Comments on: Practical Preparedness

By: Clay Adams

Clay Adams — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:12:59 +0000

I dunno what you resources are, but here in Texas, even far into the country (away from hurricanes, etc) we love our portable generators. Not only can your electric generator get you through power-less days with ease, but it helps in a pinch when you least expect it. Well worth the investment. There's good articles on power saving and safety etc. also on www.electricbids.com

By: Survival Guy

Survival Guy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:44:57 +0000

You should have the basics

1. Food (buy stuff you don’t have to cook, cans, granola bars etc.)
2. Water (clean drinking water, you need about 2 liters a day)
3. Light (flashlights and lanterns
4. Heat if needed

By: mom, again

mom, again — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:44:26 +0000

Fran came along just after we’d returned from a camping trip. Meaning, we had a little propane canister for our camp stove. When we went to get more a couple days later, there were long lines of people with the grill kind, waiting and hoping to trade the empties in for new. Before getting in line, we went to the front to ask if they even had the little kind, and found ourselves escorted in immediately, with no limit on how many we could by. I have never felt such envy as was directed at us as we walked back past that line with fuel in hand moments later!

So, my advice, a camp stove might be more useful in the long run, than a grill! Is there an adaptor to use the little canisters with a grill?? Might be something for people to look into getting!

Also, learn before hand where you might be able to buy dry ice. There was a place in Durham that was selling it, but I could never seem to find the it in the time I had to spare for looking. It was in an old area of town, surrounded by warehouses and railroad sidings, not well mapped, well lit, and poor signage. When we moved to Southern California, I discovered some groceries sell it by the pound. If this is so in the hurricane areas, I’d get a chunk at the slightest hint of bad weather. A very small chunk would keep your freezer rock solid for days.

By: Bramble

Bramble — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:19:37 +0000

1. radio with batteries.
2. take empty milk cartons of various sizes, fill them with water and freeze. use them to fill up any empty space in your freezer and fridge. as long as you dont open the doors a lot while the power is out, you’ve got a chance at saving your stuff.
3. camp stove.
4. battery operated fan. cuz no power = no AC and that sucks in the south.
5. its cold here, come on up

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:44:59 +0000

I have a nice storage of dry food and milk, canned goods and so forth. If my power goes out I will be fine, just bored. I hope it doesnt happen since I live alone and I wont want to be in the dark for long. I also have a kerosene heater that needs to be serviced for the season and Im getting more juice for it. Big heavy blankets will cover my bedroom door so I only heat 1 room if I have to.

By: Heidi @ Carolina Dreamz

Heidi @ Carolina Dreamz — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:26:04 +0000

You are really preparing to have no electricity for 3 days?

Crap. My family really keeps me in the dark about storms, but thanks to my LC friends, I know too much now. The stress keeps me awake, so what did I do to prepare? I went to the doctor and refilled my allergy medicine and asked for some Ambien!

To your list, I’d only add Adult Chocolate (for when I’d lock myself in the bathroom. Hide it in there.)

We are very prepared and do you have a phone that could work without electricity? I’m not too far away if we need something the other may have..

Back to laundry and cleaning floors. I, too, want them to dig me out and find clean floors and bedding.

We are eating out of the refrigerator all week, too. Which is a jumbled non-balanced week or meals. Me thinks.

Want some bell peppers?

By: Mom of three

Mom of three — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:03:15 +0000

Oh thought of another. If you have any home decorating that needs to be done, this is a great time to do it, unless your home is in danger of being destroyed. During one ice storm, I bought paint and wallpaper and while the neighbors froze and complained, we painted and wallpapered the Dining Room and the Master Bathroom. We stayed warm working, never got bored and were sad to see the lights come back on because it meant our mini vacation was over. The only thing is in the dark I did hang one strip below the chair rail upside down. We just sat a dresser in front of it. LOL

By: Shoofly Mama

Shoofly Mama — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:49:44 +0000

I always bought a mess of new crayons/markers for the kids and a ream of paper for them to create with, with no boundaries. During Gaston we lost electricity for a few days because of our old power grid, and the kids created like crazy. We also had a TON of batteries for their toys.

I cleaned everything beforehand so that I wasn’t looking at dirty floors, too. Had tons of things like homemade chex mix and healthy snacky stuff so that the kids weren’t eating processed junk. We lost everything in the fridge and freezer, but we grilled with the neighbors and it was a great time!

I’m taking reservations here in Fort Mill! lol

By: Kaye

Kaye — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:14:16 +0000

Just found you on Twitter to see where you are from. My hubby’s from just down the road from you although we’re in Savannah now. But I digress…

I make sure to use up any perishables in the fridge or freezer that will go bad in case of a power outage (’cause it WILL happen) and don’t buy anything that needs refrigeration. Trying to figure out what to buy at the store tonight because of this Hanna dilemma.

Here’s another: Propane for your grill. It’s easy to get rid of that chicken in the freezer by using your handy-dandy grill, so make sure you have plenty of gas for it!

By: candice

candice — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:38:45 +0000

My advice? Leave a day or 2 before you’re supposed to. Haha!