You might have come across the term cache when it describes the short-term memory from which your computer can draw recently stored data. In its original and wider sense, however, the dictionary definition for a cache is any hidden store of provisions, weapons, treasure, or the like.
Throughout history – the word was already being used in the English language in the 1700s – caches have been used by people looking to hide away stashes of food, treasure, and items for their survival. They were often buried in the ground in the garden near to home or a more remote area where they can nevertheless be got at quickly in an emergency.
At the end of the day, therefore, a cache – or several different caches – could provide your immediate access to short-term supplies in any natural or manmade crisis or emergency – lasting at least until you have figured out your next move.
Where do you need in your cache?
The American website Ready to go Survival describes the strategic importance of a cache as providing access to short-term supplies if you are caught out between the stores you have built up at home and a more distant “bug out” place of safety.
In this context, another American website, Geek Prepper, imagines different types of cache – to serve different purposes. These caches should ideally be in addition your grab bag or bug out bag:
Waypoint cache
- just as the name suggests, this is a series of caches along your most likely escape route – from home to a bug-out place of safety, for example;
- it’s likely to contain essentials such as water, food, and any other consumables to get you at least as far as your next cache or final destination;
Car waypoint cache
- again, the clue’s in the name, with this type of cache providing some of the spare parts and repair kits you might need if making your escape by car; or
Exile cache
- this imagines the very worst-case scenario in which you have been forced to flee wherever you were when the crisis or emergency first unfolded;
- in this case, you fled the scene with absolutely nothing – other than the clothes you’re standing in – until you can make it to your first exile cache;
- this is where you will have hidden away everything you are likely to need to meet your immediate survival needs if some emergency, disaster, or crisis catches you out away from home and far from your prepared bug-out place of safety.
These might be some of the main types of cache and the reasons for setting them up. There are likely to be many others, of course, depending on the situations for which you’re prepping.
What to put in your cache
The reason or reasons for establishing your cache will help tell you what to put in them.
For a waypoint cache, for instance, you will be looking at those supplies you’re most likely to need while you’re making a journey under challenging or hazardous conditions between two or more points.
So, you might want to stash away refills for your first aid kit, spare batteries for your phone, torch (or lantern), or other essential mobile gadgets, rope or string or duct tape (for repairs along the way), sunscreen, insect repellent, and extra cash.
Your car waypoint cache speaks for itself, of course. Here, you’ll want to store things like spare and replacement light bulbs, a tyre repair kit, car jack, emergency supplies of fuel (depending on the size of your cache), and a range of multi-purpose tools.
The potentially life-saving exile cache means go back to the basics of your immediate survival following any disaster or emergency – that means:
- water and water purification tablets – plus a water container that will withstand boiling your water to purify it;
- fire-lighting kit – lighters, matches, or flints, plus kindling;
- materials to build a shelter;
- emergency food supplies;
- compass and maps;
Where to put your cache
By definition, your cache will need to be hidden. History has shown us that the majority of caches so far unearthed were buried underground.
Burying a treasure hoard or cache is clearly an effective way of hiding it from prying eyes and sticky fingers – but, so effectively, are things hidden this way that you’ll need a sure-fire way of remembering and homing in on just where the cache is buried. Make a careful note of where your cache is with reference to landmarks or features – bearing in mind that river courses may change direction and new growth can obscure the landscape.
It’s because it’s such an effective way of hiding a cache that the long-favoured method is burying your store of supplies or essential items.
Burial might be an option if you have access to open countryside, of course, and can be assured that you maintain secrecy away from prying eyes while you bury the goods. Treasure buried in some remote wilderness is, of course, the stuff of many an adventure film.
Storing your cache
Remember that you are creating a cache for use during a crisis or disaster at some later date. You don’t know when that emergency is going to arise. You don’t know how long your cache will need to remain hidden.
That means storing your cache in an airtight and waterproof box, container, or crate that can withstand an indeterminate number of years preserving the contents intact. Those demands are going to be especially important if your cache is to be buried.
Plastic – and plastic derivatives – make for long-lasting and barely biodegradable containers. The website Plastic Oceans identifies the 7 main types of plastic in industrial use. Containers made from these materials are likely to last a long time whatever the ground conditions in which they are buried.
The UK firm The Bug Out makes a 60-litre food-grade plastic Bug Out Barrel with sturdy metal sealing rings that is designed to contain a cache of all your emergency needs for a week or two. Indeed, the company can sell you not only the container but the contents you’ll need for survival – from food to all the materials you’ll need to make your shelter.
But burying your cache is not the only method of concealment – there are others likely to be more appropriate if yours is an urban or suburban environment.
Hidden in plain view
The website Outdoor Revival makes an excellent case for hiding at least part of your cache in plain sight.
You won’t want to label the box or storage crate “cache” of course, but stores marked bedclothes or linen, let’s say, can contain just enough of those items to satisfy anyone looking inside that that is all they contain. Cunningly, you have hidden your cache of emergency stores underneath those seemingly more innocent items.
Cache-sharing
If you live in a densely populated area, there might be nothing for it but to keep your cache in a residential building.
But, even then, you might want to think about basing your cache in a friend’s house – which will, at the very least, confuse anyone looking to track down your particular emergency stores. By returning the favour, you could let the same prepper friend keep their cache in your home.
Storage unit
If you are truly stuck for ideas and there is nothing better, you can always fall back on a rented storage unit.
It’s hardly that well-hidden, of course, but at least it’s roomy and it is only you who should be able to gain access to whatever you stashed away inside the container.
How many caches do you need?
You could set up just about as many caches as you think will be useful, of course, but the reality is that you’re likely to be constrained by the type of terrain and the areas in which you’ll find yourself.
It might be easier to set up multiple caches if you are in some remote wilderness, for example, than it will be if you are aiming to survive in an urban setting or other centres of population.
The number of caches will also be determined by the intention and purpose of each one, for how long the cached supplies are intended to last, and how many people will be sharing your supplies.
Summary
Caches have a long and illustrious history – some of the hoards of treasure now held by the British Museum were first hidden away by their owners thousands of years ago.
Caching supplies today is likely to switch the emphasis away from treasures of gold, silver, or coin, and focus instead on the items you’re most likely to need for your very survival in the teeth of a manmade or natural disaster.
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