One of the first things you need to do before stocking your safe room is to go through all the food in your pantry and create a list of what you want in your safe space. If there are any items on this list that you can't find at local grocery stores or farmers' markets, order them online and have them delivered directly to your house so they will be ready when needed.
At Armored Closet, we want to keep your family prepared for all types of disasters or home invasions. When we install one of out safe rooms in your home, you can rest assured you will have the safest place to be during an emergency.
Once you get your safe room stocked up with all of the essentials, you and your family can experience peace of mind for anything that comes your way.
Food And Water
Stocking your safe room or tornado shelter with food and water is likely the most important thing you can make sure you have plenty of. Canned food, non-perishable dried items, powdered milk and bottled water or water in jugs are some of the best things you can keep on hand in your safe room or tornado shelter.
Some people opt to purchase MREs (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) from outdoor supply shops, and these are also good options that take up minimal space in your safe room.
Another important item when it comes to eating, is to make sure you have a portable stove or hot plate to boil water and prepare foods if necessary. Store at least three days' worth of supplies if the situation lasts longer than expected. Be sure to replenish these supplies every six months so you won't run out when you need them most.
Flashlights
By keeping your safe room or storm shelter well-lit and stocked with flashlights, you are ensuring that even if your power goes out, you will have the light you need to figure out your next step. If you are trapped in your safe room after a storm, you will need light while waiting for rescue. In order to guarantee you have enough light, it is best to stock your safe room with a flashlight for each person in your family to have one.
Make sure you check all flashlights to make sure they are filled with fresh batteries. In addition, make sure to stock your room with extra batteries for each flashlight.
Medical Supplies
Stock your safe room or storm shelter with medical supplies like bandages, disinfectant spray, peroxide, tweezers, pain relievers, anti-itch cream, cotton balls, and antiseptic wet wipes. Be sure to check expiration dates on your supplies every six months to ensure they are still usable.
Keep medication and eyeglasses inside the safe room or storm shelter as well. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, or seizures, keep your medicine and a first aid kit in the safe room.
Personal Items
Regardless of what happens, it's a good idea to keep a change of clothing for each family member inside your storm shelter. Other handy personal items to keep in your storm shelter or safe room are electronics chargers, toiletries and a radio.
Documents
Keep essential documents such as credit cards, birth certificates, IDs, social security cards and any other important documents in one easy to grab place. This way, if you have to quickly get into your safe room or storm shelter, you can grab them in one central spot and take them in with you. You may also want to keep some cash in the safe room, though it's not always necessary.
Useful Tools
Everyone has their go-to tool or gadget to help them fix things or get out of a jam. Whatever yours is, make sure and put it in your safe room or storm shelter. Here are some that could be helpful to have on hand:
- Duct Tape
- Pliers
- Rope
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Saw
- Bow Saw
- Shovels
- Crowbar
- Super Glue
Ensuring your safe room or storm shelter is stocked with all of the above can prove to be extremely important should you have to take cover in your Armored Closet for an extended period of time.