Frequently Asked Questions

The Preparedness Store in Idaho Falls carries a wide selection of emergency food and water storage supplies, including freeze-dried meals, bulk grains, water containers, and purification systems. It is one of the few dedicated preparedness retailers in the region, meaning you get specialized inventory and knowledgeable staff rather than a general sporting-goods aisle.

A 72-hour kit is a compact, grab-and-go emergency supply designed to sustain your household for three days during a sudden evacuation or short-term disaster. A long-term food supply is a larger stockpile — typically three months to a year or more of calories — stored at home to support you through extended emergencies, job loss, or supply disruptions.

The standard recommendation is one gallon of water per person per day, so a family of four needs at least 12 gallons for a basic 72-hour supply and roughly 120 gallons for a 30-day supply. Pets, nursing mothers, and hot-weather conditions increase that requirement, so it is wise to build in extra capacity when choosing containers or filtration options.

Bulk water storage means keeping a ready supply of treated water in sealed containers so it is available immediately without any extra steps. Water purification — through filters, tablets, or UV devices — lets you treat water from a tap, stream, or rain barrel on demand, extending your supply indefinitely. Most preparedness experts recommend having both: stored water for the first critical days and a purification method for longer-term needs.

Yes, The Preparedness Store carries Harvest Right freeze dryers along with related accessories and repair parts. Freeze dryers let you preserve your own garden produce, leftovers, and bulk purchases at home for 25 or more years, making them a popular choice for serious long-term preparedness.

The Preparedness Store stocks well-known freeze-dried food brands including Mountain House and Rainy Day Foods, among others. These brands offer a range of entrees, fruits, vegetables, and full meal kits with multi-decade shelf lives, so you can build a varied and palatable long-term food supply.

Freeze-dried foods retain the most nutrition and flavor and typically last 25 to 30 years when sealed, making them the top choice for long-term storage. Dehydrated staples like rice, beans, oats, and pasta are more affordable and also store well for 20-plus years, so a practical long-term pantry usually combines both types for variety and cost balance.

Yes, The Preparedness Store carries the core components you need to assemble a complete 72-hour kit in one visit, including food rations, water containers, first aid supplies, and other essential gear. Shopping at a dedicated preparedness retailer means you can get personalized guidance on quantities and products tailored to your household size.

Start by estimating the number of calories each person in your household needs per day — typically 1,800 to 2,500 calories for an average adult — then multiply by 365 and divide by the calorie count per serving listed on the product packaging. Most preparedness specialists recommend also balancing your supply across protein, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables so meals stay nutritionally complete over a long period.

The Preparedness Store operates as both a retail and wholesale supplier, making it a resource for individual households as well as organizations, churches, businesses, and community groups that need to provision larger numbers of people. This dual focus means the store typically carries larger inventory volumes than a standard retail shop.

A dedicated preparedness store carries specialized products — such as long-shelf-life food systems, freeze dryers, and high-capacity water storage — that most general retailers do not stock in depth. Staff at a specialty store can also help you match products to your specific household size, threat environment, and budget rather than simply pointing you to a shelf.

Beyond food and water, The Preparedness Store carries a broad range of preparedness products including first aid supplies, emergency gear, and equipment for home and on-the-go preparedness needs. As a specialty retailer in Idaho Falls, the store is stocked to support both short-term emergency kits and comprehensive long-term readiness plans.