This is going to be a short series of threads about possible things to think about.The hope being a few will read them and decide they need a few preps.
Scenario #1 No power for 5 days.
Sounds easy does it not?But what service will you lose for those 5 days?
1.Running water. Those on a well lose it as soon as the pressure in there system dies,those on city water will have it possibly for a day or two until the tower runs out.So what do you have to take care of water for your family and pets?
2.Sanitation. With out water you can not flush a toilet. What will you be left with?
3.No electric stove would work.How could you cook for your family?
4.No electric heating/cooling. Could you keep your family warm for 5 days during an ice/snow storm?
5.Obviously no TV.This means no news. How could you get the news with no power?
6.Your refrigerator is done. How do you keep your food from going bad?
7.Cordless phones will not work,your cell tower is probably down to,and no way to charge your phone.How do you get the word out your family is ok?
8.Electric hot water heater does not work. If you can get water do you have a way to heat it to bath/cook?
9.No lights. What can you do in the dark?
10.No internet...how will you post on INGO?!!
11. Food. You can not make it out to go to the store,or you do not want to try. If it is winter it is more than likely not worth the risk due to roads.If it is summer,well everyone will be at the stores and some may not be to please when it is 100 degrees and they are hungry.
I am sure there are other things that I am missing.But this is not a scenario that is far fetched in any way.People lose power on a regular basis. The ice storms in Kentucky last year,thunderstorms here in Indiana,Rolling July blackouts.It happens. If you are prepared 5 days is nothing,and takes very little to prepare for.
1.Water. Have some bottled water on hand.A few cases will cost 10 dollars or so,but be priceless. Also if the power is out shut off your water heater(gas or electric) and hook a hose up to the drain valve.You would get on average 40 gallons from your water heater(let it cool a bit after you shut it off or you will get burned). Get a simple water filter.If it is a winter storm you may need to melt snow,in the summer gather rain water from your down spouts. Finding and having water is an immediate must.
2.Sanitation. There are several ways to deal with this.Personally I have gone with a portable toilet.You can get these at wally word for 45 dollars. As an alternative you can use a 5 gallon bucket(take a lid off one of your toilets). To make this more usable get a pack of sanitizer for 5 dollars(you add it to some water it is what portolets use).
3.Cooking. Have a propane stove.Even a small one burner one. Get the hose adapter so you can hook a 20lb tank to it.If the power fails get your grill tank and have a full Spare tank.There is also fire pits and many other ways.I am just covering some basics.
4.Heating/cooling. Well if it is summer and you have water this is not much of a concern. If it is winter you need some way to generate heat.A simple kerosene heater would work,but for 5 days you would need 25 gallons of fuel. If you have a fireplace or wood stove and fuel you are already ok. If you have no other option a small propane heater could be used,but I would only recommend them for one room,and do not try to keep it 70 perhaps 50 degrees with you wearing more clothing.All of these require ventilation.A good co2 detector should be added along with your smoke alarms(5 dollars at Menards or Lowes).
5.News. You need a radio. One with batteries work.But when the batteries die you have a nice paper weight. I found a wind up radio at K-mart in the camping section that works well,and only cost 14 dollars.
6.Refrigeration. If it is winter put things in a cooler and secure the lid with a tie strap.If it is summer your in for more problems. Use what you can quickly from the refrigerator. The freezer left shut should hold below 40 for up to 3 days. After that you need to eat it or lose it. If it is at all questionable to rather it is still "good" do not eat it.You do not need another problem adding to the ones you already have.
7.No phone. If you have a corded phone and the lines are still up you may get a connection.If you have a cell phone you can try it and see if the towers still have power(some I belive have back up generators now).This one you may just to have to let go of.Risking travel is out of the question if it is winter.In the summer if a large area is out of power then there will be no traffic lights,and quite a few panicked people.I would not go out unless I had to.Let friends and family know your plan to stay put for as long as possible.Having a plan in place your family/friends know about will calm nerves of those who may be trying to reach you.If you are ok,they will be ok.
8.No hot water. You can use your propane stove to heat small amounts to wash with.If it is summer set out water in dark containers(anything that will hold water and a black trash bag would work).In winter you are not taking a full bath.Warm some water and use a wash cloth.
9.No lights. This sounds simple,but is not always. Flashlights with batteries are great,but will not last that long.There are LED lanters that can run for a long time on a single battery.I also like the shake lights,and wind up flash lights.These are available at any sporting good store. I picked mine up at Gander Mountain for the shake light,and a jeep wind up one at wal-mart.Learn before hand what you can and cannot do with only flash lights.Plan things that are very hard for daylight hours(such as digging a hole and dumping your portapot).
10.No internet.
Yep this is going to be the biggest killer of them all.How will you post on INGO? Read the news? Well you wont,and you will be just fine with a few preps.When the power comes back on you can post on INGO about how easy it was instead of a horror story.
11.Food. You need easy to prepare items. Soup does not have to be heated.It is also cheap. Having a week of food for your family is a no brainer. I recomend at least a month worth,but prefer much much more.
Easy to prepare,or no prep such as MRE.Things that do not need water are a plus.
Well that is it.How would you do?For around 200 dollars you could do well.Is it worth it for the peace of mind and being able to take care of yoruself and family?
These are just some very basic ideas.Feel free to add input.
Scenario #1 No power for 5 days.
Sounds easy does it not?But what service will you lose for those 5 days?
1.Running water. Those on a well lose it as soon as the pressure in there system dies,those on city water will have it possibly for a day or two until the tower runs out.So what do you have to take care of water for your family and pets?
2.Sanitation. With out water you can not flush a toilet. What will you be left with?
3.No electric stove would work.How could you cook for your family?
4.No electric heating/cooling. Could you keep your family warm for 5 days during an ice/snow storm?
5.Obviously no TV.This means no news. How could you get the news with no power?
6.Your refrigerator is done. How do you keep your food from going bad?
7.Cordless phones will not work,your cell tower is probably down to,and no way to charge your phone.How do you get the word out your family is ok?
8.Electric hot water heater does not work. If you can get water do you have a way to heat it to bath/cook?
9.No lights. What can you do in the dark?
10.No internet...how will you post on INGO?!!
11. Food. You can not make it out to go to the store,or you do not want to try. If it is winter it is more than likely not worth the risk due to roads.If it is summer,well everyone will be at the stores and some may not be to please when it is 100 degrees and they are hungry.
I am sure there are other things that I am missing.But this is not a scenario that is far fetched in any way.People lose power on a regular basis. The ice storms in Kentucky last year,thunderstorms here in Indiana,Rolling July blackouts.It happens. If you are prepared 5 days is nothing,and takes very little to prepare for.
1.Water. Have some bottled water on hand.A few cases will cost 10 dollars or so,but be priceless. Also if the power is out shut off your water heater(gas or electric) and hook a hose up to the drain valve.You would get on average 40 gallons from your water heater(let it cool a bit after you shut it off or you will get burned). Get a simple water filter.If it is a winter storm you may need to melt snow,in the summer gather rain water from your down spouts. Finding and having water is an immediate must.
2.Sanitation. There are several ways to deal with this.Personally I have gone with a portable toilet.You can get these at wally word for 45 dollars. As an alternative you can use a 5 gallon bucket(take a lid off one of your toilets). To make this more usable get a pack of sanitizer for 5 dollars(you add it to some water it is what portolets use).
3.Cooking. Have a propane stove.Even a small one burner one. Get the hose adapter so you can hook a 20lb tank to it.If the power fails get your grill tank and have a full Spare tank.There is also fire pits and many other ways.I am just covering some basics.
4.Heating/cooling. Well if it is summer and you have water this is not much of a concern. If it is winter you need some way to generate heat.A simple kerosene heater would work,but for 5 days you would need 25 gallons of fuel. If you have a fireplace or wood stove and fuel you are already ok. If you have no other option a small propane heater could be used,but I would only recommend them for one room,and do not try to keep it 70 perhaps 50 degrees with you wearing more clothing.All of these require ventilation.A good co2 detector should be added along with your smoke alarms(5 dollars at Menards or Lowes).
5.News. You need a radio. One with batteries work.But when the batteries die you have a nice paper weight. I found a wind up radio at K-mart in the camping section that works well,and only cost 14 dollars.
6.Refrigeration. If it is winter put things in a cooler and secure the lid with a tie strap.If it is summer your in for more problems. Use what you can quickly from the refrigerator. The freezer left shut should hold below 40 for up to 3 days. After that you need to eat it or lose it. If it is at all questionable to rather it is still "good" do not eat it.You do not need another problem adding to the ones you already have.
7.No phone. If you have a corded phone and the lines are still up you may get a connection.If you have a cell phone you can try it and see if the towers still have power(some I belive have back up generators now).This one you may just to have to let go of.Risking travel is out of the question if it is winter.In the summer if a large area is out of power then there will be no traffic lights,and quite a few panicked people.I would not go out unless I had to.Let friends and family know your plan to stay put for as long as possible.Having a plan in place your family/friends know about will calm nerves of those who may be trying to reach you.If you are ok,they will be ok.
8.No hot water. You can use your propane stove to heat small amounts to wash with.If it is summer set out water in dark containers(anything that will hold water and a black trash bag would work).In winter you are not taking a full bath.Warm some water and use a wash cloth.
9.No lights. This sounds simple,but is not always. Flashlights with batteries are great,but will not last that long.There are LED lanters that can run for a long time on a single battery.I also like the shake lights,and wind up flash lights.These are available at any sporting good store. I picked mine up at Gander Mountain for the shake light,and a jeep wind up one at wal-mart.Learn before hand what you can and cannot do with only flash lights.Plan things that are very hard for daylight hours(such as digging a hole and dumping your portapot).
10.No internet.
Yep this is going to be the biggest killer of them all.How will you post on INGO? Read the news? Well you wont,and you will be just fine with a few preps.When the power comes back on you can post on INGO about how easy it was instead of a horror story.11.Food. You need easy to prepare items. Soup does not have to be heated.It is also cheap. Having a week of food for your family is a no brainer. I recomend at least a month worth,but prefer much much more.
Easy to prepare,or no prep such as MRE.Things that do not need water are a plus.
Well that is it.How would you do?For around 200 dollars you could do well.Is it worth it for the peace of mind and being able to take care of yoruself and family?
These are just some very basic ideas.Feel free to add input.
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