When The Power Goes Out
When The Power Goes Out
It seems more often than not this last few years. Whether it be snow and ice, or rain, wind and floods,. I know living out here In the woods, we should have a running generator but we don’t. We cook on the grill (outside, depending on weather) a campstove or a woodstove. I do normally have milk jugs full of water for flushing and we have jugs of spring water for drinking. Being dependent on things that use electricity to do laundry, dishes or showers (We have an electric hot water heater), it can become a nuisance to lose that convenience, even temporarily. For me, I won’t get ‘bored’; I have plenty of books still on my to-be-read pile and always have a stockpile of flashlights with working batteries.
These are my tips to stay sane and maybe even enjoy it a bit when the power goes out.
As I learned during my time as a boy scout and girl scout leader, “Always Be Prepared!”
Always have emergency lighting on standby. Keep a stash of flashlights, lanterns, and candles handy. Battery-powered or solar-powered options are ideal for prolonged outages.
Not a necessity but nice to have in case you need to call out in an emergency – Portable Power Banks: Have fully charged power banks to keep essential devices like smartphones, tablets, and radios operational.
As part of your regular emergency prep, routinely inventory and replenish your Non-Perishable Food: Stock up on canned goods, granola bars, and other non-perishable food items that don’t require cooking.
Of course you also need to be sure you have a Manual Can Opener and know where it is, Maybe keep one on hand by your canned goods.: Ensure you have a manual can opener.
A priority: Water Supply: Have bottled water or a means to purify water in case the tap water becomes unavailable.In the winter we’ve had 5 gallon buckets of melting snow and ice to use to flush, but make sure you have a back up of safe drinking water for drinking and cooking.
First Aid Kit: Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit handy for any emergencies that may arise. (Always a must whether power is out or not)
Entertainment Ideas: Board games, books, playing cards, and other non-electronic entertainment can help pass the time during extended outages.
Warmth: Blankets, extra clothing layers, and sleeping bags can help maintain warmth if the power outage occurs during cold weather.
Communication: Have a battery-operated or hand-crank radio to stay informed about the situation and receive emergency updates.
Backup Heating and Cooling: If possible, have alternative heating sources like a fireplace or wood stove for winter outages and battery-operated fans for summer outages.
Preserve Refrigerated Items: Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to preserve perishable items.
Backup Cooking Methods: If you have a gas stove, ensure you have matches or a lighter to ignite it manually. For electric stoves, have a camping stove or grill as a backup.
Cash: Keep some cash on hand, as ATMs and card readers may not work during power outages.
Medication: Ensure you have an ample supply of necessary medications, especially if you rely on refrigeration or electronic devices to administer them.
Emergency Contacts: Have a list of important phone numbers and contacts written down in case your phone dies and you can’t access your contacts.
During the outage use the time that you can’t get electronic distractions wisely, Catch up on some much-needed sleep.Or maybe It is a good time to tackle that pile of clutter you have been procrastinating about
Related Resource : https://accordingtobrittany.com/surviving-power-outages-in-style/
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