I personally stick to mres for my stash. Yes they only have a 3 year shelf life, but they're self contained, not overly thirst inducing, and when they get to end of life, pretty damn good to eat if you hand pick your menu. Water is the biggest issue. Especially in areas without big bodies of water. In Washington, a pack of bleach tabs and a big Birky were good. But now, I have to keep actual water, which is...less than ideal if I have to evacuate