Food Security

There are many factors that can disrupt our supply chains and make our food sources insecure, including natural disasters.

The best way to protect you and your family is to have a good plan.
Being prepared can save lives, save money and can speed up recovery.

The following information provides advice on being prepared.

STEP 1: Know Your Risk

Natural disasters can affect access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.

Food distribution networks may be impacted during major disasters or, for example, as we saw in the pandemic.

Consider the possible resulting effects of a disaster such as extended power outages, disruption to transport services and the potential for your home and/or community becoming isolated for a period of time.

These impacts may affect your access and availability to fresh food.

STEP 2: Make a Plan

Plan your Pantry

NSW Health suggests planning for a 14-day stay at home (possibly without water and electricity) with the following pantry list.
The pantry list is grouped into the types of food and other essential items that may be required during an extended stay at home.

These include:

drinks
pet food
dried and long life food
snack food
emergency backup power supply
baby supplies
ready to eat canned/bottled food
health supplies
other items (such as prescription medications)

Images: courtesy Uki Community Gardens

STEP 3: Prepare Your Emergency Food Supply

NSW Health has the following advice on food items to consider for disasters.

Go to Health NSW’s ‘Preparedness Page’

Download the pantry list below to help you prepare.

Download Health NSW’s ‘Pantry list’

Grow your own food

Growing a home garden is one of the best ways to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and to have a supply of fresh food in the event of a disaster.

Storing a year’s supply of garden seeds is a great way to ensure that you can continue growing food for the long term.

The NSW government have started a community initiative called ‘Grow it Local’ to encourage people to grow, eat and share food locally.
Check the link below.

Go to the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ website

Go to the ‘Grow it Local’ website

STEP 4: Learn About Food Safety - Before, During and After a Disaster

Check out the following guidelines on food safety.

Download ‘Food Safety Guidelines’

Food Safety Tips provided by the Food Safety Information Council.

Go to ‘www.foodsafety.asn.au’

STEP 5: Connect with your Neighbours and Community Network

Getting to know your neighbours is an important part of preparing your household.

Neighbours can help each other in many ways including sharing food and cooking for each other if your area or street is cut off during a severe weather event

Join your neighbourhood group if you haven’t already and connect with your neighbours.

Go to RUKI’s ‘Neighbourhood Groups’ page

Networks to join:

Feeding Uki Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/groups/feedinguki

Uki Community Garden Page

www.facebook.com/UkiCommunityGardens

Murwillumbah Community Garden Facebook page

www.facebook.com/MurwillumbahCommunityGarden

Resources

Plan C is an organisation that is aiming to build the resilience and regenerative capacities of Northern Rivers communities in the face of disasters and crises.

A recent report about the Northern Rivers food systems by Plan C is useful in understanding our current food situation and challenges that we face.

Download Plan C’s ‘NR Food Security’ study

Go to the link below for more information about their work on building food resilience for the Northern Rivers region.

Go to www.planc.org.au

Stay informed and go to the useful Apps, Numbers & Links page to download relevant apps and bookmark links.

Go to the Useful Apps, Numbers & Links Page