Whatever the government tells you, when it declares martial law after a great calamity it will usually be under the guise of upholding the "safety and security" of American citizens. Wise preppers know that while this may be the intention of those in power, the same can't be said for people who will want to take advantage of this kind of situation. (h/t to UrbanSurvivalSite.com)
Before you secure your supplies, leave some "hidden" items in areas that are easy to search, like the basement or your pantry, to throw off whoever's searching your property.
If you're a prepper worried about the government seizing your survival stockpile during a food shortage by claiming that you're a "hoarder," read on to learn how and where to hide your supplies.
Under the floor
A crawl space is an ideal hiding spot for your supplies. If you have the skills, build a trap door in the floor.
Make sure the door is well-hidden and that it blends into the surrounding floor.
Inside furniture
This hiding spot also requires woodworking skills of your own or the talents of a discreet and trustworthy carpenter that you can commission.
Create hidden drawers and compartments on the underside of coffee tables and end tables. Alternatively, you can remove couch cushions, remove the fabric, hide supplies inside the couch, and then sew the fabric back into place. (Related: Survival 101: What are your rights under martial law?)
Inside home decor
Your home decor becomes more useful during martial law, especially if they're spacious enough to hide supplies in.
Do you have a large lamp with a lot of empty space inside? Line the inside with a bag and fill it with rice. If you have potted plants, hide a small waterproof bag or container beneath the dirt.
Inside the wall
Install fake electric outlets and hide small items like jewelry or emergency cash behind them. You can also cut a hiding place into the wall behind a large painting.
Behind air vents
Unscrew an air vent and hide some food and supplies behind it. You can also create a false air vent and put supplies behind it.
Among miscellaneous storage
The best place to hide things is in plain sight.
If you have stacks of boxes or containers filled with random items like old toys or holiday decorations in your attic or basement, you can easily hide food, water, medical supplies and ammunition among these boxes.
You can also use original boxes for appliances or electronics. Remove the styrofoam and replace it with supplies.
Bury supplies in your backyard
This hiding spot isn't so hidden. If you want to bury something in your backyard, you need to flatten the earth and hide any signs that something is buried in your yard.
If you have a garden, bury some supplies but avoid digging too deep that you destroy plant roots. Use waterproof storage options like PVC pipes, metal ammo cans and food-grade plastic containers.
A survival cache near your bug-out location
When SHTF, you may also want to hide supplies in a cache near your bug-out location. This ensures that the authorities can't seize your supplies and that you have access to gear as you head to your hideout so you can resupply if you need to.
Your mobility may be restricted by martial law, but you should consider this option if you want a secure hiding spot. You can hide supplies in a public park, an abandoned building, or near hiking trails not too far from town.
If you're hiding a lot of food and supplies for your group, use high-density polyethylene storage drums. These strong, food-grade barrels with a lockable lid are ideal for a survival cache.
Ensure that the pressure of the ground doesn't make the containers collapse by storing a packed barrel. If the container is packed, its sides won't buckle even if the ground is denser from rain or frost.
Before SHTF, hide supplies in your furniture, in your backyard, or near your bug-out location so you have access to food and gear when martial law is declared in your area.
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