meat
• Canned Fruit and Vegetables
• non-Perishables like Cereal, Pasta, and Rice
• Beans
• MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat)
• Nuts
• Spices, Sugars, and Flours in sealed mylar bags

You have options when creating a food storage bunker, in that you can purchase prepared foods from a company, freeze dry your food goods, or can what you grow in your garden. Most owners of food bunkers do a combination of the above and regularly use their bunker to supplement their current meal preparation.

What Are Some Non-Food Items You Should Stock?

There are some things that you should consider stocking that are essential to survival but not food related.

• Medical Supplies - First Aid kits
• Batteries
• Flashlights
• Basic Tools
• Generators
• Blankets and linens - sleeping bags
• Plates - eating utensils
• Buckets
• Reading materials - board games
• Radio and Television are connected to an outside antenna.

What Are Some Things To Consider When Building a Bunker?

To properly store food, a bunker must be dry, free of infestation from insects and rodents, and temperature controlled, if possible. Since it is underground, it is already separated from sunlight, which can be a complication of food storage (direct sunlight can break down nutrients in processed foods)

Begin with The Basics

While these are necessities, you will also need to store nutritional foods that can be consumed quickly. Many companies offer powdered eggs, milk, and other ready-to-eat meals. For an example of a primary six-month food supply, see this offering from mypatriotsupply.com.

While a six-month food supply can be expensive, remember that you can start small and grow into something more sizeable. Many consumers begin food storage by buying necessary items in bulk, then investing in more and more items as they can afford them. Many preppers stock their bunkers with a premade six-month supply and then supplement those items with other dry goods they purchase in bulk at box stores like Costco.

Monitor Your Foodstuffs -

Many people have a food pantry but do not routinely review expiration dates and keep their stock fresh. The longevity of some items will be long-term (25+ years). Other food’s shelf-life will be shorter. You should update your food pantry regularly to keep spoilage at a minimum. The last thing you want is a national emergency to find out half of the items in your pantry unusable.

When you monitor the condition of your bunker and involve other family members in its development and upkeep, you can provide a lasting legacy that can help future generations learn the basics of survival in a chaotic world.