A complete emergency preparedness kit is essential to every household, but many Americans face the problem of having nowhere to store their items. Properly storing your stash of emergency supplies is nearly as important as having it in the first place. If kept improperly, items can easily become damaged and unsalvageable, proving useless in the event of an emergency.
Learn how to build your family emergency preparedness kit to perfection and how to store it properly with the home storage solutions in this article.
What To Include In Your Home Emergency Preparedness Kit
Below, we have included a list of essentials that should be included in your home emergency preparedness supplies. If you would like to expand your storage beyond the basics, you can start with the list of items recommended by the Department of Homeland Security.
- At least 3-day’s worth of food and water for each person in the household.
- Along with food, you might also want to stock up on your cooking essentials–cooking oil like olive oil (which can be purchased online after reading Gundry Olive Oil reviews and its likes), seasonings like salt and sugar, and condiments.
- Battery-powered radio.
- Flashlights and plenty of extra batteries.
- An extensive first aid kit
- Garbage bags, moist towelettes, and plastic ties
- Basic tools.
- Can opener.
- Mobile phone, phone charger, and a wireless charger.
When it comes to preparing for injuries that might occur around the home, having a well-equipped first aid kit is essential, and knowing how to use it is even more important. You can visit this link to learn about products available online to put in your home so that you can respond to a first aid emergency, should you need to.
Emergency Preparedness Storage Tips
Once you’ve compiled your collection of emergency preparedness supplies, it’s important to store and maintain items properly. Use these emergency preparedness storage tips to maintain the longevity of every item in your kit.
- Store canned food in a cool, dry place and boxed food in metal or airtight containers
- Regularly check for expired foods to remove and replace them
- Keep food off the floor to protect from rodents, insects, flooding, etc.
- If you live in an extremely humid climate, consider climate-controlled home storage solutions
- Store non-food items in airtight bags
- Keep a portable emergency preparedness kit in duffle bags or containers that will be easy to transport
- Keep items organized for quick and convenient access in case of emergency
Home Storage Solutions for Emergency Preparedness Supplies
When it comes to preserving your stash of emergency preparedness supplies, there are plenty of ways you can do it. Some homeowners keep their stash in their kitchen pantry, but this takes up a lot of room and limits how much can be stored for emergencies. Others choose to store their emergency kits in the basement or cellar (if they have one) which is a great place because it stays cool; however, by storing your emergency items in the basement, you run the risk of a flood damaging your supplies. If you know your basement is a flood risk then you should get basement wall repair and waterproofing to prevent it from happening in the future. You want to make sure your emergency items are kept in a safe place so you need to take steps to improve your basement and reduce the chances of it flooding. And speaking of flooding, if you have a sump pump to get the water out of your home, make sure that is in working condition. If not, call for professionals who can conduct sump pump repairs so that you’re fully prepared in case of flooding.
The garage makes for a fantastic place to store emergency kits because it’s out of the way and protected from the elements. Build the perfect emergency preparedness collection and store it properly with these garage storage solutions.
All-in-One Deluxe Garage Storage
Investing in some heavy-duty deluxe garage storage is the best way to preserve your emergency preparedness supplies for years to come. These home storage solution systems are designed for off-the-ground installation and provide a myriad of cabinets, drawers, and shelving options for you to store your items effectively. The great thing about a deluxe garage storage unit is that you can store your entire collection comfortably in one place with enough room for it to grow as the years go by.
Build Your Own
If the deluxe garage storage system isn’t for you, then you can assemble your own emergency preparedness storage with the right pieces. Pick a combination of garage organization solutions that will work best for you and your emergency stash, from cabinet sets to shelving. We recommend you get an enclosed storage space for your food items and make sure to keep everything elevated above ground. If you’re low on space, you can also utilize ceiling storage.
By using the tips above you’ll be on your way to more organized storage of your emergency preparedness supplies. Good luck with creating and storing your family emergency preparedness supplies.