Some 60 million people are under winter weather advisories as the first full week of January 2025 begins and residents in the impacted regions are in many cases being told by the local weatherman to stockpile milk, bread, and eggs.
The idea of stocking up on milk, bread, and eggs before a major storm dates back to the Blizzard of 1978, which hammered New England. Many people were trapped in their homes for days and didn’t have access to those products.
Although FBT and The Travelist Editorial Director Jonathan Spira’s theory that the milk, egg, and bread industries pay off the weathermen to tout their products, it turns out there’s actually a science behind the feeding frenzy.
“There’s a growing psychology literature on decision making which shows that we are often not rational or logical in how we weigh the risks of various events,” University of Georgia psychology professor Dr. Janet Frick told a reporter at WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit. “So apparently where weather is concerned, we are not terribly worried about getting struck by lightning, but we are terrified of the idea of having to make a meal from items in our pantry that doesn’t include bread and milk.”
“Milk, bread, and eggs are terrible choices because they’re perishable,” said Basilio Alferow, the director of research at Frequent Business Traveler and The Travelist, in his last interview before his death in early December. “If the power goes out, the milk will spoil fairly quickly as will the eggs, and the bread will become moldy. Instead, keep non-perishable canned and tinned products on hand specifically for such emergencies.”
Alferow also suggested following the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends stockpiling at least several days’ worth of meals.
Other items to keep on hand include bottled water for drinking, extra jugs of tap water for hand-washing and brushing one’s teeth, an inexpensive but high-quality electric kettle, and broth cubes, tea bags, cocoa, and instant coffee.
If your family has pets, ensure that there is sufficient canned pet food and also have extra flashlights, extra batteries, and a first-aid kit.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
