Ready for a crisis

Moravec's neighbor, Cheri Christensen, said her family recently used a small, unexpected windfall to increase their food storage to a one-year supply. Christensen buys grains and pasta in bulk and cans fruits, vegetables and even butter.

"After we saw what happened in Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana ... those people were in dire straits. Take one look at that and you know you have to take care of yourself," Christensen said.

In the event of a real disaster, Moravec doubts his six-year stash would last more than a few months. He expects to feed not only his family, but the friends and neighbors who didn't or couldn't prepare.

"I've been blessed very well to have this kind of food storage," said Moravec. "But I don't think I've been blessed for me, it's for me to share. It's for the single mom over there, or the widow around the corner. I see that as part of my responsibility."

On the Net: www.providentliving.org; www.avertdisasters.org/indexKBM.html