A method of preparing a canister having a cavity loaded with wet radioactive elements for dry storage, the method comprising: (a) providing a gas circulation system comprising a condensing module, a vacuum module, a gas circulator module; (b) connecting the gas circulation system to the canister so as to form a hermetically sealed closed-loop path that includes the cavity; (c) filling the hermetically sealed closed-loop path with a non-reactive gas; (d) circulating the non-reactive gas through the hermetically sealed closed-loop path until the condensing module is no longer removing substantial amounts of water from the circulating non-reactive gas, wherein the vacuum module is sealed off from the hermetically sealed closed-loop path during step (d); (e) discontinuing the circulation of the non-reactive gas through the hermetically sealed closed-loop path; (f) fluidly coupling the vacuum module to the cavity and fluidly isolating the cavity and the vacuum module; and (g) applying a vacuum pressure to the cavity via the vacuum module so as to create a sub-atmospheric pressure within the cavity until a desired vapor pressure is achieved in the cavity of the canister.