You know you live in a rich country when most of the poor people are fat. Many of the (really) poor people on earth get most of their calories from a local grain and most of their protein from beans or fish.
I think that most poor Americans could easily have an extra 50 lb bag of rice on hand and plenty of extra water, and probably some dry beans or canned fish or game too. Most of our water is in gallon milk jugs that are carefully cleaned, filled from the tap, and preserved with 8 drops of bleach.
Like most things, those with greater earnings can likely be more comfortable if they prepare for emergencies, but I don't think a 50 lb bag of rice is cost prohibitive, even for most poor Americans. Adults might lose a bit of weight weathering a 10 day emergency on three cups of rice per day, but a lot of the world survives on fewer calories, and one 50 lb bag of rice will feed a family of four for 10 days providing three cups of rice per person each day.
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