How to Stock the Proper Emergency Survival Gear

Immediately following a natural disaster or emergency, rescue workers may not reach you or your family quickly and you will need to rely on your own resources to survive. Stocking the proper emergency survival gear involves gathering your gear, deciding where to store it and then devising a system to properly rotate and care for the gear if necessary. Each person's setup will differ based upon the amount and type of emergency survival gear being stored and the size and shape of the storage location.

Things You'll Need

  • Emergency gear
  • Shelving (optional)
  • Plastic containers, stackable
  • 1 roll masking tap
  • Permanent marker
  • Backpack (optional)
  • Duffle bags (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a list of any emergency gear supplies you want to store. You should have at least 1 gallon of water per person for drinking and cooking for at least three days. Include 1 gallon for each pet per day. Pack non-perishable foods of various types. Tools such as wrenches and socket sets can come in handy for disconnecting vehicle batteries, gas and water lines.

    • 2

      Decide on a location to store the emergency gear. You can use empty closet space, an attic, a basement, a spare room or an outdoor shed. Use shelves or stackable plastic containers to help organize your emergency survival gear.

    • 3

      Place all of your emergency supply gear in one room; separate the items into various categories such as canned foods, powdered mixes, water and tools. Use masking tape and a marker and label each food and water item with an expiration date. Use the expiration date or best-used-by date found on each item. If no date is found, write the month and year two years out from the time you purchased it.

    • 4

      Put the items on the shelving with the heaviest items on the bottom to avoid injury. If you do not opt for shelving, place the gear in separate containers based on the categories you made. Stack the heaviest items on the bottom and put the lightest ones on top.

    • 5

      Review your emergency survival gear once per quarter. Make sure all tools are still in working order, and replace any foods that are close to their expiration dates.