Essential Items to Keep in Your Storm Safety Shelter

Heavy storms, such as tornadoes, can have dire consequences. In order to ensure you have the right means of keeping your family out of harm’s way, you should invest in a storm safety shelter. In addition to having a secure place to retreat to, you also need to outfit that room with the right supplies. This guide will introduce you to the essential items to keep in your storm safety shelter at all times.

Comprehensive First Aid Kit

First and foremost, you need a full first aid kit to treat any injuries that might occur during a storm. While you race to get to your shelter in an emergency, there’s a risk of falling victim to injuries on the way there. If high winds send debris into your home and one of your family members is struck or injured, having the right supplies to treat them is vital. The most important first aid supplies to have at the ready include gauze dressings (various sizes), scissors, disposable gloves, cleansing wipes, antiseptic wipes, and distilled water.

Flashlights (or Lanterns) and Batteries

If the power goes out during a storm, you’ll need to have a source of light for visibility at all times. This is why one of the most essential items to keep in your storm safety shelter is a flashlight or a battery-operated lamp with plenty of batteries. You'll also want to have plenty of backup batteries for those just-in-case moments.

At Swisher Acquisition Inc., we have a selection of light sources for storm safety shelters that offer homeowners sufficient visibility. One of these options is bendable LED lights that can be easily moved around and attached to steel surfaces. These flexible lights also come with multiple brightness settings, allowing you to adjust the level of illumination to fit your needs.

Additionally, we have more compact LED lights available that you can activate via motion sensors. Whichever light source you choose, having some way to illuminate your shelter is important.

Bottled Water & Non-Perishable Foods

Unfortunately, you might find yourself hiding out in the shelter for many hours. In order to keep you and your family hydrated and fed during this time, stock up on several days’ worth of bottled water and nonperishable foods. Having enough food and water is essential for both your physical and mental health.

If buying in bulk is an issue, simply invest in small amounts of water and non-perishables each time you go to the grocery store. Including the cost of these supplies in your monthly budget will further help you minimize the dent they make in your bank account.

Extra Clothes & Warm Blankets

If you or anyone in your family finds themselves covered in water, debris, or other materials from the storm, having extra clothes is key. Not just for comfort, but for proper hygiene as well. Sitting in wet clothes for hours is unhealthy and can lead to heavy odors accumulating in the area, so you’ll need suitable replacements for such scenarios.

Something else that will dry wet clothes and collect excessive moisture in the air is a good dehumidifier. We have dehumidifier units available that don’t require any batteries or cords to operate. You can easily set them up in your shelter. When the time comes to hide in there, the dehumidifiers will help keep the area dry and mold-free.

Aside from staying dry, you also have to prioritize staying warm. Don’t forget to stock up on warm blankets in your shelter to deal with uncomfortable temperatures. That way, if the shelter gets too cold, you can stay warm and comfortable regardless. Cold temperatures aren’t a problem for every type of storm shelter, but you should have these supplies just in case.

Materials Specific to Your Family’s Needs

Different families have different personal needs, which is something you should always keep in mind when buying supplies for your storm shelter, as well as for buying the shelter in the first place. At Swisher Acquisition Inc., we have a selection of steel safe rooms that accommodate a variety of personal needs. For example, we have safety shelters that are wheelchair accessible. You also have to consider the amount of room you have available, which is why we have safe rooms of various sizes.

Once you take the measurements of the area in which you want to put the safe room, you can come to us, and we’ll help you find a suitable model. Plus, our USA-made ESP Safety Shelters meet all FEMA 320 and ICC-500 guidelines. Thanks to their structural integrity, our safety shelters will keep anyone inside safe from winds up to 250 miles per hour. To further maximize your health and comfort, our in-home Emergency Safety Preparedness Safety Shelters are properly equipped with shielded air vents to ensure everyone inside gets plenty of fresh air.

Your family’s personal needs should be on your mind when you’re stocking up on supplies too. If you have a baby, properly prepare by stocking up on diapers and other personal care items for them. Furthermore, if one or multiple family members regularly use an inhaler, reach out to their physician about possibly obtaining extras to place inside the safe room. It’s equally crucial to keep allergies in mind as well.

If anyone in your family is at risk of certain allergies, make sure that products like the food you stock up on don’t contain dangerous ingredients. Likewise, any medications your family use should be readily available in your shelter. By keeping these personal items in mind, you can prevent any further dangerous situations from occurring inside of your shelter during an emergency.

Important Documents

In addition to personal health materials, think about essential personal paperwork. During heavy storms, there’s a risk of losing personal documents such as the deed to your home, birth certificates, insurance policies, passports, and other important materials. Just in case, always make sure your shelter has copies of these documents safely hidden away.