Emergency Food Supplies

More Prepared emergency food supplies provide ready-to-store nutrition for situations where normal food access is disrupted during an emergency. Used by schools, workplaces, warehouses, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and individual households, these products support occupants during extended emergencies, shelter-in-place events, lockdowns, and disaster situations where leaving the building is unsafe or regular food service is interrupted.

Our emergency food range includes US Coast Guard approved emergency food bars from SOS, Mayday, Datrex, Mainstay, and New Millennium, MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) complete meals from MRE Star and AmeriQual, and freeze-dried meals from Mountain House and ReadyWise. Products are selected for extended shelf life, compact storage, and minimal preparation requirements — allowing facilities to maintain food readiness for years without frequent rotation.

Available in individual units, cases, and pallets for institutional purchasing programs. Purchase orders, tax-exempt orders, GSA contract, CMAS, and cooperative purchasing available for qualifying organizations. Contact us at 888.733.7245 or quotes@moreprepared.com for volume pricing.

146 products

Why Emergency Food Is Part of Emergency Planning

During an extended emergency, access to normal food sources may be limited or unavailable. Power outages, natural disasters, lockdowns, and supply chain disruptions can leave occupants without reliable access to meals. Emergency food supplies allow organizations to maintain basic nutrition and stability until normal conditions return or assistance arrives. Having food on hand also reduces anxiety, supports decision-making, and helps maintain order during stressful situations.

Choosing the Right Emergency Food Format

More Prepared carries emergency food in three formats to support different program requirements:

Emergency food bars — compact, individually wrapped calorie-dense bars with shelf lives of up to 5 years (SOS, Mayday, Datrex, Mainstay) or longer (New Millennium). US Coast Guard approved. Require no preparation, no water, and no utensils. Ideal for kit assembly, classroom and office emergency supplies, and distribution programs. SOS and Mainstay are kosher certified. Mayday and Datrex carry additional SOLAS international maritime approval. New Millennium bars are available in up to 12 fruit flavors — making them particularly popular for student and family kits. All made in the USA.

MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) — complete self-contained meals requiring no refrigeration and minimal preparation. MRE Star offers standard, vegetarian, halal, and no-gluten configurations — making them suitable for programs serving diverse dietary needs. AmeriQual provides additional MRE options for larger institutional deployments. Shelf lives of up to 5 years at moderate storage temperatures. Ideal for extended shelter-in-place programs, workplace emergency supply rooms, and government agency food stockpiling.

Freeze-dried meals — Mountain House and ReadyWise provide lightweight, long-shelf-life meal options (up to 25-30 years) requiring only water to prepare. Ideal for longer-duration emergency programs, outdoor and remote applications, and organizations seeking maximum shelf life with minimal rotation.

Designed for Schools, Workplaces, and Public Facilities

Emergency food is commonly stored in classrooms and administrative areas, office buildings and warehouses, healthcare and government facilities, and emergency supply rooms and preparedness closets. These supplies are intended to support groups of people during situations where leaving the building is unsafe or regular food service is interrupted. Available in individual units for single-person kits and in cases and pallets for facility-wide and campus-wide stockpiling programs.

Supports Shelter-in-Place and Disaster Preparedness Plans

Emergency food is often included as part of broader preparedness programs including shelter-in-place planning, disaster preparedness and continuity plans, school and workplace emergency procedures, and public agency emergency supply programs. It helps translate written preparedness plans into practical on-site resources that are immediately accessible when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of emergency food does More Prepared carry?
More Prepared carries US Coast Guard approved emergency food bars (SOS, Mayday, Datrex, Mainstay, New Millennium), MRE complete meals (MRE Star and AmeriQual), and freeze-dried meals (Mountain House and ReadyWise). Each format is suited to different program requirements, storage conditions, and dietary needs.

How many calories does a person need during an emergency?
A common planning approach is 1,200–2,400 calories per person per day for basic energy needs during a shelter-in-place or emergency event. Emergency food bars typically provide 400 calories per individually wrapped segment. A standard 2,400-calorie food bar provides 6 segments — one full day of minimum caloric intake for one person. MREs typically provide 1,200–1,300 calories per complete meal. Plan caloric requirements based on occupant count, expected duration, and activity level.

What is the difference between food bars, MREs, and freeze-dried meals?
Emergency food bars require no preparation, no water, and no utensils — making them the simplest option for kit assembly and short-duration distribution. MREs are complete self-contained meals that can be eaten cold or heated using the included flameless ration heater — providing more variety and a full meal experience. Freeze-dried meals require only water to prepare and offer the longest shelf lives of up to 25-30 years, making them ideal for longer-duration programs.

What dietary options are available?
MRE Star offers standard, vegetarian, halal, and no-gluten MRE configurations. New Millennium food bars are available in up to 12 fruit flavors. SOS and Mainstay food bars are kosher certified. Contact us at 888.733.7245 or quotes@moreprepared.com to discuss dietary requirement planning for your program.

How long does emergency food last in storage?
Shelf life varies by product. US Coast Guard approved food bars carry up to 5-year shelf lives. New Millennium bars carry longer shelf lives. MREs carry up to 5 years at moderate storage temperatures — shelf life decreases significantly at higher temperatures. Freeze-dried meals from Mountain House and ReadyWise carry shelf lives of up to 25-30 years. Store all emergency food in cool dry locations away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures to maximize shelf life.

How much emergency food should I stock per person?
Plan based on occupant count, expected duration, and caloric requirements. A simple baseline is one 2,400-calorie food bar per person per day for short-duration programs of 1–3 days. For longer programs or more comprehensive nutrition, supplement with MREs or freeze-dried meals. Contact our team for help calculating requirements for your specific facility or program.

Is bulk purchasing available?
Yes. All More Prepared emergency food products are available by the case and pallet. Purchase orders, tax-exempt orders, GSA contract, CMAS, and cooperative purchasing are available for qualifying organizations. Contact us at 888.733.7245 or quotes@moreprepared.com for volume pricing and institutional program support.

What should I do with food close to expiration?
Rotate using a first-in, first-out system. Consider donating expiring food locally to food banks, shelters, or community organizations so it is used rather than discarded. For large institutional programs, schedule rotation cycles based on the shelf life of your primary food format and budget for replenishment accordingly.

Contract Vehicles & Purchasing Options

  • GSA MAS Schedule
  • EPCNT
  • CTPA
  • CMAS (California Multiple Award Schedule)
  • Cooperative purchasing available
  • Purchase orders accepted
  • Tax-exempt orders accepted
  • W-9, COI, and SAM.gov registration available upon request

About More Prepared

More Prepared LLC is an SBA-certified woman-owned small business (WOSB) and WBENC-certified woman-owned business headquartered in Torrance, California. We have been supplying emergency preparedness equipment to schools, businesses, and government agencies since 2005.

Emergency Food FAQ for Organizations

How much emergency food should a school or workplace store?

A common planning baseline is one 2,400-calorie food bar per person per day for short-duration shelter-in-place events of 1–3 days. For a classroom of 30 students, that is 30 food bars per day or 90 bars for a 3-day supply. For a 100-person office, plan 100 bars per day. Larger facilities should calculate based on total occupant count and target duration. MREs and freeze-dried meals can supplement or replace food bars for longer-duration programs or where meal variety is a priority.

What type of emergency food is best for shelter-in-place situations?

For shelter-in-place, choose options that are easy to distribute, require minimal preparation, and store well. Many organizations use a mix of ready-to-eat items plus longer-term options for extended disruptions.

Do emergency food supplies require water or cooking?

It depends on the product type. Emergency food bars require no water, no cooking, and no utensils — they are ready to eat directly from the package. MREs can be eaten cold without preparation or heated using the included flameless ration heater which requires only a small amount of water. Freeze-dried meals require water to rehydrate — typically 1–2 cups per serving — and are not suitable for situations where water access is also disrupted unless a separate water supply is maintained.

Where should emergency food be stored in a facility?

Emergency food should be stored in a cool dry indoor location away from direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, and cleaning chemicals. Ideal locations include designated emergency supply rooms, storage closets, classroom cabinets, office supply areas, and warehouse storage rooms. Avoid areas subject to temperature extremes such as vehicles, outdoor storage units, or spaces near heat sources. Food bars and MREs are compact enough to store at the classroom or office level — one kit per instructional space or department is a common approach for schools and workplaces.

How long does emergency food last in storage?

Shelf life varies by product type and storage conditions. US Coast Guard approved emergency food bars (SOS, Mayday, Datrex, Mainstay) carry up to 5-year shelf lives. New Millennium bars carry longer shelf lives. MREs carry up to 5 years at moderate storage temperatures — shelf life decreases significantly at higher temperatures. Freeze-dried meals from Mountain House and ReadyWise carry shelf lives of up to 25–30 years. All products should be stored in cool dry locations and rotated according to the manufacturer's stated shelf life.

How do we plan quantities for large groups (50–1,000+ people)?

Start with your total occupant count and target duration. Multiply occupants by days by servings per day to get your total unit count. For food bars — one 2,400-calorie bar per person per day is a common baseline. For 100 people for 3 days, that is 300 bars. For 1,000 people for 3 days, that is 3,000 bars — approximately 30 cases of 100. More Prepared carries rolling bin emergency kits in configurations from 50 to 1,000 persons that include pre-calculated food and water quantities. For custom program planning, contact our team at 888.733.7245 or quotes@moreprepared.com.

Is emergency food part of emergency planning requirements?

Emergency food is not universally mandated by a single regulation, but it is recommended or required under several frameworks. OSHA Emergency Action Plans (EAP) require employers to address employee needs during emergencies. FEMA Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 recommends food and water supplies as part of facility emergency operations plans. California schools are required to maintain emergency supplies under California Education Code Section 32282, which many districts interpret to include food and water. Many school districts, government agencies, and healthcare facilities include emergency food as a standard component of their emergency operations plans regardless of specific regulatory requirements.