What items should be stored in my basement if there is a tornado?

Best Answer

food stuffs that do not need to be heated to eat you do not want to be having an open flame especially if your home has propane or natural gas.
flashlight/radio preferably the hand crank type that do not need batteries then you do not need to keep fresh batteries on hand.
fresh water sealed bottles at least a 5 gal jug
warm dry clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, tarps
sound making device to notify rescuers(whistle)
keep all these devices stored in a sealed tote in your safe room and do not remove anything between emergencies from the tote
cell phone is good but if all the towers are down they wont be much good keep a pair of two way radios handy and monitor the channels to contact for help they generally need AA batteries to work
lots of great ideas combine them for a great emerg kit

Asker's Rating:

Thank you!!!!

Other Answers (6)

• Canned food, bottled water, can opener, way to purify water.
  Way to heat food.
  Any medications that someone needs daily.
  Candle %26amp; matches.
  Flashlights
  Pet food
  Leash, collar, carrier, and vaccination records for pets
  Copies of vital records, mortgage, insurance, birth certificates, ect.
  Cash, in small bills.
  Shovel %26amp; pick
  First aid kit
  Wool blankets (Wool has 80% of it%26#039;s heat retaining ability even if soaking wet, and can be used to put someone out who is on fire)
  Hand crank emergency raidio
  Tent (a large one, will keep you from being eaten by bugs at night, if just your windows are blown out, or provide shelter if your house is gone)
  Plastic sheeting
  Way to turn off any gas lines to your home.
  A long wood handle from a broom, or shovel. (can be used to move any downed power lines if you absolutely have too)
  Chainsaw, and fuel for the saw
  Cell phone, and WRITTEN down numbers for people to call in emergencies.
  Clothing, including good shoes
  Bedding
  Sunscreen %26amp; bug repelant
  Quiet toys for children, like dolls or colloring books (they should be brand new, so children are not already bored with them)
  Anything your infant needs if you have one
  Toilet paper, and feminine supplies
  Plastic trash bags (very strong, and large ones)
  Duct tape
  Five gallon bucket with a toilet seat on it (if your toilet is gone, you will be glad of it)
  Flairs
  Guns and amunition IF you already own such items
  Anything completely ireplaceable, like a photograph with no negatives, or grandma%26#039;s earings.
  Cell phone, and solar, or hand crank charger.
  Folding card table, and folding chairs
  Games for both adults and children.
  Spray paint (bright color) to mark your home, for looters(warning them), rescue workers.
  Bicycle in good working order, preferably with large basket.
  Leather gloves %26amp; knee pads (think you might be digging a neighbor out, with broken glass about?)
  Take a class and learn basic first aid.
  Fire extinquishers
  Hose
  Basic tool box with basic tools
  Two tone emergency plastic whistle, on a lanyard, put around neck immediatly upon entering basement, and seeking shelter.
  
  Those are some of the basic items I would have in my basement.
  
  ~Garnet
  Homesteading/Farming over 20 years
• I can see that you%26#039;ve already had a couple of good answers. I would definately make certain that there%26#039;s a cell phone down there that can get a signal beforehand. If you%26#039;re trapped down there you%26#039;ll need to be able to call for help.
• canned goods(with a can opener), bottled water, any non-perishable food, blankets, flashlights with batteries and a radio(battery operated). Matches and candles may come in handy also.
• canned goods, emergency kit, bottled water, sleepping bags, pillows and enough batteries 4 flashlights
• Your basement is a good place to create a wine cellar. Once you have that, who cares about a tornado?
• a radio,water,food,blankets,something to sleep on