Introduction
Effective survival planning requires securing essential supplies against threats through strategic concealment and distribution. This guide outlines methods to hide survival supplies at home and in hidden caches, emphasizing indoor and outdoor hiding spots, container selection, and hiding techniques.
Indoor Hiding Spots
Hollowed-Out Furniture
Use hollowed-out furniture pieces like dressers or cabinets to hide supplies. For instance, you can hollow out a dresser drawer and line it with a waterproof bag to store non-perishable items.
Laundry Hampers
Fill laundry hampers with non-perishables. For example, you can fill a hamper with canned goods, sealed in plastic bags to prevent rust.
Tennis Shoes
Conceal beans inside tennis shoes. Simply fill the shoes with beans and seal them with duct tape to prevent moisture.
False Walls
Create false walls to hide supplies. This can be done by building a wall with a hollow space behind it, where you can store supplies.
Fence Posts
Hollow out fence posts for storage. Use a drill to create a hollow space inside the post and seal it with waterproof material.
Outdoor Caches
Bury Supplies
Bury supplies in shallow pits under mulch or leaves. Aim for a depth of about 18 inches to protect against temperature fluctuations and wildlife.
Waterproof Containers
Use waterproof containers to protect supplies from moisture. For instance, the Ammo Crate Utility Box (7.25 inches deep, dark earth finish) and the Mono Vault 107 Dry Box Cache Tube (10.5 inches diameter x 7 inches height) are excellent options.
Camouflage
Camouflage cache locations to blend with natural surroundings. Use leaves, branches, and other natural materials to cover the cache.
Avoid Overloading
Avoid overloading caches to prevent detection. Ensure that the weight and size of the cache do not make it obvious.
Container Selection
Ammo Crate Utility Box
The Ammo Crate Utility Box is a durable, waterproof container that can hold up to 100 pounds of supplies.
Mono Vault 107 Dry Box Cache Tube
The Mono Vault 107 Dry Box Cache Tube is a waterproof container that can hold up to 100 pounds of supplies.
Decoy Containers
Use decoy containers to mislead potential thieves. Place decoy containers in visible locations to divert attention from your actual caches.
Hiding Techniques
Repurpose Everyday Items
Repurpose everyday items like firewood stacks or garden tools to hide supplies. For example, you can hide a cache inside a pile of firewood.
Multiple Layers of Concealment
Use multiple layers of concealment for critical supplies. For instance, you can hide a cache inside a hollowed-out tree stump and then cover it with leaves.
Depth Considerations
Bury supplies at a depth sufficient to maintain stable temperatures while avoiding excessive depth. Aim for a depth of about 18 inches.
Redundancy Planning
Distributed Storage
Store supplies in multiple locations—nearby and distant—to mitigate risks of total loss during disasters or conflicts. For example, you can have caches near your home and in a distant location.
Backup Locations
Prepare backup locations for critical items (tools, seeds, power equipment). For instance, you can have a backup cache of tools in a nearby park.
Scenario Flexibility
Adapt storage strategies to different survival scenarios, ensuring resilience even if primary locations are compromised. For example, you can have a cache of food and water near your home and another cache of shelter materials in a distant location.
Security Awareness
Concealment Over Fortification
Prioritize concealment over fortification to reduce the likelihood of attracting attention. For instance, you can hide a cache inside a hollowed-out tree stump instead of building a fortified bunker.
Assume Compromise
Assume initial supplies may be compromised and plan for both short-term (1-6 months) and long-term (1+ year) survival needs. For example, you can have a cache of food and water for short-term survival and another cache of shelter materials for long-term survival.
Long-Term Planning
Food and Water
Include food and water in hidden caches. For example, you can have a cache of canned goods and bottled water.
Shelter
Ensure shelter materials are included. For instance, you can have a cache of tarps and ropes for building a shelter.
Energy Solutions
Include energy solutions like solar equipment. For example, you can have a cache of solar panels and batteries.
Tools
Include necessary tools. For instance, you can have a cache of hand tools and power tools.
Regular Updates
Regularly update and test storage integrity to ensure supplies remain viable. For example, you can check your caches every six months to ensure the supplies are still viable.
Considerations
Accessibility
Ensure caches are accessible to you but hidden from others. For example, you can have a cache near your home but hidden in a hollowed-out tree stump.
Rotation of Perishables
Regularly rotate perishable items. For example, you can rotate your cache of canned goods every six months.
Testing Access Routes
Test access routes regularly. For example, you can test your access routes to your caches every six months.
Leave Undisturbed
Leave caches undisturbed during emergencies. For example, you can leave your caches undisturbed during a disaster to ensure they are still hidden.
Summary
Concealing and hiding emergency supplies is crucial for survival planning. By using indoor and outdoor hiding spots, selecting appropriate containers, and employing hiding techniques, you can secure your essential supplies against threats. Regular updates and testing of storage integrity ensure your supplies remain viable. By following these strategies, you can enhance your preparedness and resilience in the face of disasters or conflicts.