Preparing for the Worst
Odds are if you own a safe room or underground bunker, you are preparing for the worst. The safe room is guaranteed to keep you and your family safe. However, depending on how long you have to stay in your safe room, what you store in the safe room is very important. If a tornado hits your neighborhood or even an intruder breaks into your house, you never know how long you’ll be inside your safe room. We have decided to make a list of the essentials to always have inside your safe room.
Food
One of the more obvious items to store in your safe room is food. It is important to store up on food that does not require refrigeration or any cooking whatsoever. One easy snack is graham crackers with peanut butter or almond butter. This is a simple snack that will also be filling. Protein shake powder also fills you up and is easy to mix with water. Some other popular options include trail mix, jerky, granola bars, nuts, and other snack foods. Depending on how long you are required to stay inside your safe room, small snacks may not be enough. Therefore, we also have a couple of non-cooked dinner ideas. You can make nachos with tortilla chips, canned cheese, salsa, and jalapenos. Sandwiches are also a great option, but it is important to keep fresh bread at all times or take the bread with you when going into your safe room for safety. All of these foods are perfect for storage in your safe room. Remember to always have food stocked to check the dates on your food regularly.
Water
Most people can survive up to 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. Water is an absolute must have in your safe room. A good rule of thumb is to keep at least one gallon of water per person planning to stay in the room. Bottle water has an expiration date but the expiration date is not for the water. Water does not go bad; however, the plastic bottle starts to release chemicals after so many years. Remember to check the expiration date on your bottled water. Tornados are unpredictable and can be incredibly destructive. Therefore, it is a good idea to store a LifeStraw in your safe room. LifeStraw is a straw that is designed to allow you to drink any water, while filtering the contaminants. Water is a necessity so it is important to have access to it under any circumstance.
Sanitation
Chances are if you are spending 24+ hours in a secluded space, you will need to use the restroom. Having a bathroom is not practical in a safe room, so the best option is to invest in a camping toilet. Camping toilets can hold anywhere from 2.5 to 5 gallons of waste and have to be dumped after use. You should also be sure to store hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, deodorant, etc.
Distractions
Staying in a small metal room for multiple hours would drive anyone crazy. It is always smart to store distractions in your safe room to keep your mind occupied. For children books, board games, and puzzles usually do the trick. For adults a good book, word search/crossword, smartphone, and a portable DVD player will help keep you entertained. Having something to do will help keep your mind off what’s going on outside your safe room.
Emergency Supplies
Safe rooms are used in the case of an emergency, so you need to be sure to stock emergency supplies. One very useful product we have come across is the go Tenna. The go Tenna allows you to use your cell phone when you are off the gird or have no signal. Another problem that may arise is your phone running out of battery. The Mophie Company produces battery packs that allow you to charge your phone without an outlet. It is also important to keep medication and a first aid kit. Always try to keep a fire extinguisher stocked.
We have prepared a list of essentials when stocking up your safe room. You can choose what best fits your needs but this generic list is a great start. Disaster can strike at any moment so always be prepared. To find out more information about preparing your safe room visit here.
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