EMERGENCY SUPPLY STORAGE TOP TEN TIPS 

Do you lie awake nights wondering if you have enough supplies for those unforeseen occurrences Mother Nature brings our way? By morning your feet hit the ground running with the daily demands of your life, the needs of your family, those late night demons fade in the light of day. 

Spring is the time for new beginnings. The dangers of winter have passed and we find ourselves lulled into a Disney-esque frame of mind with birds and butterflies in the air. Time to open the windows, shake out the rugs, and dust off the folding chairs for concerts in the park! We never expect danger when the sun is shining.  

Once again it’s easy to forget about your goals to get prepared. Many people are frozen with indecision, they don’t know what to prepare for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, winter storms, power outs. Will you be at home? Will your home survive? Where should you store your supplies? Don’t let these distractions keep you from taking action. As the air chills and pumpkin spice is all the rage, it's time to reivew your readiness. 

#1 DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. 

Most homes have enough food supplies to last a few days. You will still need to have water, 1 gallon per day per person. I recommend a 5 gallon bucket with a lid for an emergency toilet and black hefty sacks, sawdust or kitty litter in case of sewer problems. Have bleach, peroxide and first aid items on hand. A camp stove with sterno comes in handy if your stove is electric. Never let RX medications get below a ten day supply. Wet wipes in both hand and body sizes are extremely helpful. For longer emergencies our family has storage with enough supplies to last a family of five 6 weeks. Any weather proof storage area will do, a closet in your home, garage, a rented space or a tornado cellar. Have a few different cache sites stocked. 

#2 TAKE A CLASS 

REI STORES and usually your local City Hall both offer classes. 

#3 CHECK ONLINE WEBSITES FOR LISTS OF EMERGENCY SUPPLIES. 

REI http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/emergency-preparedness-basics.html
The Prepper Journal http://www.theprepperjournal.com/2014/02/26/preppers-list-of-supplies/ ready.Gov http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/checklist_1.pdf 

#4 MAKE A FAMLY PLAN 

Arranage a family meeting place. Have walkie talkies to communicate in case cell towers aren’t working. Have “Go” bags packed at all times, include one for the family pets. A laminated list of supplies to grab from home is helpful with phone numbers on the back. If you don’t live near family, partner with someone who will meet or call you after an emergency so you can check on each other. 

DON’T FORGET TO GIVE CHILDREN A CODE WORD TO USE IN CASE YOU SEND SOMEONE TO PICK THEM UP FROM SCHOOL. 

#5 CAR SUPPLIES 

I keep a back pack that will sustain 4 people for 3 days with food and water, "Life Straw" water purifiers are small enough to fit in a glove box. These items are for sale ready made or you can assemble them yourself. Of course a good blanket and pillow is important for the car if stranded, a red kerchief & a whistle to attract help if needed. 

#6 BUY BEFORE THE EMERGENCY 

Late summer when firewood, pellets & ice deterrent first appear on store shelves buy enough to last through storms or a power outage. Don’t forget lighters and batteries. That same week have your tires checked, put snow cables in the car and repair home door weather stripping. Buy and test your generators. Have fresh gasoline stored in airtight containers. Locate your power strips and extension cords to reach your refrigerator and charge electronics. Solar lights are wonderful. I use inflatable “Luci lights”. A large tarp, assorted size bungee cords and duct tape are high on the must have list. 

#7 DO SOMETHING TO PREPARE 

We can never be certain we will have what we need for every possible emergency but every step you take in preparation will increase your comfort in times of need. Don’t let not being able to do it all, stop you from doing anything.

#8 EXPIRATION DATES 

Buy food with the furthest out expiration dates possible. Check dates twice a year. New Years and July or your birthday and half birthday. If about to expire, bring it into the house to use and shop to replace it. 

#9 DON’T FORGET FUN! 

When you’re hibernating through a storm or waiting for help to arrive have books, cards, mad-libs packed in with your supplies to keep your mind occupied and family members in good spirits. A few (hundred) chocolate bars couldn’t hurt. 

#10 HIRE HELP 

In greater Portland Oregon, EscapeYourChaos.com sets up emergency supply storage. Perhaps you can’t afford to do this all at once but you could do it over time, one session with our Organizers every month for a year. Virtual consults also available by calling 503-805-5880. 

You will sleep better knowing you have done what you can to Escape Your Chaos! 

Simplify Your Life & Escape Your Chaos

TOP TEN TIPS

 

Are you overwhelmed by clutter, paperwork, too many toys or treasures? 

Are they in your home, yard, basement, attic, and now you’ve rented a storage unit? 

Do you want to uncover the clutter and recover your life? 

Escape Your Chaos with a few simple steps. 

 

#1 HIRED HELP

Choose objective assistance. While family members and friends will offer to help, they aren’t as objective as you need them to be. They will be valuable members of your team once your sorting is accomplished. Invest in a Professional Organizer who is trained, licensed, bonded & insured. 

 

#2 DON’T LOOK AT THE ELEPHANT!

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Break the project into manageable portions. Focus on one goal at a time. Choose a room, a corner, a cupboard or a table top and START!  Celebrate when you have reached that goal by setting another one. 

 

#3 SIMPLIFY

Chaos is expensive. You lose time when you can’t find something. You lose money when you buy duplicates because you can’t find something you know you already own. It can cause relationship discord when lost items are blamed on the innocent. Mercifully end the misery!

 

#4 TAKE A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

You will be touching every item in your home. Be prepared to experience the emotions attached to them. Value the memories and lessons learned. Take a moment to remember, smile or weep, These items are the mile markers of your life. The sentiments you feel will help you make your category decisions. If a particular item holds an especially endearing story, write it down for future generations to enjoy. 

 

#5 CREATE CATEGORIES 

Keep & Use, Keep & Store, Give Away to Family or Friends, Donate, Recycle, Trash, Shred. 

 

#6 DO THE MATH

What is the cost of storage vs the cost of replacement? Only store items that are irreplaceable or when value outweighs the cost of storage.  

 

#7 LOVE IT, USE IT, or LOSE IT

He who dies with the most toys wins. Wrong! In reality we are only burdening our lives with needless upkeep and expenses. Rent toys or tools by the day if they will only be used a couple times a year. Yearning after the shiniest boat or car, on the market? Rent it for a day or a week and HAVE FUN without the cost of ownership. Many times the “once it’s mine it loses shine” syndrome takes over and you realize you don’t want it as much as you thought you did.

 

#8 IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT

When will you find the time to do it over? Tame the paper tiger. The definition of a paper tiger is “something that appears threatening but is ineffectual”. Pick up one piece of paper at a time and make a decision. Action, File, Shred, or Recycle. Whether you open mail daily or weekly, make those decisions on the spot. Don’t start piles for later, they will breed while your back is turned! Designate ONE SPOT for the mail, I use a basket. Do not use a container with a lid. Out of sight, out of mind. A basket can be picked up and moved easily to a quiet location for sorting.

 

#9 IT’S DUMPING TIME!

I don’t care who gave it to you! If you don’t Love It or Use It, LOSE IT!™  It’s totally fine to collect items you feel have value but only if you know where it is at a moment’s notice, if it doesn’t cost more to store than to replace. and it doesn’t keep you from enjoying your home as intended. The definition of hoarding is when your items prevent you from using a room, or your entire home, for the purpose it was meant for. Ask yourself if a rescue team could easily get into your home and transport you out on a stretcher if needed. If hallway floors are being used for storage, call an expert. Remember what each room is meant for, kitchens are for unexpired food storage and preparation, hallways are for travel in and out of your home safely. Bedrooms are for resting. Bathrooms are for keeping our bodies clean. Living rooms are for fun, family and friends. Dining Rooms are for eating or games and hobbies. Attics and basements are for storage, away from heat sources. Think safety over sentiment. 

 

#10 Enjoy your new found freedom!