Supply Management for Crisis Times

In a world where unforeseeable events such as blackouts and crises can occur, it is crucial that we prepare well for such situations. Effective supply management can help ensure our safety and self-sufficiency. The new app, Blackout Lager, is designed to assist you in optimally managing your supplies and being prepared for emergencies.

Why Stockpiling is Important: Blackouts and other crisis situations like the COVID-19 pandemic can impact our supply systems and cut us off from essential resources. Well-thought-out stockpiling gives us the opportunity to be more independent and rely on our own resources. It means safety, reassurance, and a certain level of control in times of uncertainty.

Challenges of Stockpiling: However, stockpiling also brings challenges. Especially the shelf life of food, limited storage space, finding food, and possible adjustments to eating habits can pose difficulties. It is important to recognize these challenges and find appropriate solutions.

Effective Stock Management Techniques: To organize your supplies optimally, you should maintain an app-supported inventory list, apply a rotation system, and cleverly use various storage locations in your home. These techniques help you keep track and ensure that you use your supplies efficiently.

The Blackout Lager App: With this app, you can inventory your supplies, keep track of expiration dates and storage locations, and get statistics to optimize consumption. It’s a practical tool to manage your supplies and provide security during crises.

Origins and Use of the App: The app was created out of personal necessity and is actively used to organize our supplies. This has led to continuous improvements and expansions. Additionally, the app supports you during supermarket shopping by allowing you to quickly scan items to see how much you already have at home and when they expire. Over time, we have also learned some useful tips.

Tips for Shopping and Using Supplies: Nothing is more obvious than taking advantage of special offers at the supermarket to stock up on the pantry, especially with large packages. However, this proves to be a mistake when the goods expire, as large quantities of the same food must be consumed or disposed of all at once. It’s much better to shop regularly in smaller quantities and spread the expiration over a longer period. Expiring foods can thus be incorporated into the everyday meal plan. For foods that are already part of the regular meal plan (and should be a significant part of the stockpile), it is recommended to regularly exchange them after purchase with items already in stock and use the older ones. This ensures an automatic rotation of goods.

If you cook with an electric stove or microwave, you need to consider alternatives for an extended power outage. Camping gas stoves are not recommended indoors. Therefore, we have opted for fuel paste. Whatever you choose, pay attention to short cooking times (e.g., precooked rice, pasta).

Note that the refrigerator and freezer fail during a blackout, and food from them must be consumed quickly.

Additionally, do not neglect the stockpiling of water and medications. For (mineral) water, the use of glass bottles is strongly recommended.

You can download the Blackout Lager app for iOS on the Apple App Store. You will also find further descriptions of the app here.