A recent study from Finder.com found that 20% of Americans, or roughly 52 million people, admitted to buying emergency supplies in the last year, and another 35% responded by saying they already had such items already bought and stored at home.
Keeping emergency supplies and equipment is not only handy, it’s recommended. However, sometimes it’s hard to find space in your home or apartment for excess items and equipment, especially if you’re living in a city with a high cost of living and limited space. Thankfully, whether you’re a doomsday prepper or a suburban survivalist, a nearby storage unit can be used to store your survival supplies.
What you can and cannot store inside a storage unit
Before we go any further, it’s important to know there are some things you cannot store in a storage unit. While you may be able to find facilities that allow the following, most storage facilities will not allow the following:
- Perishable food items – While canned foods could certainly be stored within a storage unit, perishable food items in boxes or bags are not allowed due to attracting pests that would otherwise chew through the boxes to get to their next meal. This also applies to pet foods.
- Gasoline and other hazardous materials – Most storage facilities prohibit the storage of gasoline or other hazardous materials to avoid damage within and outside of your storage unit.
- Firearms and explosives – Most storage facilities will not allow for the storage of guns or explosives, including ammunition, to avoid any destruction to the facility as well as avoid legal issues with guns being obtained in a storage auction. That being said, you may find some facilities that do offered specialized gun storage lockers.
- Water or other liquids – Another item with a caveat, stockpiling water inside a storage unit that may reach high temperatures in its interior is ill-advised as BPA in plastic bottles can cause the water to become undrinkable. Furthermore, any leakage could cause damage to your other items in storage.
Storage features to look for with survival equipment
While you technically could likely get by with any storage unit you find, there are some storage features that will maintain and preserve the condition of your survival equipment, ensuring they’ll be in working conditioning when the day comes that you need them.
In terms of size, most basic emergency needs could fit in a 5×5 or 5×10 storage unit. Other features you can make the most use of include:
- 24-hour access – By definition, emergencies are unexpected. They can and will happen outside of traditional business hours. Make sure you can get to your supplies whenever you need with this feature.
- Climate control – If living in a region with extreme seasonal weather, consider finding a storage unit with climate control. This feature maintains a constant temperature and humidity level within the unit, preventing any weather-related damages to your equipment or supplies.
- Drive up access – Get to your stuff quickly by driving your vehicle directly up to your storage unit with this feature.
How to organize your survival gear in a storage unit
If all your storing in your storage unit is your survival equipment, then it’s recommended you leave them set out and ready to grab as quickly as possible when you need them. But if you’re storing them among other items, we recommend you set your survival equipment in its own section of the storage unit.
It’s also important to regularly check on your supplies. While some survivalist foods can last for years, they still do have expiration dates, and bottled water can leak. Stay on top of these expiration dates and replace items as needed. It’s also recommended to check other supplies such as tents, blankets, bags , and similar items for any cuts, tears, or pest-related damages.
We can’t always predict when disaster will strike, but we can be prepared for when it does. Thankfully, you can use a self storage unit to help you with your survival gear.
