When I began preparing over a yr ago, I prepared closet and shelf space to fit my "stuff" in very neatly (can't bug out, elderly mother to care for.) Everything fit nicely and in fairly organized way. Then I started reading of possible thefts or confiscation of foods etc. and tryed to think of "safe" places to store my "stuff." It was hard to find space in the first place, but to find hidden areas is almost impossible (no attic or basement!) Have divided some things so I have the same thing in more than one place, but my main storage space which I prepared originally is still my main space.

Are you all trying to hide things or do you think that just having them will be enough. Just interested in what others are thinking about and doing. (I live in a small area not a city.) Thanks for your thoughts!

-- GardenGal (preparin'@myisland.now), October 25, 1999

Answers

We have a main spot - (our house!) and some buried spots. I built a box of treated wood with a top that hung over the box to keep rain water from settling down into box. It's buried in a crawl space, so the ground is dry. The inside of the box is WET! ANything buried should be wrapped in plastic well, then it'll be fine. Diverse locations, each should be as self-contained and complete as possible (a little wheat, a little oil, some yeast, some money, some rice, some boullion cubes, etc).

However, think about a time of rationing and confiscation. You need to disguise your supplies now, and the consumption of it later. Also, try to avoid exposing any children to knowledge of it, as this imparts more responsibility on their shoulders than they might be able to bear (to keep things secret).

We live in socialist country now. Having rejected the moral code of our earlier times, we have a new one to replace it. Enjoy! (not!).

-- No One I know (i@forgot.org), October 25, 1999.

I am not expecting federal confiscation from individuals. Our food is in the cabinets, hidden from view. If you came in our house, nothing would seem out of the ordinary although we do have a few cases of water in the utility room--not unusual in hurricane country.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 25, 1999.

I have shelves lining part of the back wall of the garage,three feet of space then another row of shelves in front of them.I covered the last row by hanging a large quilt over the front of them.I now have a make shift walk in closet,when the garage door is open,all someone would see is the quilt hanging.I store my extra paper goods,cleaning supplies,etc. on the shelves.You could leave out the shelves on the back wall and store 5 gal buckets or boxes there and still have the shelves in front with the space in between to be able to walk thru.

I had been storing alot of kleenex,TP and lamp oil in the house, until a friend told me it could be a fire hazard,so all of it went out to the garage.

I was also concerned about the safety of my food preps.I would say one of the most important things is not tell others what you are doing or what you have.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 25, 1999.

how about the pros and cons of using rented storage with a darn good lock for part of your supplies?? keeps the eggs in more than one basket. anyone care to impart opinions.

-- aa (anonymous@anonymous.com), October 26, 1999.

My garage is a mess. It has always been a mess. When the neighbors see it, it just looks like a mess. Old croquet sets, mattresses, drop cloths, boxes full of old papers and broken pottery, kids' projects from third grade, you name it. Visual clutter of a high order.

It also contains lots of useful stuff strategically buried inside the "mess", and will have much more very soon.

We used to joke that any burglar foolish enough to venture into the garage would die of dehydration before they located anything worth stealing and made their way out. Now, that comment is not quite so funny.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), October 26, 1999.

i think its still pretty funny. there is a blessing to having a messy garage or basement.

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), October 26, 1999.

Ran out of storage space a while ago really but I kerep adding stuff. Spent another $500 at Costco yesterday (food, vitamin and herbal supplements, 30 litres of wine, 16lb of coffee, 24lb of spagetti, AA bats, OTC meds etc, etc.

I'm looking to find a covered trailer I can house some of my power equipment and batteries (for my solar system) in and allow me to offload some of the less critical stuff from the travel trailer I live in up here in the Nor CA hills. I do have a storage unit where about half my stuff is stored and a buried cache with food, water and, er, "other stuff". The stuff from storage will be coming up here soon. I really expect looters will go down the rows in storage lots cutting them open if it hits the fan to see what they can find.

DCK (who would remove the trailers wheels and hubs and lock it down)

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), October 26, 1999.

We constructed a bed frame that would accomodate 5 gallon buckets under it. The bed is high so supplies are not "hidden" but at first glance, it is just a bed. We also have used a basement shower to store buckets. Not really hidden or obvious unless you're looking to find something We put up burgler bars on the inside of our garage window and added a shed that is nicely tucked behind a huge bush/tree.

We have devided some of the food up into basement, garage, shed, closet, cupboards. Looks like the average house unless you are looking for preps.

Hiding in plain sight has been our stategy. Smallest house on the block. Cars ten and fifteen years old. Tried to warn block in February. Strategy since then has been just to listen.

This forum is a great help to keep me focused on preparations. With basics obtained, it's just adding extras. Today I added coconut pecan frosting for example. Just for fun.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), October 26, 1999.

hollowed out large screen tv. false dryboard walls. fake 'sewer' pipe in basement holding cans, dry goods. etc. think!

-- Spidey (in@jam.ratings), October 27, 1999.

that is fine to hide everything in your house but my fear in putting everything in one place is fire or sewer/water disruptions forcing you out or destroying everything. i know it is a risk to use storage but there are so many places and some fairly good locks available--how can they get to all of them. i live in a quiet suburb.

funny, today my security system guy came to do my installation and told me that he went to one house this year where the woman had so much stuff set aside for y2k--they didn't even have room to do the installation. no joke. they had to cancel it because she had no room in her house for them to work.

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), October 27, 1999.