We have been frequenting this sight for the last month or so. I feel like we have ramped up the learning curve rather quickly (in part from all the Q&A), but do have a question regarding food storage. Our ave. winter temp is 32F, summer is approx 90F. We don't have lots of room in the house to store stuff. We have already started purchasing food and storage containers specifically recommended for long term storage of food (blue plastic barrels). Has anyone considered storing food in the crawl space under a house. We have approximately 24-36 inches under there. I think the barrels will protect againt rodents etc, so should be ok there. I can't think of a better place for us since this space should be reasonably climate controlled. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

-- Bill S. (Bill_S3@juno.com), November 19, 1998

Answers

*Exactly* our situation. Seems like we have more emergency prep stuff than normal living stuff. Only place left is that crawl space under our apartment. Last year it was "insulated" to bring it up to code. Workmen used *exposed* rolls of fiberglass. Ugh. Have read medical research which concludes fiberglass is worse on the lungs than asbestos. So husband will be going down there soon with full face gas mask to staple-gun plastic over everything to protect our cache. Then, the jugs of tap water for flushing & washing. The cans of food, in black plastic sealed bags. The reams of rolls of TP, sealed likewise. Etc. Gotta worry about bugs, mold, cats. Will be sealing everything. Hope the apartment manager never needs to get underneath ...
Yes, this site is a learn-everything-in-the-world-as-we-still-know-it wonder. Am on the "receive all posts via eMail option," and this has become the focus of existence at the mo. Flood of new info, barely keeping up, too blitzed to post. But the crawl space usage got me: have no other space available! Already bought our kneepads ...
Ashton & Leska in Cascadia

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), November 19, 1998.

If you are gonna leave the barrels in the crawl space:

1) seal everything in mylar, O2 barrier bags.

2) clean each bag with isopropyl or another solvent to remove even the hint of food scent.

3) clean the barrels the same way

4 seriously consider steel barels if they are available. rodents sometimes like plastic!!

CR

-- Chuck a Night Driver (rienzoo@en.com), November 19, 1998.

Does the space under your house get a lot of moisture or does it flood? I wouldn't store anything under there if it does. If you have slight moisture, put a vapor barrier down first. You want to keep the area dry. The secret to storing water and food is that you store them in a cool, dark, dry place. Make sure there's proper ventilation under the house, this helps keep it dry. Put out Decon for mice and and spray the perimeter of your house to keep bugs away. Put bay leaves into your containers of rice, etc., bugs don't like the smell of it.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 19, 1998.

If under the house does not work out for you - how about renting some space at one of the U Store type variety?

-- Rod Beary (rbeary2327@aol.com), November 19, 1998.

Rod, We already thought about renting space at a u-store place, but felt that might not be the best place for the following reasons: 1. How secure would it be? I can't guarantee someone wouldn't see us taking out supplies. Plus I can't be sure it won't be there next time. 2. If gasoline supply runs dry, than transportation becomes a problem. 3. If things get REALLY bad, I don't want to be driving around with a bunch of food or other supplies. 4. Others?

-- Bill S. (Bill_S3@juno.com), November 19, 1998.

Another reason or two for not using a storage center.... 1) they are almost all run by computers now. Who's to say that they will be ready for what's to come? 2)Miss your "rent" payment by 1 day ( sometimes 1 hour) and you lose everything to auction or even to the storage center's managers.

-- Angela (Angela@home.com), November 25, 1998.

Storage places ain't that bad. Read your contract, but mine gives me a few days grace period, then locks me out till I pay...they don't go and sell your stuff unless you're pretty delinquent. This seems pretty standard.

The front gate is computer controlled, but in an emergency you could cut the fence, since the video cameras and such are out too. Once you're in it's just your own padlock.

I don't plan to keep all my stuff there into 2000, just doing it for now so it's not taking up all the space in the house. But am considering leaving *some* of it in storage, just so not everything's in one place. If I'm driven out of the house, not all is lost....

-- Shimrod (shimrod@lycosmail.com), December 19, 1998.