Stocking a bunker....

pitdog said:
Get the book ' When all hell breaks loose ' by Cody Lundin, it is exactlly what you need to answer any questions of that nature !!!!!
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:Itsa start, fun to read, he explans rotating your supplies in and out.


And a million rolls of TP, when the storm comes it could be worht $10 or $20 a roll:D
 
big mike you been watching altered states too many times! :)

+1 on bathroom supplies. santitation is a very important part of surviving. stock up on purell :)
 
600pxtremorswog.jpg

:cool:
 
MREs are a good bet, but don't blow your mortgage on them :)

well sealed 5 gallon buckets of whole grain wheat, rye, and barley. Add a hand mill. Stuff will last nearly indefinitely that way, and you can rotate it easily enough.

beans- don't forget mung, adzuki- other sprouting beans. sprouts are amazingly healthy.

powdered cheddar and whole fat milk. stable oils, microgreen seeds.

water doesn't "go bad" as such. if it's got algae or something in it you just filter and treat- so don't worry TOO much, but I like buying distilled wateer on sale once in a while in gallon jugs. if you can fit one in, get a 100 gallon or so agricultural style water barrel.

tools. extra tools are always good. and some clothes- think about what you'd want to do if you were suddenly homesteading on the land as well as 3-30 day emergencies.
 
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I would keep a couple of cases of bottled water. Extra clothing for everyone. Batteries, flashlights. Some cash. Some dried, easy to prepare foods. I'd stay away from large quantities of single types of foods like grains, as they can be difficult to prepare and require processing. Unless you plan to live out of such a thing for weeks or months, unnecessary.

I'd have a small gas stove like a Coleman, with some extra gas bottles. I'd have some canned meats like tuna and vienna sausages. Some daily vitamins, a bit of candy, some toiletry items like toothbrushes and toothpaste, some soap, some bleach.

I'd have some toilet paper and one of those portable bucket potties with appropriate chemicals.

I would also include a large tarp and some way to put it up on some poles. This could be erected over the top of or next to the shelter to provide some extra shelter outside if need be.

Smaller things could be stored on the stairs, but to the side so as not to impede going up or down.

A couple of disposable cameras.

Some camping equipment like sleeping bags and mats. Some 550 cord. A good crowbar in case you have to clear the exit.

Things like that.

Andy
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
I'd stay away from large quantities of single types of foods like grains, as they can be difficult to prepare and require processing. Unless you plan to live out of such a thing for weeks or months, unnecessary.

Andy
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Huh. I don't see that from my perspective - I mean, yeah, you can't use uncracked wheat berries for much without doing something-- making flour, malting, sprouting, cooking. But, I don't see the problem with that. I'm not going to be living on microwave dinners. The grains will store MUCH more stably in this state than as flour or prepared foods- in many cases decades more storage time.

I also find that with large amounts of staple foods and spices you have more variety possible in cooking. And- we always have focused on keeping a rotation of stuff we actually use for the year's supply style pantries.

some additional items as a more or less detailed bulk listing:
powdered whole milk
powdered cheese
whole grains:
wheat
rye
barley
brown rice
wild rice.

steel cut oats.
honey in large glass jars (this one you can get away with not rotating. keep it for 20 years and then donate to a homebrewer and buy more. Have 25 pounds or so of inexpensive local RAW honey)
crisco
canned lard
canola oil
sprouting supplies including seed.
freeze dried greens and some fruits. (Be careful that you get stuff you cna actually use in soups and desserts so you can rotate, and don't go crazy- it's expensive and even in a hardcore depression you should manage to find rocket and dandelion and kale and chard easily.)

Canned meats have a definite shelf life, so make sure you get a one year rotation out of your spam and tuna. If you don't *eat* it, don't stock it. - You get your classic 4 cases of MREs for stuff like that. (and some of the MRE main courses are great to add to a pot of rice, for example. BTDT)


A case of bottled water, in regular .5 liter containers, is 3 gallons of water. Keep 2 or 3 cases, and rotate tha in and out as your year goes by- the bottles are useful. Seriously look into getting some real water storage, though- you want way more than 9-15 gallons. My grandparents have 3 old CDC 55 gallon sealed drums they built a breakfast bar around in their shelter. Works pretty well.
 
Oh, in case it hasn't been mentioned, make sure to keep necessary medications down there!!!! Just in case anyone there is on important prescription medications that will need to be continued, or even enough for an appropriate first aid kit.
 
koyote said:
Huh. I don't see that from my perspective - I mean, yeah, you can't use uncracked wheat berries for much without doing something-- making flour, malting, sprouting, cooking. But, I don't see the problem with that. I'm not going to be living on microwave dinners. The grains will store MUCH more stably in this state than as flour or prepared foods- in many cases decades more storage time.
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I don't argue with the concept generally. It's just that in this case space is very limited in the shelter. Bulk dried foods are great, but they are, well... bulky!

Andy
 
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned or not, but don't forget about some sort of "waste system". You can have all the supplies in the world, but once you have to go to the bathroom and there is no where to go you might be SOL (no pun intended)
 
guitardemon said:
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned or not, but don't forget about some sort of "waste system". You can have all the supplies in the world, but once you have to go to the bathroom and there is no where to go you might be SOL (no pun intended)
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Walk up the stairs and go outside. Just wait for any tornado to pass first. Or you could have a bucket. Not sure I would want to be sitting in a fiberglass tub with a bucket of poo, personally- I would just go outside. TP is a good idea though.
 
I'm not sure of the age of of your children but think about keeping them occupied. I keep coloring books/crayons, hot wheels cars, etc. to keep them busy playing. I also keep chem lights and each child gets their own. It gives them their own light and they seem to get some security out of that.

I keep at least one change of clothes for everyone likely to be in the shelter. Remember to rotate kids clothes regularly since they grow so fast.

Radio, flashlights, batteries. Lots of batteries. I keep tools as well and work gloves and boots. A 5 gal. bucket with kitty litter in it makes a decent portapotty for the kids. The adults can likely wait until an event is over but kids always need to go RIGHT NOW!

A bottle jack gives me peace of mind so that if something falls over the door I can jack it up to help get out. I would also suggest registering your shelter with local authorities. After a disaster those on the registry will be the first checked.

I keep bottled water inside an ice chest. It keeps it from freezing and if one of the water bottles does fail I don't have a mess to clean up. I also keep snacks like granola, those gummy fruit things the kids like, and other small long lasting stuff in another ice chest.

There are a lot of other things I keep down there as well. I keep everything under the benches in my shelter. The walls of mine are steel so I have magnetic shelves too.

I recommend against keeping guns in the shelter unless you have a really good way to secure it. I keep mine unlocked so that relatives can get in easily if I'm away. Just keep a "go bag" handy with anything you might need but don't want to keep in the shelter itself.

My go bag has meds, more flashlights, etc. Basically a 72 hr. bag with some added things like a handgun.

Hope this helps.
SDS
 
A jeep jack and a 4 foot piece of 4x4 lumber to push up on the door using the jack in case anything was to cover the door or the door gets jammed in any way. I would hate to be trapped down there.

Also, if you have cell phone coverage in your area check and see if your cell phone will work from down there. If not try a hand held CB radio or vhf handheld radio.

An empty 5 gallon bucket with lid to do the bathroom duty in a pinch, especially with kids down there.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Walk up the stairs and go outside. Just wait for any tornado to pass first. Or you could have a bucket. Not sure I would want to be sitting in a fiberglass tub with a bucket of poo, personally- I would just go outside. TP is a good idea though.
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well said sir. well said indeed. :thumbup:
 
SDS said:
I'm not sure of the age of of your children but think about keeping them occupied. I keep coloring books/crayons, hot wheels cars, etc. to keep them busy playing. I also keep chem lights and each child gets their own. It gives them their own light and they seem to get some security out of that.

I keep at least one change of clothes for everyone likely to be in the shelter. Remember to rotate kids clothes regularly since they grow so fast.

Radio, flashlights, batteries. Lots of batteries. I keep tools as well and work gloves and boots. A 5 gal. bucket with kitty litter in it makes a decent portapotty for the kids. The adults can likely wait until an event is over but kids always need to go RIGHT NOW!

A bottle jack gives me peace of mind so that if something falls over the door I can jack it up to help get out. I would also suggest registering your shelter with local authorities. After a disaster those on the registry will be the first checked.

I keep bottled water inside an ice chest. It keeps it from freezing and if one of the water bottles does fail I don't have a mess to clean up. I also keep snacks like granola, those gummy fruit things the kids like, and other small long lasting stuff in another ice chest.

There are a lot of other things I keep down there as well. I keep everything under the benches in my shelter. The walls of mine are steel so I have magnetic shelves too.

I recommend against keeping guns in the shelter unless you have a really good way to secure it. I keep mine unlocked so that relatives can get in easily if I'm away. Just keep a "go bag" handy with anything you might need but don't want to keep in the shelter itself.

My go bag has meds, more flashlights, etc. Basically a 72 hr. bag with some added things like a handgun.

Hope this helps.
SDS
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Great post man, I think in a situation that would warrant the use of the shelter, I definatly would want a morale boost for my sons. (11, 8, and 5)
I think it would go a long way for em.

No guns in the shelter, just ammo, I could grab a couple on the way out, or I would have mine on my hip anyways.

I do keep a BOB in house, so that would definatly accompany me down there. A jack is an excellant idea!!!! Thanks!
 
lots of great info here Jake... sounds like you're on the right path... this little shelter is so cool... :) looking forward to seeing what you end up putting in it....

i think i would try and eliminate as much garbage/waste as possible when stocking this thing.... for instance, bottled waters... after you drink the water, you still have all the garbage and empty bottles... i would try and stick to bigger jugs, maybe the bigger 5 gal. refillable ones.... also pre-packaged foods... try and ditch as much of the packageing prior to storing them... just my 2 cents...:)
 
Good point Mike....

I get MREs on a very low price per case. Very low. So I think 2 cases in there would suffice. Plus, if any of you have ever ate an MRE, you know that crappin would not be a problem for awhile if you eat the peanut butter or cheese in one. :D

Anyone know about a propane lantern in a shelter? I have a few, but in an enclosed space.... Probably not a smart Idea. I have lights, my boys all have AAA fenixs, and I have a big ol streamlight in my BOB, as well as a couple fenixs. (great lights IMO)
 
The little single serving flavor packets for water are great for kids too. KoolAid, Crystal light, whatever. If you have spent a few evenings locked down in a shelter with a few kids you start thinking about things like this.

The portapottie is not really necessary for adults. It's mostly for the kids. Although if something does fall over the door trapping you for a bit, you'll likely be glad you had it.

I haven't seen the fiberglass shelters in person so I can't really make suggestions for storage in one. My shelter has built in bench seating. I can store a lot of gear under there. Ammo cans are a good way to seal things up too.

I don't have a lot of insect problems but I still try to make sure everything is sealed up well. I also go down and clean mine out, disinfect (in case any mold has started up), and rotate stock prior to each tornado season here.

I would stay away from any propane devices in such a closed in space. With the new LED lights using so little energy I would highly suggest using those instead.

SDS
 
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