[therhino]

What sort of options are availabel for waterproof storage of bulk goods?

I've been slowly stockpiling foodstuffs and supplies for disaster readiness, and have exhausted the small amoun t of space we have in our kitchen cupboards. We don't have any available closet space as of yet (have to go through and sort what we actually use versus what we're just storing for no reason). My garage isn't a good idea, as it's not attached to the house, and cans and jars would routinely freeze in the winter and reach high temps in the summer.
My last resort is my basement. The problem here is that it's a "wet" basement. Lots of moisture in the air, and should the power go out for an extended period, it actually fills with a foot of water due to the sump pumps not running and the battery backup running out of juice.
If I were to use the basement for storage, is there any waterproof solution I can use to keep cans and jar lids from rusting due to the moist air? I can get the stuff up off the floor easily enough, but am not sure how the moisture would affect them. Storing rice and grains down there is an invitation for mold and spoilage.
Doe anyone use waterproof boxes or trunks?

[Jpyle]

Get a bunch of those sealer bags and a vacuum sealer. Think they also makes mason jar lids that can be vacuum sealed. Works for long term ammo storage as well if moisture is an issue.

[purehavoc]

Why not just build shelves to keep your stuff ff the floor in the basement ? Vacuum seal your stuff it will last longer . 5 gal buckets with gamma seals will fix a wet problem . I have bought plastic totes and started putting goods in them . Lots of ways to get around that leaky or backed up basement and still have usable goods

[therhino]

Originally Posted by purehavoc

Why not just build shelves to keep your stuff ff the floor in the basement ? Vacuum seal your stuff it will last longer . 5 gal buckets with gamma seals will fix a wet problem . I have bought plastic totes and started putting goods in them . Lots of ways to get around that leaky or backed up basement and still have usable goods

Oh, I have shelves built to keep things off the floor and out of the "flood plain". I was concenred that the moisture that's always in the air in the basement would cause problems for stored goods if they weren't in a waterproof container.

Vacuum sealing would solve the air moisture problem though. Thanks!

[orangello]

If you know a plumber, maybe he could cap one end of some 8" PVC for you and set the other end up with a gasketed, screw-off cap. That would not attract attention in a basement.

[clr8ter]

If you know a plumber, maybe he could cap one end of some 8" PVC for you and set the other end up with a gasketed, screw-off cap. That would not attract attention in a basement.

You'd pay a plumber $90 an hour to do that? Why not do it yourself? No special tools, just hacksaw, cleaner & glue.

[bonney]

burial, if the water level is not too high in your area. It need not be, and should not be, on land that is in any way "tied" to you. Just ask Weaver and Koresch if they want their stuff all at their "known" residences. :-) Big Bro is a lot more of a likely threat than any other one things. gotta do the burial at night, leave the drums empty for a month, look for digging signs. gotta have a $200 passive IR monocular, to scan for people as you dig, gotta have gravel under and around the drums, to prevent freeze thaw, if in bear country, need a thick, wide "cap" of concrete under the sod-debris covering.

[orangello]

Originally Posted by clr8ter

You'd pay a plumber $90 an hour to do that?

I was thinking more of a plumber that he is friends with helping him out over a 12 pack. It would be important that the storage be well-sealed; somebody who works with PVC and glue on a daily basis might have a bit of an edge there, but we all have our own comfortable levels with workmanship on our emergency/survival storage.

[clr8ter]

Well, if you knew a plumber, and had beers, sure. But trust me, with just a little care, anyone could make perfect watertight joints in PVC.

[winds-of-change]

I have one of these.

http://www.foodsaver.com/index.aspx


You can also buy containers with valves on the lid that you can make them vacuum jars.