You’ll have to decide what storage container works best for your space, but here are a couple of convenient, inexpensive ideas:
• Crush-resistant containers that are waterproof/airtight
• Stackable five-gallon buckets with lids
• 55-gallon drum or large trash can (with lids)
• Large rectangular containers (i.e., RubbermaidTM), also stackable
When deciding where to store your supplies, think about where in the house you will shelter during an emergency. No matter what type of containers you use, if you can’t get to them, or they get destroyed during the disaster, your efforts will have been wasted. You want to make sure you can access your supplies in a moment’s notice. There’s no point to having emergency supplies if you need a ladder to get to them or they’re buried under a pile of boxes. If your basement is the safest place to be in a disaster, then store your supplies there and make sure they’re easy to access. If you live on the upper floor of an apartment building and earthquakes are your main concern, store your emergency supplies in a backpack or duffle bag and make sure it’s located somewhere along your escape route.
When considering storage locations, you also want to protect your emergency supplies by keeping them somewhere they will be safe from falling objects, flood water, extreme heat and cold, or any other potential threat posed by likely disasters in your area. Since the most likely scenario for needing an emergency kit consists of you and your home being fine but not having access to local stores, my inclination is to go with whatever works best for the contents of the kit, while keeping access in mind.
Although there is no single perfect location, the point is to identify a place that will be safe and well preserved, accessible in the context of your own home and somewhere that you will remember. In addition, make sure it is not too inconvenient to access, otherwise you will be less likely to check it every year or two and replace things that have expired.Â
Be creative as you find a solution that works best for you. I’ve seen someone store their supplies in a medium-sized cardboard drum, which was then placed in the corner of the living room, covered with a tablecloth and used as a lamp stand.
Now here is your shopping list for Week #14 from the American Red Cross 21 Weeks to Prepare plan:
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