Paging Forum: Organizing Preps in Limited Space

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One of the threads requested by some was on this topic, to which could be added -- storing things in limited space with an eye towards bringing them with you if needed for bug-out.

Caching could well be discussed as well.

My suggestion: divide your preps by type (water, food, medical, security, etc). Determine which need specific temp or humidity conditions. Bag or box to fit niches in your space. Store accordingly.

If possible, prioritize or pack some items into smaller bug-out quantities and label so you can put them together for departure readiness within an hour period.

If possible, store some of your longer-term (> 60 days) preps with nearby family or trusted GI friends (but within walking distance).

-- BigDog (BigDog@Duffer.com), October 24, 1999

Answers

There are quite a few small spaces in most homes which could be used to store a few things. They may not be convenient to get to, or big enough to store large items, but you can tuck quite a few small containers under furniture, in the back of partially full file drawers, under the stairs, in the out-of-reach recesses of corner base cabinets, in the middle of the drawer base of your waterbed (there's some empty space in there,) under the guest bed, in the attic or crawl space (depending on the temp extremes and what you are storing), or even in your vehicle. If you have book cases with small books in them, you can store a line of cans behind the books without the appearance of turning your office into a pantry.

If you have a corner of a room, a stack of cases of canned goods covered with a round piece of plywood and a tablecloth can look pretty normal, and provide storage for about 150 cans of veggies or soup. That sounds pretty extreme doesn't it? Anyway, imagination will let you store a lot of stuff that you wouldn't believe possible.

Lookin' for a deal on chocolate,

Gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), October 24, 1999.


I'm not sure how useful this tip would be in a bug-out situation...but, here is how I store bath soap, tubes of lotion, extra toothbrushes, etc.

Do you know those little nets that hang in corners and are usually filled with stuffed animals? I found several at a yardsale and hung them up. Now, I just toss my soaps, dental floss, etc. up in them. : )

-- Kallie (kallie125@hotmail.com), October 25, 1999.


I saw a segment on a show on HGTV, given by a fire prevention fellow, that gave a good idea. His angle was leaving the home quickly in the case of fire. He suggested having items to "bug out with" in a closet or convenient area near the exit in one of those trash cans which have wheels.

That seems like a very good idea. If your vehical wouldn't accommadate the entire trash can, you could still push it to your car and unload smaller premade bundles out of it.

A similar trash can with wheels, stored in an outside, but above freezing location (depending on your climate) could accomadate your "to go" water in the bottom (in case of a leak) and other bug out items that are not necessary to store inside, such as extra clothing, sterno cans and stove, etc.

I don't know how those trash cans with wheels do on steps and such, nor how airtight they are, etc. since I never had one. It did seem like a good idea though for moving alot of bulk items quickly.

Another topic, slightly OT, I haven't seen discussed, is what to do with items of "sentimintal value" that you might not want to take along in a bug out situation, yet hopefully can keep secure and safe till you can retrieve them later.

Photo albums, glassware and linens are some of the things I would not want to loose, but couldn't see bringing along either. I have no suggestions, just something to think about ahead of time.

Also (sort of OT too, but still related to departing quickly, and somehow everything sort of overlapes with preps doesn't it?) think ahead of time of pets that might need to be left behind (temperarily hopefully, as for power outages, etc.) such as outside cats, parrots, etc. When we vacationed we secured a place outside for bulk food and water for the outside cats. A large temporary chicken wire cage provided food/water space for parrots. It had no door, just lifted up off of a base...very crude, but it worked well.

The turtles and lizzard just fasted, and the dogs went to the kennel and the goat went to a helpful neighbor, but everyone was fine for several days. Might not be a long term option, nor an offer for a pro/con debate on what to do with pets, but more to think about ahead of time.

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), October 26, 1999.


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