Placing your items in a storage unit is a convenient way to keep your belongings secure and organized. These facilities also offer environments that can help protect your valuables from the elements. However, if natural disasters—such as floods, blizzards, fires, or tornados—strike, storage centers can be left vulnerable. Therefore, use the following tips to protect your belongings.  

How to Fortify Your Storage Unit Against a Natural Disaster

1. Invest in Climate-Controlled Storage

There are many types of items that are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. For instance, electronics can be subject to humidity-related damage during hot summers. Furniture—especially wood items—may crack or warp when exposed to moisture. To avoid these kinds of issues, choose a climate-controlled self-storage facility that will hold your belongings at a steady temperature within a humidity-free environment.

2. Put Pallets on the Floor

Floodwaters can sometimes penetrate storage unit doors and expose contents to water damage, mold, and mildew. If you have a ground-level unit, put all your belongings on a layer of wood pallets. These simple structures will raise boxes and other goods off of the ground so that they have a reduced chance of getting wet.  

3. Use Watertight Bins

When possible, opt to store your belongings in a watertight container rather than a standard cardboard box. These bins can help shield sensitive items—such as documents, electronics, or photos—from water damage related to flooding or fires.

4. Cover Items

Items that cannot be secured in a watertight bin—such as furniture—should be covered with some kind of tarp or blanket. This layer of protection can help keep dust and debris from settling onto your belongings.

5. Keep Sensitive Documents at Home

If a natural disaster occurs, you’ll want to have all your essential documents—such as birth certificates, insurance policies, and financial statements—accessible. As such, keep them at home, preferably in a water- and fire-proof safe. 

Committed to helping residents keep their valuables safe, Downing Company offers comprehensive household storage solutions at their secure facility in Kearney, NE. With their climate-controlled storage units, this company will be able to protect your items from excessive heat, rainstorms, and other natural events. To learn more about these amenities and unit availability, visit this storage provider online. Call (308) 236-6431 with questions.