5 Must Have Home Emergency Items

If you have lived in North Vancouver for any amount of time you know that the “Big One” is on its way. Many homes are not well-prepared for it. Each home should have some basic emergency items on hand. North Shore Mini Storage is here to makes sure you have these 5 home emergency items.

5 Home Emergency Items You Need

1. Battery Powered Radio and Flashlights

When an emergency strikes, chances are that the power will be out. If it happens during the night, you will be left in the dark without a flashlight. The only form of communication might be the radio, so make sure to have a small battery powered (or hand crank) radio in your emergency supplies.

2. First Aid Kit

First Aid Kits are generally overlooked. We tend to think that the box of band-aids in the bathroom will suffice. However, if you need more than that, it could be the difference between life and death. You can grab great first aid kits at any camping store, or military surplus store.

3. Food

If you are thinking takeout will be available during an emergency, think again. It’s very important to have a small store of canned (non-perishable) food on hand at all times. This can be anything from Tuna to canned pasta. Granola bars are great too and last a while.

4. Fire Extinguisher

More importantly, a working fire extinguisher. Many homes have these, but chances are you have never updated or checked if they are still good. These have expiry dates on them, so go give them a quick check. Having something as simple as a fire extinguisher can save your entire home.

5. Medication

If anyone in your family needs special medication, like asthma inhalers or nitrogen pills for heart conditions, include them in your emergency supplies. The absolute worst thing is to be without important medications and no way to get them. Remember to change them out often as they can expire.

If you are building a small home emergency supply, you can use a storage unit to store extra canned food and survival gear. Need help starting a survival supply? Checkout this great survival supply guide.

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Mike Olsen

18:58 16 Oct 19

This is inexpensive storage that operates 100% as advertised - they do not offer 24/7 access and do not charge 24/7 access pricing. They are incredibly responsive to requests to unlock doors and provide access. It is not fancy but if you need a clean, dry place to store your stuff, you can't beat these guys. Don't expect bells and/or whistles but you also won't be paying for them.

Dave Shirlaw

01:54 10 Jun 19

Have to phone to have buildings unlocked. Annoying.

megan chow

23:06 21 May 19

sara ~

01:04 25 Sep 18

Prices are 1/2 the price of other storage units but it shuts down (locked gates) from 10 am - 6 pm except if you have the enormous ground level outside facing units. Those hours are impossible. The technology getting items up to the second story is an actual forklift thats made stationary. You balance your items up the forklift (and you raise the wooden pallet up yourself) Then you must walk up stairs and hope their is a dolly available to wind precariously around tiny turning hallways. Budget carpentry and ancient carpet in the units. The trolleys sound and feel like their from 1980's and are either coached to disobey or they keep their own counsel. They say its secure but I had a neighbor pick something up and they weren't even asked for permission. I explicitly stated only I was to have access. They said they do not let it happen. The locks are your own, but the flip closure is attached by 3/4 wood screws easily and possibly quite quietly could be opened and emptied with no one batting an eye. A kid could detach it with anything. They have "24 hour security" which means a guy lives on site. Does he/she have CCTV access? Probably not, nor would you want that job. Are there motion sensors? Not likely as sometimes the lights won't turn on and finding a switch in the straggly wandering corridors is impossible. They do not offer insurance. You have to sign forms saying all the things you will and won't do, but they are not liable if anything happens: theft, fire, water, vandals, pests etcSo despite all those complaints, its still 4/5 only because of the prices.