Storing for the Future

jnbythesea · **Storing for the Future**

We have talked a lot about decluttering and cutting back on what we own. I live in a hurricane prone area and have to have emergency supplies on hand. That makes me wonder- do you store things for the future? What, besides water and food, do you have on hand in case of emergency (natural disaster, terrorist attack, extended power loss, etc)?
Where do you keep it?

We have a generator in our garage, which takes up space, but I feel it's a must have. I try to think of the emergency stash stuff as different than just clutter hanging around, and I hope I never have to use it.

I also wonder how a person could store emergency supplies in more earth-friendly way. My stash has a lot of plastic- bottled water, rolls of TP, etc

vioburn · 08-12-2007, 05:37 PM

I keep an emergency stash of food and water, as well as candles, batteries, hand operated tools (can openers, etc.), we keep our propane tank for our grill filled, sterno cans, tp, extra paper towels, and some other things.

littlelizard · 08-12-2007, 06:15 PM

I also keep supplies for hurricanes. I have a couple of bins filled with lanterns, battery-operated tv and radio, etc. My storm shutters I have standing up vertically against the garage wall so they don't take up a lot of floor space. As for food and tp, etc, I keep most of it mixed right in with my regular day-to-day foods, and tp, etc, I just make sure every grocery trip that those items are extra stocked. I would love to get my garage under control one of these years so that I would feel comfortable keeping some cans,etc in there as well. I don't know how you could keep stuff like that environmentally friendly, because you actually want it all to be disposable, because you'd want to save your water for drinking , not washing. In 2005 we had no power for over two weeks and the water was bad for about a week or so. I was really glad we had a lot of plastic forks and stuff like that!

cathleeninnh · 08-13-2007, 01:44 PM

We have a bug out bag that includes a wool blanket(army surplus), a change of clothes for each of us, a couple of towels, toiletries, flashlight and batteries, energy bars, copies of important documents, emergency cash. I also have my emergency stockpile of several weeks of food, supplies like candles, radio, rope, water.

For additional security we felt the need to have some gold and silver, arms and ammo. No, we are not survivalists, just want to be prepared. I recommend training to avoid panic in times of need. First aid, evacuation, arms handling, self defense. I have been thorugh hurricanes and blizzards. Things we don't want to imagine are possible.

I don't worry all the time. Preparation gives tremendous peace of mind.

Cathleen

MandaRenee · 08-13-2007, 02:07 PM

I consider emergency supplies a necessity and not clutter. However if you don't store and organize them they can quickly become clutter. The key is to keep them put away and organized. You will be able to find the supplies you need quickly that way and they aren't interfering with your daily life.

Emergency preparation is a great concept that many don't even consider. Even if you aren't in a hurricane area there is likely something you need to prep for. Blizzards, flood, loss of electricity, and of course man made disasters.

periwinkle · 08-13-2007, 02:10 PM

we have no room for a normal household stockpile let alone emergencys...... I just cross my fingers and hope nothing happens

vioburn · 08-13-2007, 06:04 PM

I visit another board that talks about these things. There are all sorts of ways to have emergency preps in small spaces. Some of the people on that board go a little over the top, but I get great ideas from them. Some store items under the beds, behind furniture, etc. I read that only something like 7% of Americans have any kind of emergency preps and that if anything seriously happened, we'd all be screwed and those of us that have prepared had better watch out, because those that haven't will try to take. Being prepared is prudent and if there is any way to sock away a few things, at the very least, you should try. Cathleeninnh would probably agree. I don't have guns or ammo, but I think she's got the right idea. I certainly wouldn't call your supplies clutter.

MandaRenee · 08-14-2007, 09:19 AM

Periwinkle. Do you not even have room for underbed storage boxes in any rooms or anything. You might be surprised how little space it takes to have some emergency supplies on hand.

We also have a backpack that we keep with copies of important papers, a first aid kit, gloves, scarves, flashlights, matches, etc. that we can grab in an emergency evacuation type situation. One thing I keep seeing over and over from emergency evacuations is people with absolutely no ID or important records. That is just so sad to me, and something that could easily be prevented.

cathleeninnh · 08-14-2007, 09:23 AM

We could all take tips from the Amish and the Mormons. The Amish do for themselves rather than look to services for help. They know how to go without electricity and help each other. The Mormons are the kings of stockpiling. Under the bed and anywhere else. A strong work ethic and personal responsibility.

I set great store by being able to sleep at night with a clear conscience. Know your principles and live them everyday. There are no regrets when you know you did what you think is right.

I may not be prepared for every eventuality, but I think that I am flexible and competent and capable of dealing with whatever life throws at me.

Cathleen

SwampWitch · 08-14-2007, 10:49 PM

Vancouver Island has supplies for only three days for the people living here - the stock in the grocery stores, the 20% of the food grown on the island, and one grocery store warehouse, and that is it. There are no bridges to get on and off the island and we are prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Most items in our emergency backpacks are just now expiring and almost all need to be replaced. I find this the most difficult part of emergency supplies, not the inital task of getting them together but the ongoing work of keeping them up to date.