We are never able to predict when an emergency or disaster will strike, so being prepared for multiple situations can bring peace of mind and added protection when something does occur. Self-storage units can provide essential supplies and a safe space for when natural disasters, medical emergencies, or family situations take a turn for the worse. Making preparations now may seem like a daunting task, but they can be a lifeline in an emergency when your mind is not thinking clearly. This blog will share some ways that you can utilize your self-storage unit to protect yourself and your belongings during a disaster or emergency.
Use Water-Tight Bins
The best way to protect your items during an emergency is to store them in protective bins. Water-tight or fire-resistant containers will best protect your clothing, photos, and other personal items from damage if the disaster is to reach the storage facility. While many units will have methods to keep water or fire out of the units, it is not guaranteed. Properly sealed containers are the best way to keep small items safe and protect fragile items like documents or electronics.
Have Copies Of Important Documents
Having multiple copies of important documents (birth certificates, ID, vaccination cards, social security cards, etc.) can be a lifesaver in an emergency. Having the original copy in your home or in your possession is best, but putting a copy in a water-tight container in your storage unit can be helpful during a disaster. These items need to be placed near the front of your unit as well, to prevent wasted time digging for them if you need to evacuate quickly. Never put the original documents, passports, or IDs in your storage unit to lower the risk of them becoming lost or damaged.
Keep Survival Kits And Supplies At The Front
When an emergency strikes, you won’t have time to hesitate or pack a survival kit. Having 72-hour kits or backpacks with survival gear can help limit stress during an emergency. While keeping these kits inside your home is the best option, if a natural disaster or threat approaches quickly, you may need to flee the residence before there is time to grab them. Having more kits in your storage unit with flashlights, batteries, food, wet wipes, first aid kits, medical supplies, clothing, and hygiene products will help if your home kits are unavailable.
Once you have created your survival kits, they need to be easily accessible inside the unit. Keeping a survival pack near the front of your unit or in an easily accessible place is important when you are on a time crunch. Having a shelfing unit at the front of a storage unit that keeps survival items off the floor and away from water and pests will lower the risk of damage.
Extra Food Storage
Many people have a supply of food storage inside their home for natural disasters. When power is limited, water supplies are out, or a disaster has wiped out other resources, having a stored supply of shelf-stable food is essential for life. Food storage can take up a lot of space in your home, garage, or pantry, so putting some extra food in a storage unit can be helpful in a desperate situation.
For those whose storage units are near their home, having a backup supply of food storage in their unit can prevent it from taking over their home in the meantime. Make sure to split your food storage supply so that all your emergency food isn’t in a unit that may be inaccessible during an emergency or natural disaster.
Limit Clutter Inside Your Home
Survival gear, extra tools, food storage, or emergency equipment can take up a lot of usable space inside your home. Putting some extra supplies or larger items in a storage unit can help limit clutter inside the home, making it easier to relax or have family gatherings.
After a disaster, the thought of rebuilding, cleaning up, and repairing can be daunting. Once you are back in your home or working to build a new one, having extra items lying around is overwhelming. Putting the undamaged or personal items you had with you in a storage unit gives you a blank canvas to work with until you can regain normalcy. Defer all but essential items to your storage unit until you are ready to fully live in your home again.
A Safe Meeting Place
Depending on the location of your storage facility, some families may choose their storage unit as a meet-up place if members were to become separated. If a facility is farther away from your home or disaster area, meeting at your storage unit can be a great way to ensure your family knows where to go after the initial shock of the disaster has passed. This can also be a great way to ensure people get their survival gear, supplies, or warm clothing if they are stranded away from older family members. While all storage units may not be in the clear, it can be one meeting place if members of a household are apart during their day-to-day lives.
Protect Items In Storage From Water, Debris, And More
700 Block Storage has multiple units that can help keep your belongings protected from natural disasters or theft. Our facility has some of the best security in the Salt Lake area, as well as other amenities that make renting and using a storage unit much more convenient. You can easily access your unit whenever you need, and with elevators no more than 100 ft away from units, you can have peace of mind about accessing your belongings.
Our team will do our best to protect your items when there is a threat of an emergency or extreme weather. We want all of our renters to have peace of mind about the safety and integrity of their personal items. If you are interested in the benefits of a storage unit, reach out to 700 Block today!
