Sharon

But for other things like TP or medical supplies I would look for space that doesn’t get used regularly like under the bed or in a trunk that can be also be used as a end table. Can you empty you pots and pan drawer and maybe hang them up?

As for Tp we keep a good supply but IF for any reason we should run out ( this would be like major earthquake, TP rationing lines) we keep a gallon sized ziplock of old cloth baby wipes. They take up much less space and would be there in a pinch.

We save juice bottles for water. They are smaller and easier to fit into random small spaces.

I wish I could find a place to store more TP; as it is the most we can stash is 4 packs of 24-extra-large rolls in our bathroom, and maybe 1 pack in DD’s bathroom. I also bought some 3-tiered wire racks for increasing storage space in my bathroom cabinets, which made it so much easier to organize them last night, and fit some extras in, freeing up room elsewhere. I need to get some more stackable storage containers for beans and pasta, as they’re a mess of baggies and such in my kitchen cabinets. (Yeah, I DO use cleaned out pickle jars and such, but they don’t stack very neatly.) For me it seems that it’s primarly about storage issues these days. I’ve got a decent stock of a lot of things (though not nearly 3 months worth, MUCH LESS 1 year’s worth), but very little room to add more, and the storage possibilities in my little house are very poorly designed. *sigh*

As for water, I’ve got one 5-gal jug of the stuff stored under my kitchen banquet, and I hope to add a second, but just don’t have room for more than that. On the other hand, I’m hoping I can fill a couple of old bleach jugs with water and stash them in smaller places. Just have to remember to label them AS water when I do, so I don’t go dumping water in my laundry load instead of bleach. *grin* Also using vinegar jugs for water storage. I guess I Have close to 10 gallons, all told. Wish I could persuade the hubby how important it is to prepare more thoroughly. He’s still not seeing it, though. *sigh*

For those just starting to stock up the holidays are a good time to get baking supplies and a few extra turkeys or hams for the freezer (or can them!) I haven’t seen butter on sale yet, but I get as much as I can afford in the winter and stash it in the freezer.

Also, while things are still abundant and cheap, now is the time to get your family to try new foods. Out of the 6 in my house, only one person likes beans-and it’s not me- but I did find out that everyone but dh likes corn bread. Experiment now so you can stock what your family actually eats, not what you grabbed at the store ’cause everybody says you HAVE TO HAVE BEANS

If you are low on bottles for water you can use other containers for storing “wash water” or NONPOTABLE water. I fill up empty detergent bottles so that water could be used for laundry, I fill empty cat litter buckets with water for other cleaning. I keep several milk jugs of water in the freezer in case the power goes off and as water storage. Obviously this works for short term emergencies, but they happen too.

C.

Include a copy of “Where There is No Doctor” in the big kit. If you have a genuine emergency, and no phones, you’ll be glad you have it. Its available in many languages, and is public domain.

You can order a copy from your favorite bookseller, or just print off the PDF. Personally I have a rather large library of ebooks. Some of which would get printed to have for immediate access if things began looking really bad. Others are safely on a CD, where I can charge a laptop battery (by hand if needed) to get information on projects that aren’t time-critical (planting, construction, etc).

Thanks to you, Sharon, and everyone who comments. Your help and support is better than Xanax, no matter what the NYT says!