Your home emergency kit will double as an evacuation kit should the need arise. You don't have to live near a chemical plant to experience an officer at your door telling you to evacuate immediately. Hazardous materials move via highway and railway. An accident can contaminate many square miles without warning, and lead to your evacuation. Remember your CERT training: "Be prepared."
So, back to the store. You will be overwhelmed with a choice of storage containers unless you keep this in mind: You have to be able to pick it up and move it when it's full. If you put canned food in it, and you will, it'll get heavy fast.
Examine the lids. A lid that pops off in a wind/rainstorm isn't worth much. Some fold over on top, leaving a nice crack down the center for rain water to seep in. (Hey, you never know.) Some "lock" on well enough to get jumbled around and still stay in place.
Another option is a cooler with wheels and a telescoping pull handle. Wal-Mart has 2 styles.
Place this in its new home on the main level, where it will be immediately accessible for moving into the basement or putting into your car.
If you haven't already, select a date 3-6 months out and make a note on your calendar to change the water and rotate the food you will be assembling in the coming weeks.
That's it until next week!