How to Stock Your Survival Bunker

The
end of the world has been a concern since the beginning of time. Whether it’s a
natural disaster, a disease outbreak or a different type of apocalyptic event,
your survival bunker can keep you safe in most SHTF scenarios. Of course, once
you finish building your bunker, you’ll need to stock it with things to keep
you and your loved ones safe.

So
how can you differentiate between necessities and luxuries? Make sure you stock
your survival bunker the right way by reading about these survival essentials.
After you have your bunker stocked, you can think about adding a few more items
for your own personal enjoyment.

1. Save Tons of Water

Everyone
knows that hydration is key to healthy living. But that’s easy to forget about
when you live with constant access to water. There’s no urgent need to drink it
when it’s available because it’s always there.

When
you’re living in your survival bunker, your water supply will quickly diminish.
Unless you’ve managed to hook up your bunker to some kind of underground well
or natural water source, it could disappear quickly.

The
first thing you should do is stock up on water. Water bottles, pitchers and
even filtration systems are high-priority items when stocking your bunker.

2. Store Nutritional Food

The
next thing you should think about is food. You’ll obviously have to eat when
you’re waiting out the storm, and you may not know when you’ll be able to leave
the bunker to scavenge. That’s why you should read a survival
food list
and get non-perishable foods that cover every part of the food pyramid.

Some
examples of these foods are:

• Beans (dried or canned)
• Grains
• Flour
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned or dried meat
• Powdered milk

It
may be challenging to find your favorite foods on that list, but you should
think simple, like stocking up on beef jerky. It comes in a variety of flavors
and lasts a long
time in its packaging, no refrigeration necessary.

Don’t
forget to designate a place in your bunker to prepare the food. Even if you
just need a surface to open a can of beans on, it’ll help you decide where your
kitchen will be.

3. Prepare a First Aid Kit

You
never know what could happen when you’re adjusting to your new lifestyle, so
it’s a good idea to prepare a first aid kit. A basic kit will contain things
like bandages, antibiotic cream, gauze and gauze tape.

You’ll
also want to have medicine on hand. Over the counter medicine like
acetaminophen, ibuprofen and allergy medicine are all smart to include. Just be
sure to stay aware of their expiration date and replace them as needed every
few years.

4. Consider the Temperature

Spending
time underground will make you safer, but it will also make you colder. The
ground has a tendency to trap the colder temperatures at night, holding onto
them even through hot days. The deeper your bunker is, the colder you’ll be.

Consider
this important detail when you stock your bunker. Store jackets, socks,
blankets and even winter supplies like gloves and hats so you’re comfortable
when you’re down there.

5. Fill Up Your Toolkit

What
happens if your portable stove breaks or a handheld lantern falls apart? You’ll
need a basic toolkit to handle situations like that, along with extra
batteries. Keep both of these somewhere safe in your bunker. You may not use
your toolkit during a natural disaster, but you’ll be glad you prepped it when
you need to reassemble something that aids in your survival.

6. Designate a Document Bag

When
you’re listing out items you’ll need to survive, your personal documents may
not seem relevant. However, if the disaster destroys or damages your home, you
would need the relevant paperwork to rebuild.

Keep
important documents in an emergency document bag so you can grab it and go if
you ever need to evacuate. The emergency document
bag includes these items.

• Photo IDs
• Birth certificates
• Insurance forms
• Passports
• Wills and titles

It’s
always smart to have these with you to manage an unexpected situation. Sealing
them in a waterproof bag or fireproof safe will keep them secure until you need
them.

7. Create a Bedroom

Most
bunkers end up being a safe place with one room, but you’ll still end up
needing many of the same supplies you use every day. Create a makeshift bedroom
by saving things like a bedspread, pillows and extra sheets and blankets.
Double what you save if you’ll be in the bunker with a family member or friend.

8. Install a Bathroom

Every
bunker has a space where you can go to the bathroom, like a two in one combined
shower and toilet. Along with installing a
compost toilet,
you’ll need sanitary supplies like toilet paper, hand soap and shower supplies.
You should also have a way to clean your bathroom area that isn’t so pungent
that you need to air it out.

9. Arrange a Defense room

If
you’re prepping your bunker for the end of the world, you’ll need a defense
room. It’ll help you to hunt your own food after you get back above ground.
There’s also the need for self-defense in case the people you came across
outside your bunker were desperate or crazed.

To
that end, think about what your abilities and skill sets are to determine which
methods of defense are right for you. You may already have weapons in your home
you could store in your bunker.

Just
like it’d be unwise to enter your bunker without a means of self-defense, it
would also be unwise to enter without any means of cleaning your guns. Remember
to store things like a gun cleaning kit, depending on which weapons you’d bring
along.

Think About Your Routine

If
you feel like you’re still missing something, think about your routine. What do
you use every day and how could you stock it in your bunker? Essentials like
food, water and extra blankets are just a few of the things you’ll be grateful
for if you ever need to go down there. Once you’ve stocked the important stuff,
you can throw in fun things like board games and other inessential items to
pass the time.