The precise cause of the next disaster can't be foreseen — a crippling snowstorm, perhaps, or an ice storm that brings down trees and power lines much like the wind did in September 2008.

The only certainty is that we will face another one eventually. And when it happens, emergency services officials want area residents to not only survive, but to eat healthy, until the crisis is over.

"It's easy to put off assembling a disaster-supplies kit, because disasters are rare," said Jeff Jordan, who oversees Montgomery County's emergency management office. "But it's best to be prepared."

Before considering what food supplies may be needed for a disaster preparedness kit, make sure you have the most important item: drinking water, Jordan said. Count on one gallon of water per person per day, and keep a three-day supply of water on hand for emergencies, he said. Also consider vitamins and other necessities such as a hand-operated can opener for an emergency kit.

The Ohio State University Extension service has created an "Emergency Food Pyramid: Eating Nutritiously When the Lights Are Out" that includes recommendations for a three-day menu (no heating required) and a grocery list to make the menu possible.

Suggested foods to keep on hand include vegetable juices, canned vegetables, crackers, unrefrigerated tortillas, dried egg whites, dry breakfast cereals, canned and dried fruits, dry and boxed milk, canned sweetened condensed milk, canned cheeses, dried egg whites, canned beans, peanut butter, and canned meats such as tuna, salmon, deviled ham and corned beef.

Jordan also recommended including some "comfort food" in the kit such as lollipops, instant coffee and teabags, though he recommended using caffeinated beverages judiciously. Granola bars and energy bars also will come in handy, the emergency services director said.

For food items that become perishable after opening, leftovers can be a problem when there's no refrigeration. Opened food that cannot be kept cold should be tossed out at the end of the day, the OSU food specialists said. Canned fruits and juices, because of their acidity, can be eaten the following day.

For more information on food supplies in a disaster, go to www.fema.gov or www.redcross.org.