Prepping multiple locations.

[Wood cutter]

Thanks very much for the responses.

I'll be honest, I'm not so much worried about what would happen during some kind of catastrophic event, I've got completely separate plans for such an event. My problem at the moment is much more 'day to day'.


I'll give an example. With 2 houses, comes the responsibility to maintain 2 houses. Worried that one day we may get a burst pipe or leak at either location , I started carrying my plumbing tools with me as I only have one set. Then, worried that I may need to work on the cars at either location, I added even more tools to the kit. I could go on, but you get the idea.
If I follow this thinking 'Ad absurdum', I'll end up trying to fit a 30 ft ladder in the car in case we get a roof tile slip.

[Mortblanc]

This appears to boil down to simple risk assessment.

How likely is an event to occur at each location?

What event is most likely to occur at each location? Burst pipe, leaky roof, broken glass, someone kicking the door down while you are gone?

It seems a basic set of tools should be kept at each site with your full set being kept at the site most used. A couple of pipe wrenches, plenty of duct tape, zip ties, binding wire, hammer, set of screw drivers, electric drill and possibly a skill-saw as basic tools needed at each place and left in place. Just the things one would need to patch a problem until you return next time with the proper tools for a full repair.


I can really see no need for carrying everything you own between locations "just in case something needs repair".

[Deeps]

This appears to boil down to simple risk assessment.

How likely is an event to occur at each location?

What event is most likely to occur at each location? Burst pipe, leaky roof, broken glass, someone kicking the door down while you are gone?

It seems a basic set of tools should be kept at each site with your full set being kept at the site most used. A couple of pipe wrenches, plenty of duct tape, zip ties, binding wire, hammer, set of screw drivers, electric drill and possibly a skill-saw as basic tools needed at each place and left in place. Just the things one would need to patch a problem until you return next time with the proper tools for a full repair.


I can really see no need for carrying everything you own between locations "just in case something needs repair".

This seems the sensible approach to me too, I don't have 'everything' tool wise so if I need something I'd have to buy or borrow it, you're maybe overthinking it all Wood Cutter, I think us prepper types do it a lot once you get the notion in your head. Keep enough in your second gaff to tide you over for the basic jobs and wing it for the big stuff. As and when you need something, just add to you second set.

[Plymtom]

I don't have 'everything' tool wise so if I need something I'd have to buy or borrow it

Sorry to jump in, I think you've got it covered now, but that line struck a chord, Plymouth ( the sixth place to try this) is opening a "Borrow don't buy shop" for little used items which people often find the need but do not have either the money or space to own, I struggle with this concept not only from a self reliance point of view but from experience of loaning stuff and never getting it back or having to chase it up, the latter I know is to a degree human nature to be forgetful as apposed to virtual theft but the very idea of not having to store some things if their services could be bought at a reasonable price as a when needed, like carpet shampooing machines, but many things will come to mind which life would be better if we had the space freed up.

I only have the one location, but even there the amount of doubling up which goes on would probably stagger many, for example the tool drawer in the kitchen has always existed, from the times when I needed a work kit and a "home kit" but now there are a few things in other drawers, indeed the family all have a few toolish things where they spend most if their time, I have a tool kit in a belt bag which goes to the range, an archery tool kit, a couple of sets of specialist screwdrivers for phones and the like, a box of watch related tools for battery changes and strap repair, many of which have some cross over, then there's the reloading gun maintenance area which has mostly specialist kit but still a few pairs of pliers and spanners the right size, so Wood Cutter, you're not alone many of us I'll wager have dilema's as to what to keep where, even in a single location, ( I have nightmares about how to get it all home if the car breaks down when we go out to play too) so I empathize with you, and have probably given you more to worry about lol.

[Deeps]

That 'borrow shop' sounds a really good idea Tom, ideally I like to own everything that we need but for all sorts of reasons its not always possible. I've got more tools than I did when I was 30, just the way of things and I still have to make the odd purchase from time to time. I have duplication in the screw drivers and some bits and bobs, one decent and one 'on the way out' battery powered drill etc, unless its your job then I think most of us just build our collection as we go, the scene from Gran Torino when Clint is in his garage with the boy and giving him a roll of maskers and WD40 pretty much sums it up.

[Chemistry]

I have a 'sort of' similar problem although quite different to two properties. I would like to know peoples thoughts also!

I live in an apartment on the 6th floor and am lucky enough to have a cellar (good old Germany), the cellar space is split into four sections for each different flat and each is locked from the other and is roughly 3m by 3m. At present I only store rubbish which i don't want in the flat but I am also aware it would make a great place to store prep gear and maybe even a small bed.

My question is, would you store gear in the flat, cellar or both? I am thinking that if a SHTF scenario occurred with little time to prepare my best bet would be to hole up in the flat on the top floor and ride things out...rather than run down 7 flights of stairs to hide in the cellar.

I have a BOB or rather a BOC (cellar) bag but it only contains 72 hours of food and water. The obvious answer is to stock food, water and some sleeping stuff in flat and cellar...but I am thinking more about essential survival gear like first aid kit, torches and knives etc.

[Deeps]

I have a 'sort of' similar problem although quite different to two properties. I would like to know peoples thoughts also!

I live in an apartment on the 6th floor and am lucky enough to have a cellar (good old Germany), the cellar space is split into four sections for each different flat and each is locked from the other and is roughly 3m by 3m. At present I only store rubbish which i don't want in the flat but I am also aware it would make a great place to store prep gear and maybe even a small bed.

My question is, would you store gear in the flat, cellar or both? I am thinking that if a SHTF scenario occurred with little time to prepare my best bet would be to hole up in the flat on the top floor and ride things out...rather than run down 7 flights of stairs to hide in the cellar.

I have a BOB or rather a BOC (cellar) bag but it only contains 72 hours of food and water. The obvious answer is to stock food, water and some sleeping stuff in flat and cellar...but I am thinking more about essential survival gear like first aid kit, torches and knives etc.

That sounds like my kind of 'bugging out', none of this running off to the woods malarky, more sashaying down to the cellar where traditionally wine is stored...

If you're seriously considering using this space then you need to put some gear in it, at a guess the human waste angle might be tricky, at least in your flat you can either put it out a window or at least you're in a big enough space to have a designated room to store it. By the sound of it though it sounds perfect for long term storage, at least for water and other bulky gear, no harm in having a stash of other stuff in there too, if the only things you're short of is personal gear then put a set in there too, always an option.

[xplosiv1]

I have a 'sort of' similar problem although quite different to two properties. I would like to know peoples thoughts also!

I live in an apartment on the 6th floor and am lucky enough to have a cellar (good old Germany), the cellar space is split into four sections for each different flat and each is locked from the other and is roughly 3m by 3m. At present I only store rubbish which i don't want in the flat but I am also aware it would make a great place to store prep gear and maybe even a small bed.

My question is, would you store gear in the flat, cellar or both? I am thinking that if a SHTF scenario occurred with little time to prepare my best bet would be to hole up in the flat on the top floor and ride things out...rather than run down 7 flights of stairs to hide in the cellar.

I have a BOB or rather a BOC (cellar) bag but it only contains 72 hours of food and water. The obvious answer is to stock food, water and some sleeping stuff in flat and cellar...but I am thinking more about essential survival gear like first aid kit, torches and knives etc.

sounds interesting, both have pros and cons. like if the building was to go on fire you could be trapped in your 6th floor apartment and like wise you could also be trapped in the cellar if theres only one exit and it becomes compromised. repeating what was already said waste could be a problem in the cellar, also vermin if your storing food in there long term, what a nightmare it would be to head down to your bolt hole only to find your food stash eaten or contaminated.

I'd probably set up both, in the cellar i'd start with re-enforcing the door and getting some vermin proof containers for food & water storage and probably some empty 25L buckets with lids (food grade that way they're air tight) and use them as mini toilets if needed. after that I'd just make it as comfortable as possible, homely comforts like toilet paper, a radio, books, spare clothes (remember cellars get pretty cold in the winter) actual cutlery and plates rather than plastic camping stuff (it all make a difference)

[Plymtom]

I have a 'sort of' similar problem although quite different to two properties. I would like to know peoples thoughts also!

I live in an apartment on the 6th floor and am lucky enough to have a cellar (good old Germany), the cellar space is split into four sections for each different flat and each is locked from the other and is roughly 3m by 3m. At present I only store rubbish which i don't want in the flat but I am also aware it would make a great place to store prep gear and maybe even a small bed.

My question is, would you store gear in the flat, cellar or both? I am thinking that if a SHTF scenario occurred with little time to prepare my best bet would be to hole up in the flat on the top floor and ride things out...rather than run down 7 flights of stairs to hide in the cellar.

I have a BOB or rather a BOC (cellar) bag but it only contains 72 hours of food and water. The obvious answer is to stock food, water and some sleeping stuff in flat and cellar...but I am thinking more about essential survival gear like first aid kit, torches and knives etc.

Thinking about that I'd say keep the cellar secure ( or secure it's contents so as it looks no different to the other ones) and use it to store extra supplies, for it would be surely safer to venture down there than outside? It may not be the best situation, but you can maximize on it.

[Chemistry]

I think I will start to clear out the cellar over the weekend and try to put spare food and water down there and a few things like a sleeping bag and torch.

I think for waste it would not be a huge problem. I think a few large bins with secure lids plus some bleach could be acceptable in the short term, thankfully the underground of the building is split into three sections...personal cellars, boiler room and washing machine room. In a real SHTF situation I would probably designate the boiler room as the WC that way I can keep waste away from my living area.

I will need to put a lock onto the inside of my cellar door also as at present I can only lock/unlock from the outside.