Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
No one knows when a natural disaster will hit or how bad it will be. That's why it's important to have an emergency preparedness plan in place, including having a designated spot to store your supplies.
If you're like most people, you have a few supplies tucked away in case of an emergency. But if a disaster strikes, are you sure your supplies will be safe and easy to access? Here are some of the best hiding spots for your emergency supplies.
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!
1. With Other Miscellaneous Storage
Some people like to keep their emergency supplies in a separate location from their other belongings. This way, they can grab everything they need in a hurry if they have to evacuate their home.
Others prefer to store their emergency supplies with other miscellaneous items, such as holiday decorations or extra clothes. This can help to save space and ensure that everything is in one place. If you label your supplies surreptitiously, there’s no way of others knowing this is where you have them stored, either.
After all, who would suspect canned goods and extra drinking water to be stored with old Christmas wreaths and Halloween decorations?
2. Inside a Piece of Furniture
If you're looking for a place to store your emergency supplies where they'll be safe and hidden, you can't do better than a piece of furniture.
Who would think to look inside a dresser or end table for food, water, and other supplies? And if someone did happen to stumble upon your hidden stash, they'd probably just assume it was part of the normal contents of the furniture.
3. Beneath the Floor
The best place to store these emergency items, for some people, might be beneath the floor. This way, if intruders break into your home, they will never think to look under the floorboards for your emergency stash.
Plus, if you have small children or animals, they will be safe from accidentally ingesting or destroying your supplies.
4. Above the Door Frame
If you're looking for the best spot to store your emergency supplies, you'll want to head on up to the door frame. That's right – above the door frame is the perfect place to keep your supplies hidden and out of sight.
And if someone does happen to stumble upon your stash, they'll probably just assume it's a decoration or something.
5. Behind Air Vents
Another great spot is behind the air vents. Not only will they be hidden from view, but they'll also be out of reach. And if you ever need to use them in a hurry, you can just grab them and go!
6. Inside the Wall
Just take a trip to your local hardware store and pick up some drywall. Then, carefully cut a hole in your wall and slide your supplies inside.
Behind the drywall, you'll never have to worry about water damage or pests getting into your food supply.
7. Under the Bathroom Cabinet
In case of an emergency, it is important to have a safe and hidden spot to store your supplies.
And what better place to hide your supplies than under the bathroom cabinet? After all, who would think to look there for food in an emergency?
Plus, the bathroom is usually one of the last places people evacuate from in an emergency, so you'll have plenty of time to grab your supplies before you leave.
8. On the Closet Floor
Most people would never think to look for emergency supplies on the closet floor, making it the perfect place to hide them. Out of sight and out of mind, your supplies will be safe and hidden away until you need them.
Plus, if an intruder does manage to get into your home, they're unlikely to think to look for supplies in the closet.
9. Behind Your Couch
Not only is the area behind the couch mostly hidden from view, but it's also out of reach of curious children and pets. Plus, you can stock up on specialty canned goods racks just for this area. So next time you're feeling anxious about an impending disaster, just relax knowing that your emergency supplies are safely hidden behind your couch.
10. Beneath Floor Cabinets
Floor cabinets are the perfect hideaway for your supplies because they're usually out of reach and out of sight. Plus, if you have to evacuate in a hurry, you can just grab your supplies and go without having to worry about finding a safe place to store them.
11. In Random Boxes
One option is to store the supplies in random boxes around your house. That way, even if someone were to find one of the boxes, they wouldn't know what was inside.
12. Under Your Bed
If you're looking for a place to store your emergency supplies, you might want to consider hiding them under your bed. Not only is this out of sight and out of mind, but it's also the perfect place to hide things from burglars.
After all, who would think to look for valuables under a bed? Of course, there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind if you go this route.
First, make sure that your bed is sturdy enough to support the weight of your supplies. You don't want your bed collapsing in the middle of the night! Secondly, consider using airtight containers to keep your supplies dry and protected from dust.
And finally, try to keep the area around your bed clear so that you can easily access your supplies in case of an emergency.
13. Within a Wall Safe
Hiding your emergency supplies is a good idea. And the best spot to do that is within a wall safe. Wall safes are inconspicuous and difficult to find, making them the perfect place to store your emergency supplies. Plus, you can lock them – meaning nobody can get in without the right combination.
The downside, of course, is that it’s probably going to take you longer to get your supplies out of the safe, and there are very few safes that could accommodate all of the supplies you need to store. Nevertheless, it’s still a good option for certain types of preps, like ammo, medications, and cash.
14. In a Cache Away from Home
If you're looking for the best spot to store your emergency supplies, you might want to consider a cache away from home.
After all, what could be more hidden than a cache that's not even on your property? Plus, if an emergency strikes while you're away from home, you'll be glad you have a cache of supplies hidden away. Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a cache away from home.
First, make sure the location is safe and secure. Second, be sure to choose a spot that's out of the way so it's not easily found. And finally, be sure to tell someone you trust the location of your cache so they can access it in an emergency.
15. Behind Books on a Bookshelf
If you're looking for a safe and hidden spot to store your emergency supplies, look no further than behind books on a bookshelf. Not only is it out of sight, but it's also out of mind – which is exactly where you want your emergency supplies to be in an emergency.
The books can hide your items but since they’re more or less out in the open, they’ll also be relatively easy to grab when you need them.
16. Right in Plain Sight
If you're like most people, you probably have a designated spot in your home where you keep all of your emergency supplies.
But what you may not realize is that the best spot for storing these items is actually right in plain sight. That's because if disaster strikes, chances are good that you'll be too busy trying to escape to remember where you hid your supplies.
And since intruders will think that you’ve hidden your supplies, they’re unlikely to realize that the supplies are actually right in front of their noses.
So instead of spending valuable time searching for them, keep them somewhere that's easy to access. The next time you're looking for your flashlight or first-aid kit, you'll be glad you did.
17. Buried in the Backyard
If you're looking for the best spot to store your emergency supplies, you might want to consider burying them in the backyard. This is an ideal location because it's hidden from view and out of reach of curious pets or children.
Plus, the ground helps to insulate the supplies and keep them cool. If you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, you may want to bury your supplies in a waterproof container to protect them from moisture or flooding.
And if you're worried about someone digging up your cache, you can always cover it with a heavy tarp or piece of plywood.
Tips for Storing Your Emergency Supplies
One of the most important things you can do is store emergency supplies. But what should you put in your emergency kit? And how should you store it? Here are some tips on storing your emergency supplies.
Use Opaque Boxes
When stocking up on emergency supplies, be sure to use opaque boxes rather than clear ones. This will make it harder for intruders to realize what kinds of items you have stored.
Type of Supplies You’re Storing
When it comes to stocking up on emergency supplies, one size does not fit all. That's why it's important to consider the type of supplies you're storing.
For example, if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, you'll want to make sure you have plenty of batteries, flashlights, and non-perishable food. If you live in an earthquake zone, you'll want to have a first-aid kit and a supply of bottled water on hand.
And if you live in a tornado-prone region, you'll need to have a stock of scripture and the strength of prayer. No matter where you live, it's always a good idea to be prepared for the worst.
Ideal Storage Conditions
When stocking up on emergency supplies, it's important to consider the ideal storage conditions for each item.
For example, canned goods should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Otherwise, they may start to spoil.
Medications should also be stored in a cool, dry place, and they should be kept out of reach of children. Any batteries that you are storing should be kept in a clean, dry environment as well. If they are exposed to moisture, they may corrode and become unusable.
By taking into account the ideal storage conditions for each of your emergency supplies, you can help to ensure that they will be ready to use when you need them most.
Consider Ease of Access
When storing your emergency supplies, it's important to consider ease of access.
After all, you don't want to be rummaging through a cluttered basement when the power goes out. Instead, place your emergency supplies in an easily accessible location, such as a closet or pantry.
And be sure to label everything clearly, so you can find what you need in a hurry. After all, the last thing you want during an emergency is to waste precious time searching for batteries or flashlights.
So take a few minutes to plan ahead, and your emergency supplies will be ready when you need them most.
Always Use Heavy-Duty Shelving
Lightweight shelves can easily be toppled over in the event of an earthquake or other disaster, but heavy-duty shelving will stay put. Plus, heavy-duty shelving can support a lot more weight, so you can store even more supplies.
Final Thoughts
So, where should you hide your emergency supplies? It depends on what kind of supplies you have and how much space you have to work with.
Whatever hiding spot you choose, make sure it’s easy to access and that you check on your supplies regularly. Consider this your go-to guide for storing away lifesaving supplies – and start stockpiling today.
Like this post? Don't Forget to Pin It On Pinterest!
You May Also Like:
Related Posts:
I bury a lot of our supplies around the property. Typically using surplus ammo cans. Specifically the PA154 and PA156 cans. Designed to hold mortar rounds, they’re a lot larger than the .30 caliber and .50 caliber cans you typically see. A PA154 will hold 3 AR15 carbines with the stocks collapsed, as well as 3 magazines for each rifle.
Upon getting a can, I wash it, and fill it with water. It spends one day upright, and one day upside down, to verify the O-Ring’s intact. After drying it out, I sandblast each can inside and out, and then respray each can with Epoxy Appliance Enamel (3 coats on the interior and 6 coats on the exterior). The finish is much harder, durable and rust resistant than the original finish. I then pack with whatever supplies we’re caching and bury the cans under 3 feet (our frostline is 28 -30″). I’ve one can that’s been in the ground 12 years this year. Digging it up, it has maintained its integrity completely during that time. I also add desiccant packets to each can to absorb any condensation that might occur.
These cans are usually under $30, and a lot sturdier than any polypropylene cache cans/tubes (though I’ve a couple of those too). I’ve not put any canned goods in the cans, but a few I have are filled with dehydrated provisions.
I usually buy the cans online at various surplus sellers for the best price. I have bought a couple at a local surplus store, but you usually pay a bit more when sourcing them locally.
Very helpful information for me. Thank you for sharing. I will be trying this out in my back yard using 5 gallon and 3.5 gallon buckets. It is what I have on a tight budget. I rent a duplex, I have very limited places to store. I have reverted to the using half the garage. I know, not idea. I have it sectioned offed, I have carpet down, everything on shelfs off the floor, on pallets, AC unit for the summer, good air circulation, dehumidifiers, insect and rodent traps and deterrents. Its the only place I have. I have no bug out location, don’t know how to solve that. Thank you for pointing out the frostline. Everything here is most useful information. Thank you.