Where does emergency preparedness start? Regardless of whether you are collecting enough for 72 hours, 1 week, 3 months, or an entire year, you have to have a place to put it! And herein lies the problem.
There is no space.
Dallas, Texas may be be known for our sports (whether you love them or hate them), decent cost of living, and hot summers, but we are NOT known for our space. No basements, small attics (if any), and for crying out loud, my house has one closet that isn't a bedroom closet. ONE.
Right now, don't think about how much space you need for a 3-month pantry supply or a 1-year essentials supply. Instead, think about where you can START. Ideas include closets of course (maybe stack boxes in the back), garage shelving (for items that don't need temperature control of course), underneath beds or other furniture, or disguised under tablecloths.
So for this month, your challenge is:
1. Identify THREE spaces that you can use for emergency preparedness -- one for your 72 hour kits -- one for your pantry supply -- one for long term food storage.
2. Empty those spaces and PREPARE them for their new occupants.
Take pictures!! Take a before and an after -- that "after" picture should show a empty area.
You have until June 1st. Good luck!
When finding your space please keep in mind that the 3 enemies of food storage are light, temperature and moisture. so the Garage or attic in Texas are BAD places to store food but good for non food items. foods stored in those places can lose half their shelf life each year. Ideally your food should be kept at 72 degrees or lower. you can buy moisture eliminators at the dollar tree and put 1 or 2 in with your food depending on how much space you're using to help with that problem.
ReplyDeleteDone! Cleared out 75% of closet under the stairs, moved unused bedframe out of tornado closet (kept 72 hr kits in there), threw away shoe box chilling on the top shelf in the laundry room. The last spot was the easiest :) And I did take pictures. I will probably out of town when pictures are called due.
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