Be ready for the next disaster: Commissary patrons advised to stock up for emergencies

  • Published
  • By Kevin Robinson
  • Defense Commissary Agency Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  If a tornado, hurricane, flood or any other natural disaster strikes, would you be able to survive? That's the question emergency preparedness organizations want the public to address before the next crisis occurs.

Disaster planning is considered crucial to improving your odds of survival, and this year, the Defense Commissary Agency has worked with its industry partners to offer many of the items needed for severe weather survival kits at reduced prices, said DeCA Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu.

"We always offer certain nonperishable foods, water and nonedible items, such as batteries, as part of our summer club packs," said Jeu, referring to the bulk purchases similar to what a consumer would see at a membership warehouse. "But this year our network of industry partners - manufacturers, vendors and suppliers - offered us a special package of discounted items that our customers would need to augment their survival kits, and we extended the availability of these items in our stores to coincide with the peak periods of severe weather."

Since April 1, items such as canned chicken, powdered milk, batteries, weather-ready flashlights, all-weather tape, first aid kits, lighters, matches, candles and hand sanitizer have been reduced in price as part of the severe weather promotional package that runs until Oct. 31.

DeCA's severe weather promotional package coincides with the prime time for both tornado and hurricane seasons in the United States. Tornado season runs from April to July. According to the National Weather Service, this year the number of tornadoes doubled in comparison to the same period in 2010.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November and includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration call for a 70 percent chance for about 12 to 18 named storms, six to 10 of which will become hurricanes, and three to six are expected to be major hurricanes. These predictions do not include which hurricanes will make landfall, because it's not possible to plot landfall weeks or months ahead of a storm, the NOAA Web site said.

"Although there's lots of attention, and deservedly so, on the peak storm periods in the states, we want our customers to know that they need to stock their food pantries with items to sustain them for any emergency - natural or man-made - that could occur anywhere in the world at any time," Jeu said.

DeCA recommends that customers take advantage of their commissary benefit and its average savings of 30 percent or more to stock up on emergency items that can sustain them during a crisis.