After Park County Commissioners expressed some concerns about a proposal to store raw commodities as an emergency food supply, a group of area residents is now focusing on freeze-dried foods.

At a commission meeting Tuesday, Larry French, Larry Dodge and Andris Vaskis updated commissioners on their evolving plans.

In January, the group proposed that the county stockpile essentials like oats, wheat, corn and beans that could be used to feed the county’s roughly 30,000 residents in the event of national emergency. On Tuesday, however, they suggested purchasing a smaller    amount of freeze-dried foods that would last upwards of 40 years.

French said using the prepared packages would eliminate the hands-on work that would be needed to rotate through farm staples and that the food could be stored in shipping containers instead of new silos.

He also said freeze-dried meals are much easier for people to use and eat, and don’t require equipment to separate grains or the knowledge of how to prepare raw foods.

French said there were a number of situations that could lead to needing to use the emergency supply, from an EMP attack to economic collapse to a natural disaster.

After they presented the concept in January, Park County’s homeland security director searched for any similar government-led programs around the country, but didn’t find any, Commission Chair Dossie Overfield said. But Dodge didn’t see that as an issue.

“Maybe in the near future they can say, ‘Well, let’s do what Park County did,’” he offered.

The group has been reaching out to community members and organizations since the January meeting, French said, and a number of churches are interested in storing freeze-dried foods or even collecting food to freeze dry. He’s already talked to the Powell Ministerial Alliance about the program and plans to speak with Cody churches as well.  Walmart has also agreed to assist the group, French said, and he intends to pitch local farmers’ market participants on selling their unsold produce at a discount to people who could freeze dry it.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from people who say we’re on the right track,” he said.

The group whittled down the scope of its plan. Instead of storing enough food for every county resident for three months, the men presented figures on the costs of feeding 10,000 residents — roughly a third of the population — for one month.

Vaskis handed out a sheet laying out the potential costs, citing prices from seven different companies that offer emergency food supplies. The cheapest options identified by the group, MyPatriotSupply and Ready Hour, were around $2.65 million. However, Vaskis noted there would likely be significant discounts for buying in bulk.

In narrowing the scope of the proposal, French explained that there are many people who have stored an “adequate amount of food for themselves and their family” and that this program would focus on those who would most need the help, especially children in families who are not able or willing to store food.

“We have 10-20% who are drug addicts, stupid … But the part that’s sad is their children,” French said. “Are we enabling [the parents?] Well, I’ve got news for you: If you’re down to nothing, you’re not going to be able to purchase your drugs. But the children is where we’re really trying to emphasize that we need to protect … This is something we have a passion about.”

If the county wanted to assist, French suggested it could provide matching funds, as the group is looking into becoming a nonprofit organization.

“Our proposal is for every citizen in Park County,” he added.

Overfield and other commissioners said they appreciated the update, but would need to see more organization and buy-in to consider putting money towards the project.

“I’m just one commissioner, but in my mind, it will take a little more from the community to prove that they understand the need, that it makes any kind of a value to use tax dollars to do that,” Overfield said. “They need to indicate to us that they are interested in doing this and having this available. And some people are gonna say, ‘No, you know, I do my family, you worry about your family.’

“But you're right: There's a lot of people out there that don't have that mindset,” she added.  “How are we going to find enough support either through the ministerial [association] or other donors to make it look like it's going to be viable? In my mind the county doesn't jump in with tax dollars to start the program when we don't even know that it's viable or absolutely wanted by the public.”

French agreed, promising to continue his work and return once more details were in place.

“We truly hope that 40 years from now, when people look at that food storage, they say, ‘That was a good idea that we didn’t need,’” French said. “But we don’t know.”