For the past month, over in the featured post, I have featured articles about how to create & update an emergency car kit. Since winter is coming, I wanted to mention one last time how important it is to have a kit in your car. Take it from me, you will use it!
Just last week, I had a situation that required me to dig into my emergency car kit. I wouldn't call what happened 'an emergency' situation, but a situation none the less. My car kit came to the rescue!
Anyone who lives where it snows regularly, should definitely have one. What would happen if you got stuck in your car in the snow? Do you have snacks for the kids? Do you have warm blankets? Do you have any food for the dog? (I do not have food for my princess, but I make sure there are snacks that don't have chocolate in them that she could eat if it became necessary. I do carry water for her.)
Do you have extra towels and hand wipes in case you are stuck in the rain or mud? My husband and I had a tire blow out on I-75 in North Florida once. It happened just after a hurricane, and the ground was very muddy. Our truck tires weight over 100 lbs each. It takes two people to change a tire. (Well when you are older, it sure does!) My husband and I were both covered in mud by the time we were done. The towels, hand wipes and a change of clothes were very necessary that day!
You don't need to go out an purchase new items to fill your kit. Mine features old blankets, old towels (some people may consider them rags), and old clothes that may be stained or have a spot or two of paint on them.
If you are creating an emergency car kit from scratch and need some ideas on what to put in it, check out the featured post on the left. However, tailor your emergency car kit to your family and your family's needs. My kit won't look like yours - and that is OK. I am not using your kit - you are.
If you get stuck somewhere this winter, you will sure be glad you have it!
Showing posts with label Emergency Preparedness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emergency Preparedness. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Venezuela Food Crisis: A Warning to the World
Do you have food security? You should. It is easy to do. Just purchase a few extra of what you normally buy every time you go to the store. Soon, you will have a week's worth of extra food, then two week's worth. Once you have a few month's worth of food in your pantry, you will be ready for most of what you may face when hard times come your way.
By the title of this article, you are probably thinking that most of the world doesn't live in Venezuela, and these are normal times in the USA so why should I bother with food storage.
But, are these normal times? Even though it started out that way in Venezuela, I think we can all say that no one considers it 'normal' in Venezuela any more! Those people are starving.
I received this article in my email from Emergency Essentials. It is a good one. I encourage you to read it. (Full disclosure: I purchase some of my food storage from them on a regular basis - their food is REALLY good!)
Here are a few other articles I wrote on starting and managing a food storage program.
If you don't have any food storage, I strongly encourage you to start. You don't want to be dependent on the government in times of crisis. If you have a food storage program at your house, you may want to increase the number of days you can feed your family without going to the store. It sure brings peace of mind!
By the title of this article, you are probably thinking that most of the world doesn't live in Venezuela, and these are normal times in the USA so why should I bother with food storage.
But, are these normal times? Even though it started out that way in Venezuela, I think we can all say that no one considers it 'normal' in Venezuela any more! Those people are starving.
I received this article in my email from Emergency Essentials. It is a good one. I encourage you to read it. (Full disclosure: I purchase some of my food storage from them on a regular basis - their food is REALLY good!)
Here are a few other articles I wrote on starting and managing a food storage program.
- What is the point of food storage and a well stocked pantry?
- Self Reliance is more than food storage
- How is your food storage supply coming along?
- What is emergency preparedness?
- Got Water?
If you don't have any food storage, I strongly encourage you to start. You don't want to be dependent on the government in times of crisis. If you have a food storage program at your house, you may want to increase the number of days you can feed your family without going to the store. It sure brings peace of mind!
Friday, September 9, 2016
September is Emergency Preparedness Month!
This month is Emergency Preparedness month. This is the month I check my food storage, gather items needed to update my emergency kits, and make sure I have enough of everything to make it through the fall and winter (if we end up getting a bad tropical storm or ice storm).
If you don't have any emergency preparations yet, my recommendation is to start with two simple kits:
If you don't have any emergency preparations yet, my recommendation is to start with two simple kits:
- Emergency car kit
- 72 hour kit
I wrote posts on how to create these a few years ago. This year, I have decided to re-present them as 'featured posts'. This way, I can continue posting and yet (if you are interested) you can see the emergency preparedness posts as well!
The featured post appears on the left panel of this blog.
Friday, August 8, 2014
I Am Speaking In Church This Sunday!
And I am very excited about it! What am I speaking on? Why, Family History of course! In my Church, we don't have a professional clergy. Members of the Priesthood takes turns on leading the ward (congregation). For speakers each week, we all take turns! My topic is The Blessings of Doing Family History Work.
I also have other Church news! Our ward is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Fair in September and I am in charge of a display of Food Storage, and Home Preparations. Home Preparations include Gardening, Home Canning, and Alternative Methods of Cooking in an Emergency. WOW! Am I excited! As you all know, these are some of my favorite topics here on this blog.
I will be sure to keep you updated on the Emergency Preparedness Fair as I work on it and I will take pictures of the actual event.
I also have other Church news! Our ward is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Fair in September and I am in charge of a display of Food Storage, and Home Preparations. Home Preparations include Gardening, Home Canning, and Alternative Methods of Cooking in an Emergency. WOW! Am I excited! As you all know, these are some of my favorite topics here on this blog.
I will be sure to keep you updated on the Emergency Preparedness Fair as I work on it and I will take pictures of the actual event.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Round 2 with the Emergency Fund This Year
As most of you know, we exhausted our emergency fund when we had to purchase a new hot water heater a few months ago. The good news last month was our tax refund brought some much needed money to our emergency fund. We are now up to 1/2 of the amount we usually keep in the fund. I was feeling much better about handling another emergency (and certainly not expecting another one anytime soon) when my husband noticed that our microwave wasn't working.
Our microwave oven isn't a 'normal' microwave oven. ('Normal' never seems to happen at our house!) It is a GE Advantium oven. It is a speedcook/microwave oven that cooks food much faster than a conventional oven. (The commercials say four to eight times faster.) My husband has been cooking dinner quite a bit lately, and since he likes living in the 21st Century, he uses it a lot. When we built our house, we had all GE appliances installed. My husband was working for GE (at the time), and we got deep discounts on our appliances. Move forward 14 years, and the retail replacement cost for an Advantium oven is off the charts! Not only that, but the type of Advantium oven we have, puts it at the high end of all Advantium ovens! Our model is a 240 volt. (They didn't make a 120 volt version at the time our house was built.) It has its own special outlet. To switch to a 120 volt version of the Advantium (or to switch to a 'regular' microwave oven) requires an electrician.
It also isn't as easy as just purchasing another 240 volt Advantium oven. The ovens they make now are slightly bigger than the one we have. Installation of a new oven is going to require that we take down the top row of the tile backsplash to get it to fit correctly.
So, our first thought was to call a repairman. We read some reviews that stated the repair costs for these ovens can cost about 1/2 the price of a new one. We bit the bullet and called the repairman anyway. When he got here, he looked at the oven and laughed. He said the repair bill would be over $700 and he could not guarantee that it wouldn't break down again in a few months. He said "After all, it is 14 years old. Your money would be better spent on a new one." To make the news more palatable, he gave us paperwork we can mail in to get reimbursed for the trip fee charges if we purchase a new one within 30 days. Time is running out, we only have nine days left to purchase one and still be eligible for the $90 refund.
Will we purchase a new one? I am sure we will someday, but not now. I have stepped in to take over the cooking that my husband was doing in the Advantium. I am baking potatoes in the Sun Oven. Vegetables are steamed on the stovetop or in the Sun Oven. Molly's dinners are defrosted in the refrigerator a few days in advance. (She prefers her dinner slightly cold anyway.)
The adjustments we made to cooking without a microwave are not big ones. While it takes more time and slightly more effort to cook without a microwave, the food tastes better! A lot better! I am sure that my husband will get tired of cooking soon and I will be the one preparing the meals again. Since I don't use the Advantium much anyway, it may be a long while before we purchase another one. I am OK with that. My great-great grandmother didn't have any kitchen appliances except for a wood cook stove. If she fed her family without electricity, why do we need a microwave oven? The obvious answer is, we don't.
In the meantime, that $1400 is sitting quite happily in our emergency fund!
Our microwave oven isn't a 'normal' microwave oven. ('Normal' never seems to happen at our house!) It is a GE Advantium oven. It is a speedcook/microwave oven that cooks food much faster than a conventional oven. (The commercials say four to eight times faster.) My husband has been cooking dinner quite a bit lately, and since he likes living in the 21st Century, he uses it a lot. When we built our house, we had all GE appliances installed. My husband was working for GE (at the time), and we got deep discounts on our appliances. Move forward 14 years, and the retail replacement cost for an Advantium oven is off the charts! Not only that, but the type of Advantium oven we have, puts it at the high end of all Advantium ovens! Our model is a 240 volt. (They didn't make a 120 volt version at the time our house was built.) It has its own special outlet. To switch to a 120 volt version of the Advantium (or to switch to a 'regular' microwave oven) requires an electrician.
It also isn't as easy as just purchasing another 240 volt Advantium oven. The ovens they make now are slightly bigger than the one we have. Installation of a new oven is going to require that we take down the top row of the tile backsplash to get it to fit correctly.
Our GE Advantium oven might look pretty, but it doesn't work.
So, our first thought was to call a repairman. We read some reviews that stated the repair costs for these ovens can cost about 1/2 the price of a new one. We bit the bullet and called the repairman anyway. When he got here, he looked at the oven and laughed. He said the repair bill would be over $700 and he could not guarantee that it wouldn't break down again in a few months. He said "After all, it is 14 years old. Your money would be better spent on a new one." To make the news more palatable, he gave us paperwork we can mail in to get reimbursed for the trip fee charges if we purchase a new one within 30 days. Time is running out, we only have nine days left to purchase one and still be eligible for the $90 refund.
Will we purchase a new one? I am sure we will someday, but not now. I have stepped in to take over the cooking that my husband was doing in the Advantium. I am baking potatoes in the Sun Oven. Vegetables are steamed on the stovetop or in the Sun Oven. Molly's dinners are defrosted in the refrigerator a few days in advance. (She prefers her dinner slightly cold anyway.)
The adjustments we made to cooking without a microwave are not big ones. While it takes more time and slightly more effort to cook without a microwave, the food tastes better! A lot better! I am sure that my husband will get tired of cooking soon and I will be the one preparing the meals again. Since I don't use the Advantium much anyway, it may be a long while before we purchase another one. I am OK with that. My great-great grandmother didn't have any kitchen appliances except for a wood cook stove. If she fed her family without electricity, why do we need a microwave oven? The obvious answer is, we don't.
In the meantime, that $1400 is sitting quite happily in our emergency fund!
Friday, April 4, 2014
Time to Update Your Emergency Preparedness Kits!
Conference Weekend brings a semi-annual chore to our house. It is the weekend that I update all of our emergency preparedness kits. We have three. One for each car and one for the house. They each have a different purpose.
The two in the cars, are for any emergency we might have when in that specific car. Over the years, I have had a few car emergencies: car accidents, flat tires, and a dead battery just to name a few. Every single time, I was alone. Most of the time I was not close to home where I could call my husband or a friend to help! (Molly was with me when I had the flat tire - in another state - on a deserted road.) This is what the emergency car care kit is for! You can see what I put in my car care kits here.
The third one is my 72 hour kit. It is designed to be pulled out in an instant if we ever had to leave our house in a hurry. This would include things like a mandatory evacuation. I have never had to use it, but I am very glad I have it! You can see what I put in my 72 hour kit here.
These kits sit in the car or a closet until the day you need them. I don't think about them very often, I just know that they are there if I need them! Really, there are only two times a year I think about them - on conference weekends in April and October. This is the time I have set aside to update my kits. It is a quick and easy chore and doesn't take a lot of effort or time.
The first thing to do is open the kit and check everything that is in it. Here is a list of some things to check for:
The two in the cars, are for any emergency we might have when in that specific car. Over the years, I have had a few car emergencies: car accidents, flat tires, and a dead battery just to name a few. Every single time, I was alone. Most of the time I was not close to home where I could call my husband or a friend to help! (Molly was with me when I had the flat tire - in another state - on a deserted road.) This is what the emergency car care kit is for! You can see what I put in my car care kits here.
The third one is my 72 hour kit. It is designed to be pulled out in an instant if we ever had to leave our house in a hurry. This would include things like a mandatory evacuation. I have never had to use it, but I am very glad I have it! You can see what I put in my 72 hour kit here.
These kits sit in the car or a closet until the day you need them. I don't think about them very often, I just know that they are there if I need them! Really, there are only two times a year I think about them - on conference weekends in April and October. This is the time I have set aside to update my kits. It is a quick and easy chore and doesn't take a lot of effort or time.
The first thing to do is open the kit and check everything that is in it. Here is a list of some things to check for:
- Are the bottles of water in good condition? Do any show signs of a possible leak? Are the bottles out of date?
- If you store medicines in your kit, are they still fresh? Will they remain that way until you check the kit again?
- Are the clothes in your kit appropriate for the upcoming weather?
- Is anything in the First Aid kit out of date?
- Do the flashlight batteries need to be replaced?
- Do the pens in the kit still write?
- Is the package of wet wipes still fresh?
- Is there anything else in the kit that should be replace?
Next, check the food in each kit. The staple food for our car care kits is granola bars. The 72 hour kits have real food like breakfast cereal, shelf stable milk and freezed dried meals. (Meals similar to the kind you can find in the camping section of most stores.) Check all of them and replace what is needed. Make sure the 'Best by' date is beyond the date of your next check. For me, everything I put in the kits this weekend must have a 'Best by' date of November or December 2014. That way when I replace them in October, we have a month or two left to eat the food.
Really, any bi-annual event will work for remembering to update your kits. Daylight savings time, holidays or birthdays, spring/fall equinox. Use whatever is easy for you to remember!
That way, your kit will be ready when you need it too!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Pay Down Your Debt (Almost) Painlessly
Many of my family members are accomplished authors. A few have books published. Another one used to work for a regionally known magazine. Two are currently working on new books! (A note to both Gloria and Nancy, I can't wait for your new books!) Nancy has also been writing online articles. So it is with great pride that I offer a link to her recent article, Pay Down Your Debt (Almost) Painlessly.
I would like to add my comment that once you change your lifestyle, these behaviors will become 'normal' to you. When that happens, you will no longer consider them 'painful'! Take it from me! Being frugal was not a 'normal' condition for me or my husband when we first were married. Not that we were ever irresponsible with money, but I bought convenience. Both of us were in the Army and I didn't have the time to do the things I do now to live a frugal lifestyle. I have since learned that back then, I could have been doing small behavior changes to save money. Even a few changes would have made a difference. A busy lifestyle isn't an excuse to waste money!
Anyone can be more frugal with small behavior changes. When they become routine, add new ones! Soon, you will find that your behavior changes are permanent and you have extra money to pay down your debt, save for an emergency fund, or even take a vacation!
Congratulations Nancy on your published article!
I would like to add my comment that once you change your lifestyle, these behaviors will become 'normal' to you. When that happens, you will no longer consider them 'painful'! Take it from me! Being frugal was not a 'normal' condition for me or my husband when we first were married. Not that we were ever irresponsible with money, but I bought convenience. Both of us were in the Army and I didn't have the time to do the things I do now to live a frugal lifestyle. I have since learned that back then, I could have been doing small behavior changes to save money. Even a few changes would have made a difference. A busy lifestyle isn't an excuse to waste money!
Anyone can be more frugal with small behavior changes. When they become routine, add new ones! Soon, you will find that your behavior changes are permanent and you have extra money to pay down your debt, save for an emergency fund, or even take a vacation!
Congratulations Nancy on your published article!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Do You Have An Emergency Fund?
Last week, we had another water emergency. (That makes two in the past 6 months.) While I didn't lose access to water from my tap this time, I did lose access to hot water. Our hot water heater broke! It wasn't a small issue that only required a repair, it broke completely! It was leaking everywhere and had to be replaced.
So, we cut the water off and called a plumber. The first one told us he could not fix it. He said we needed a new 'direct vent gas heater' and that they are very hard to come by. Manufacturers just don't make many of them. He suggested that we go with a tankless water heater or a power assisted gas hot water heater. After some discussion on the matter, I realized both required electricity to operate. Well, as you can guess, I was not going to have that!
First off, I don't have any power source in the room the hot water heater lives in. It was going to require an electrician to string wire and create an outlet. Both the tankless and the power assisted gas hot water heater have different electrical needs, so the plumbers advice was to pick the one we wanted and then call the electrician. After the electrician finished, call the plumber back and he would install what we decided on. While the plumber was talking, my husband looked at me and knew what I was thinking! He knew there was no way I was going to have anything that required electricity!
We both thanked the plumber for coming and paid his trip fee. After he left, my husband got on the Internet to learn about direct vent gas heaters and see if he could find one. The home improvement stores list them on their website, but after a few phone calls, no one in our area had one. My husband was told, "They don't make many of those kind."
It was my turn to try. I opened up the phone book and started calling plumbers to see if anyone had access to one. I found a plumber who's supplier had two! We booked him to come the next day.
Since direct vent gas hot water heaters are in limited supply, as you can guess, they cost more than a regular gas hot water heater. About three times as much! This wasn't something that could be paid for out of the monthly budget. The emergency fund comes to the rescue! It was meant for times like this!
Emergencies happen all the time! You need an emergency fund for unexpected expenses! If your budget doesn't have any room to create an emergency fund, how will you pay for something like a new hot water heater? A new furnace or air conditioner? A broken window? New tires?
Anyone on any kind of budget can build an emergency fund. If you don't have extra dollars to save, start by saving small change. Then bring your lunch to work one day each week and put the money you would have spent into your emergency fund. If you currently bring your lunch to work, look for other ways you can save a dollar or two each week. Once that is accomplished, look for more ways to save. I know you can find ways to cut back somewhere! Even if it is only a dollar or two, it will add up over time!
Then when something like a broken hot water heater affects your life, you won't be worried at all! Here is a picture of my current emergency fund.
This thing was so expensive, it completely wiped out our emergency fund! Now it is time to start saving for a new one!
That way, when the next emergency comes, I will be ready!
So, we cut the water off and called a plumber. The first one told us he could not fix it. He said we needed a new 'direct vent gas heater' and that they are very hard to come by. Manufacturers just don't make many of them. He suggested that we go with a tankless water heater or a power assisted gas hot water heater. After some discussion on the matter, I realized both required electricity to operate. Well, as you can guess, I was not going to have that!
First off, I don't have any power source in the room the hot water heater lives in. It was going to require an electrician to string wire and create an outlet. Both the tankless and the power assisted gas hot water heater have different electrical needs, so the plumbers advice was to pick the one we wanted and then call the electrician. After the electrician finished, call the plumber back and he would install what we decided on. While the plumber was talking, my husband looked at me and knew what I was thinking! He knew there was no way I was going to have anything that required electricity!
We both thanked the plumber for coming and paid his trip fee. After he left, my husband got on the Internet to learn about direct vent gas heaters and see if he could find one. The home improvement stores list them on their website, but after a few phone calls, no one in our area had one. My husband was told, "They don't make many of those kind."
It was my turn to try. I opened up the phone book and started calling plumbers to see if anyone had access to one. I found a plumber who's supplier had two! We booked him to come the next day.
Since direct vent gas hot water heaters are in limited supply, as you can guess, they cost more than a regular gas hot water heater. About three times as much! This wasn't something that could be paid for out of the monthly budget. The emergency fund comes to the rescue! It was meant for times like this!
Emergencies happen all the time! You need an emergency fund for unexpected expenses! If your budget doesn't have any room to create an emergency fund, how will you pay for something like a new hot water heater? A new furnace or air conditioner? A broken window? New tires?
Anyone on any kind of budget can build an emergency fund. If you don't have extra dollars to save, start by saving small change. Then bring your lunch to work one day each week and put the money you would have spent into your emergency fund. If you currently bring your lunch to work, look for other ways you can save a dollar or two each week. Once that is accomplished, look for more ways to save. I know you can find ways to cut back somewhere! Even if it is only a dollar or two, it will add up over time!
Then when something like a broken hot water heater affects your life, you won't be worried at all! Here is a picture of my current emergency fund.
This thing was so expensive, it completely wiped out our emergency fund! Now it is time to start saving for a new one!
That way, when the next emergency comes, I will be ready!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Is it Time to Revisit Your Emergency Preparedness Plans?
Emergency Preparedness isn't just for winter when there are snow & ice storms. Nor is it just for summer when there are hurricanes & tornadoes. Emergency Preparedness is for anytime 'normal' isn't available.
That could be after you lost your job, or when the furnace breaks down, or any of a million different things that break the 'normal' cycle of life. I do realize the thought of preparing for all of these situations can be overwhelming!
How do you start? With baby steps! Prepare for the most likely scenario that will happen where you live. It may be a winter or summer storm, or it may be the furnace/air conditioning breaking at the worst possible moment. I can't tell you what that scenario would be because I am not you! Everyone's situation is different. Talk to your family and decide among yourselves what the most likely scenario would be. Then decide what you want to do about it so you are not caught off guard when it happens.
Perhaps you have some emergency preparedness plans. When was the last time you looked at them? The time to think about this isn't when you are in the middle of a disaster.
If you have no idea where to go from here, then I have a suggestion for you. Start by signing up for a free emergency preparedness newsletter. I subscribe to a couple of them but the one I like the best is the emergency preparedness newsletter from Emergency Essentials. (They also have a great emergency preparedness blog. You can see that here.)
This newsletter was published in partnership with Deseret News. The information is valid for all parts of the country (and the world) because disasters happen everywhere! Here is the link to the newsletter: When Disaster Hits Home.
Want another suggestion? Download some of the free emergency preparedness checklists Emergency Essentials publishes. They have a checklist on how to make an emergency plan, a special checklist if you are a caregiver to a sick family member, an essential phone numbers list, and a list on how to make an emergency kit if you ever need to leave your house in a hurry. You can view all of their checklists here.
Full disclosure: I am not affiliated with Emergency Essentials in any way. I am a satisfied customer. I have been purchasing items from them for well over seven years. I feature many of their products in my Cooking with Food Storage series of posts.
Want some more ideas? I published a series of posts about what I put in my emergency kits a few years back. They are still relevant today.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are counseled as part of Church doctrine to be prepared for emergencies. I know of no other church that takes such an active role in the welfare of it's members! You really are responsible for your family - not just during the good times, but during the bad times as well! Don't give that responsibility to the Government! (I guarantee you won't be happy with the service you receive ). Instead, make your own plans.
That could be after you lost your job, or when the furnace breaks down, or any of a million different things that break the 'normal' cycle of life. I do realize the thought of preparing for all of these situations can be overwhelming!
How do you start? With baby steps! Prepare for the most likely scenario that will happen where you live. It may be a winter or summer storm, or it may be the furnace/air conditioning breaking at the worst possible moment. I can't tell you what that scenario would be because I am not you! Everyone's situation is different. Talk to your family and decide among yourselves what the most likely scenario would be. Then decide what you want to do about it so you are not caught off guard when it happens.
Perhaps you have some emergency preparedness plans. When was the last time you looked at them? The time to think about this isn't when you are in the middle of a disaster.
If you have no idea where to go from here, then I have a suggestion for you. Start by signing up for a free emergency preparedness newsletter. I subscribe to a couple of them but the one I like the best is the emergency preparedness newsletter from Emergency Essentials. (They also have a great emergency preparedness blog. You can see that here.)
This newsletter was published in partnership with Deseret News. The information is valid for all parts of the country (and the world) because disasters happen everywhere! Here is the link to the newsletter: When Disaster Hits Home.
Want another suggestion? Download some of the free emergency preparedness checklists Emergency Essentials publishes. They have a checklist on how to make an emergency plan, a special checklist if you are a caregiver to a sick family member, an essential phone numbers list, and a list on how to make an emergency kit if you ever need to leave your house in a hurry. You can view all of their checklists here.
Full disclosure: I am not affiliated with Emergency Essentials in any way. I am a satisfied customer. I have been purchasing items from them for well over seven years. I feature many of their products in my Cooking with Food Storage series of posts.
Want some more ideas? I published a series of posts about what I put in my emergency kits a few years back. They are still relevant today.
- Emergency Preparedness: Make a 72 Hour Kit
- Emergency Preparedness: Make a Car Care Kit
- Self-Reliance Is More Than Just Food Storage
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are counseled as part of Church doctrine to be prepared for emergencies. I know of no other church that takes such an active role in the welfare of it's members! You really are responsible for your family - not just during the good times, but during the bad times as well! Don't give that responsibility to the Government! (I guarantee you won't be happy with the service you receive ). Instead, make your own plans.
You will sleep better knowing that whenever a disaster happens, your family will be taken care of!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
An Emergency Space Heater and Other Emergency Preparedness Information
I frequently read the blog The Parsimonious Princess. Recently, Heather listed some links to emergency preparedness information including instructions on how to make an emergency space heater! This is so cool! It is inexpensive to make and can serve as both heat and light (if needed) in an emergency.
It does use an open flame so you really need to use common sense with it and keep the area clear of anything that could catch fire. I liked the idea of an emergency space heater, so I thought I would post the link.
Canned Heat: How to Make an Emergency Heater
Heather also posted some additional links to emergency preparedness information that I thought was quite helpful. You can see that post here.
I also have a friend who's daughter is the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for her ward (church congregation) and she has started an emergency preparedness blog! It is full of great information! She talks about cooking with food storage, canning, getting out of debt, how to plan for an emergency evacuation of your home, emergency car care kits and much more!
Prepare Every Needful Thing
Winter is coming and if you don't have emergency car care kits in case you get stuck in the snow or a home plan of what to do when the electricity goes out, now it is the time to make them!
It does use an open flame so you really need to use common sense with it and keep the area clear of anything that could catch fire. I liked the idea of an emergency space heater, so I thought I would post the link.
Canned Heat: How to Make an Emergency Heater
Heather also posted some additional links to emergency preparedness information that I thought was quite helpful. You can see that post here.
I also have a friend who's daughter is the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for her ward (church congregation) and she has started an emergency preparedness blog! It is full of great information! She talks about cooking with food storage, canning, getting out of debt, how to plan for an emergency evacuation of your home, emergency car care kits and much more!
Prepare Every Needful Thing
Winter is coming and if you don't have emergency car care kits in case you get stuck in the snow or a home plan of what to do when the electricity goes out, now it is the time to make them!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Time to Update Your Emergency Preparedness Kits!
Do you have an Emergency Car Kit in your car? It can come in handy if you should get stranded because of an accident, flat tire, ice storm or snow. How about a 72 hour kit in case you ever needed to evacuate your home because of a fire, nuclear plant accident, or a chemical spill?
If you don't have any idea of what I am talking about, you can read about why you should have an Emergency Car Kit and how to make one here. This post gives all kinds of ideas on what you can put in your kit. You can read about why I have a 72 hour kit and what I put in mine here.
The kits are easy to make and they don't have to cost a lot of money. You can use a lot of stuff you already have around the house. The idea is to make them up and then just leave them until you need them. The car kits are stored in the car and the 72 hour kits are stored in a closet in your home. No need to think about them again until you need them!
Well, almost. You do need to think about them twice a year. That's how often you will need to exchange food items and check on other items that may be out of date. This past weekend I updated my kits.
For all Latter-Day Saints, this past Saturday and Sunday was General Conference weekend. We heard the counsel of our Church leaders during four specific sessions - two on Saturday and two on Sunday. This bi-annual event is one of my favorite times of the year! Because it is easy to remember, it is also the time I update my Emergency Preparedness Kits.
You can use any bi-annual event to signal the time to change your kits. Daylight Savings Time is a good example, Fall/Spring Equinox is another. Use whatever makes sense for your family! Spring and Fall triggers work best because they get you ready for the extreme seasons of Summer and/or Winter. Christmas/July 4th might also work for someone who lives in a mild climate.
You can use any bi-annual event to signal the time to change your kits. Daylight Savings Time is a good example, Fall/Spring Equinox is another. Use whatever makes sense for your family! Spring and Fall triggers work best because they get you ready for the extreme seasons of Summer and/or Winter. Christmas/July 4th might also work for someone who lives in a mild climate.
Go through all your kits and remove any food that is going to expire before your next update. Replace it with food that has a 'Best By' date that is beyond the date of your next scheduled kit update. It is a good idea to also check:
- Are the bottles of water in good condition? Do any show signs of a possible leak? Are the bottles out of date?
- If you store medicines in your kit, are they still fresh? Will they remain that way until you check the kit again?
- Are the clothes in your kit appropriate for the upcoming weather?
- Is anything in the First Aid kit out of date?
- Do the flashlight batteries need to be replaced?
- Do the pens in the kit still write?
- Is the package of wet wipes still fresh?
- Is there anything else in the kit that should be replace?
Think about your kits twice each year and you will be able to depend on them if and when you ever need them!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
No Running Water! Emergency Preparedness to the Rescue!
We had a problem early last week. We didn't have any running water. Late Monday morning, I heard Molly barking so I look out the window to see what the problem is. I don't see anything that would require barking but what I do see is water bubbling up in my front yard!
So I go out front to look at it. Yup, it is bubbling up. I try to shut the water off at the meter by the road, but it was stuck so I shout for my husband to come do it. A few calls to some plumbing companies, and a few hours later, we had a team on their way. In the meantime, we don't have any water. Well, as I informed my husband, we do have water, we just don't have any coming from the tap. So I start to pull out some of the water that I store for emergencies. (You can see a post on how you can store water here.) If our great-great-grandparents had to 'fetch' their water every time they needed it, it really wasn't going to hurt us to do the same for a while.
Here's the water station I set up in the kitchen.
Here is water station for the bathroom sink. I put one of these bottles in each bathroom. I also store water for flushing the toilets and that container went into the bathroom as well.
Well, the final result was a break in the main water line to the house. I was afraid that it was going to require digging up the entire front yard but the leak was at a junction, the line itself was fine.
I was canning green beans that day and I forgot to take a picture of the hole in my front yard while the plumbers were working on the line. However, here is a picture of the spot now. (Unfortunately, they didn't do a good job of 'saving' the grass to put back on top of the dirt.) By the time they were finished, it was dark. I took this picture the next morning.
As you can see here, they added an 'access box' that will prevent the need to dig up the yard if something like this ever happens again. All in all, we went about 12 hours without water. Not a crisis, but an emergency nonetheless.
The lesson here is that emergency preparedness isn't just for severe weather. It is for anytime 'normal' conditions are not present. When you prepare for emergencies, you can ride them out without missing a beat!
So I go out front to look at it. Yup, it is bubbling up. I try to shut the water off at the meter by the road, but it was stuck so I shout for my husband to come do it. A few calls to some plumbing companies, and a few hours later, we had a team on their way. In the meantime, we don't have any water. Well, as I informed my husband, we do have water, we just don't have any coming from the tap. So I start to pull out some of the water that I store for emergencies. (You can see a post on how you can store water here.) If our great-great-grandparents had to 'fetch' their water every time they needed it, it really wasn't going to hurt us to do the same for a while.
Here's the water station I set up in the kitchen.
Here is water station for the bathroom sink. I put one of these bottles in each bathroom. I also store water for flushing the toilets and that container went into the bathroom as well.
Well, the final result was a break in the main water line to the house. I was afraid that it was going to require digging up the entire front yard but the leak was at a junction, the line itself was fine.
I was canning green beans that day and I forgot to take a picture of the hole in my front yard while the plumbers were working on the line. However, here is a picture of the spot now. (Unfortunately, they didn't do a good job of 'saving' the grass to put back on top of the dirt.) By the time they were finished, it was dark. I took this picture the next morning.
As you can see here, they added an 'access box' that will prevent the need to dig up the yard if something like this ever happens again. All in all, we went about 12 hours without water. Not a crisis, but an emergency nonetheless.
The lesson here is that emergency preparedness isn't just for severe weather. It is for anytime 'normal' conditions are not present. When you prepare for emergencies, you can ride them out without missing a beat!
Friday, September 20, 2013
The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How To Do Before You Lose Electricity!
#1: Keep Your Family Safe From Harm
Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday, until we countdown to #1, I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.
I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator.
I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!
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I don't like to think about this, but the world is full of evil. Pure evil. When we (as a society) eliminate God from our everyday world, Lucifer fills the void. I don't like it, but I accept it. And because I accept it, I am determined to protect my family from it if/when it becomes necessary.
When the power is out, long term, because of a winter storm, hurricane, tornado, earthquake or any other disaster, evil can come knocking on your door. Don't think it will happen? How on earth did people turn into such monsters during hurricane Katrina? What about hurricane Sandy? When power goes out for a long time, looting happens. It is almost like we return to living in the wild west!
In my opinion, the most important thing you must know how to do when you lose electricity is to protect your family from others. There are lots of ways you can do this. Research options you are comfortable with and learn how to use them. At our house, we choose to protect ourselves with guns. I went to the range earlier this week and took a picture of my target when I was done. I used a Glock 19 at 50 ft. The target is eight inches wide.
Your answer to personal protection may not be guns. I know some people who are proficient with a bow and arrow. (I think I am going to have to learn that skill!) Some people are skilled at karate. You will need to determine for yourself what is the best way to defend your family.
This is a really important issue everyone should think about. My concern is not about the 'things' in my house. They can all be replaced. My concern is keeping everyone in the house alive and unharmed. I had someone at church tell me once that they could not shoot a person for any reason. I have a different point of view. If the decision comes down to whether I live or the person coming to my house to harm me lives, the answer is obvious. However, I hope I never have to find out what it is like to shoot someone in my home. After all, we are all children of God and I really don't want to have to harm anyone to prevent them from harming me. Still, I will shoot if my life or the lives of others in my home are in jeopardy.
Before it gets to that point, there are some things you can do now to harden your house to prevent unwelcomed access. There is a product called The Door Sentinel that can be easily added to your door to prevent anyone from kicking it in. There is also a kind of film you can put on your windows that will prevent someone from breaking them and gaining access. You can learn about both here. You can also do things like plant thorny bushes under the windows and use motion sensors (on battery backup) on the outdoor lights. It really would be better for everyone involved if you could prevent unauthorized access in the first place!
Police are not always available in the aftermath of a disaster. In a situation like this, you are responsible for your own safety. Think about how you are going to protect your family from others who want to do you harm.
If you liked this post, you may also like:
When the power is out, long term, because of a winter storm, hurricane, tornado, earthquake or any other disaster, evil can come knocking on your door. Don't think it will happen? How on earth did people turn into such monsters during hurricane Katrina? What about hurricane Sandy? When power goes out for a long time, looting happens. It is almost like we return to living in the wild west!
In my opinion, the most important thing you must know how to do when you lose electricity is to protect your family from others. There are lots of ways you can do this. Research options you are comfortable with and learn how to use them. At our house, we choose to protect ourselves with guns. I went to the range earlier this week and took a picture of my target when I was done. I used a Glock 19 at 50 ft. The target is eight inches wide.
Your answer to personal protection may not be guns. I know some people who are proficient with a bow and arrow. (I think I am going to have to learn that skill!) Some people are skilled at karate. You will need to determine for yourself what is the best way to defend your family.
This is a really important issue everyone should think about. My concern is not about the 'things' in my house. They can all be replaced. My concern is keeping everyone in the house alive and unharmed. I had someone at church tell me once that they could not shoot a person for any reason. I have a different point of view. If the decision comes down to whether I live or the person coming to my house to harm me lives, the answer is obvious. However, I hope I never have to find out what it is like to shoot someone in my home. After all, we are all children of God and I really don't want to have to harm anyone to prevent them from harming me. Still, I will shoot if my life or the lives of others in my home are in jeopardy.
Before it gets to that point, there are some things you can do now to harden your house to prevent unwelcomed access. There is a product called The Door Sentinel that can be easily added to your door to prevent anyone from kicking it in. There is also a kind of film you can put on your windows that will prevent someone from breaking them and gaining access. You can learn about both here. You can also do things like plant thorny bushes under the windows and use motion sensors (on battery backup) on the outdoor lights. It really would be better for everyone involved if you could prevent unauthorized access in the first place!
Police are not always available in the aftermath of a disaster. In a situation like this, you are responsible for your own safety. Think about how you are going to protect your family from others who want to do you harm.
If you liked this post, you may also like:
- 10 Things Countdown: #10 Think Safety First
- 10 Things Countdown: #9 Maintain Cleanliness
- 10 Things Countdown: #8 Wash Clothes
- 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
- 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
- 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
- 10 Things Countdown: #4 Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
- 10 Things Countdown: #3 Handle Sanitation
- 10 Things Countdown: #2: Obtain Safe Drinking Water
Friday, September 13, 2013
The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How To Do Before You Lose Electricity!
#2: Obtain Safe Drinking Water
Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday, until we countdown to #1, I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.
I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator.
I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!
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How do you get your drinking water? Are you on a well? Do you have city water? Answering these questions will determine if finding clean drinking water will be a problem or not in an emergency. If you are on a well and you lose power, you are going to lose the ability to get water. I know a lot of people with a well, have a hand pump to allow them access to their well water. People who have city water may not have an issue if the power outage is short term. Longer term, there may be a boil water order in effect or you may not have water at all.
I hope this post will get you thinking about what you would do if you turned on a faucet in your house and nothing happened. Not a drop of water came out. Because this is such a serious issue, FEMA recommends to store some drinking water along with food to get you through an emergency. But, how much water should you store? FEMA recommends families store one gallon per person per day. Well, I know from experience this isn't enough. One gallon won't cover cooking, washing dishes, daily drinking needs, brushing teeth, washing hands, and all other hygiene needs. You will need a lot more than one gallon a day. The problem is water is heavy and takes up a lot of room. So, what do you do? My advice is to take a comprehensive approach. Sort of like a first line of defense, second line of defense and onward. That way, with a short power outage you may only need to use your first line of defense. If the outage lasts for a few weeks or longer (like in a hurricane) you may need to put into place your second and third line of defense, etc.
Here are some things I have identified:
I hope this post will get you thinking about what you would do if you turned on a faucet in your house and nothing happened. Not a drop of water came out. Because this is such a serious issue, FEMA recommends to store some drinking water along with food to get you through an emergency. But, how much water should you store? FEMA recommends families store one gallon per person per day. Well, I know from experience this isn't enough. One gallon won't cover cooking, washing dishes, daily drinking needs, brushing teeth, washing hands, and all other hygiene needs. You will need a lot more than one gallon a day. The problem is water is heavy and takes up a lot of room. So, what do you do? My advice is to take a comprehensive approach. Sort of like a first line of defense, second line of defense and onward. That way, with a short power outage you may only need to use your first line of defense. If the outage lasts for a few weeks or longer (like in a hurricane) you may need to put into place your second and third line of defense, etc.
Here are some things I have identified:
- The first line of defense is to store water. Store as much as you can. Try to gather about 100 gallons. (You may want more if you have a big family.) You can do this in a few ways. Quite a few emergency preparedness stores sell 55 gallon drums for water storage that you can put in your garage or basement. Many are stackable. While they are quite heavy, the stackable ones don't have that large a footprint. Select the location wisely because you won't be able to move one of these drums once it is filled. If that idea won't work for you, you can store water in smaller containers. Here is a blog post about storing water in two liter soda bottles. In this blog post, the author discusses the challenges of where to put all those bottles in a small home. I store water in some of the closets of my home. I don't have the space for 55 gallon drums. I have shown this picture before, but here is how I store my water, five gallons at a time. As you can see from the picture below, I filled this box in August 2012. Stored water should be changed out each year. I need to add this to my 'to do' list because it is time to change the water in this container.
- If needed, another thing you can do to get clean water is to empty out your hot water heater. Make sure you have a manual for your make/model so you know how to draw out the water safely. Be sure to cut the heater off first. You can also open up all the faucets on the second story (if you have a two story house) and then go downstairs and open up a faucet to access the water in your pipes. While this won't amount to a lot of water, it is still better than nothing. When the power comes back on, expect to run the faucets a while to get all the air out. While I wouldn't drink it, you also have access to water in the back of the toilets. This water can be used to wash clothes, clean the house, or just wash your hands if you don't have anything else.
- The second line of defense should get you thinking about what you would do if you used up all your stored water. What comes to mind for me is a water filtration system. There are a lot of good ones on the market that will filter out the bacteria that cause dysentery. The two common bacteria in lake and river water are giardia and cryptosporidium. Filter systems from manufacturers such as Berkey, Sawyer, Katadyn and Doutlon will all produce safe drinking water. Many will filter out other impurities as well. Do some research to see what price range, filtering quality and filter capacity you will need for your family. Some of these filters can handle up to 30,000 gallons of water. This really should be plenty of water for most emergencies you will face.
- All the filters mentioned above will eventually wear out. So, if you need a third line of defense, boiling all water is a good one. However, this requires fuel to do so. BTW - I don't list it as a second line of defense because boiling all your water before you use it is a lot of work! I would only do it if I had no other choice. Cody Lundin, in his book When All Hell Breaks Loose: The Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes, talks about using the sun to disinfect water using any clear plastic or glass container (page 177). Alternatively, you can pasteurize water in a Sun Oven. It is easy to do with a WAPI. You can also treat raw water with chlorine. A bottle of liquid bleach will do if the bottle is new - liquid bleach is only good for about six months. Another option is to store powdered chlorine.
- Be sure to think about where are you going to find raw water to treat. Water is all around us if we look for it. Community swimming pools, rainwater collection systems, a lake or pond, a stream or river are all sources of raw water that you can treat to obtain safe drinking water. Next time you are running errands in the car, look around for bodies of water that are near to your home, preferably within walking distance. Think about how you would get that water back to your house so you could treat it. In his book, Cody Lundin has some great ideas on where to find water in the chapter Wonderfully Wet and Wanted Water.
It is really important that you do your own research on the best ways to treat water for your family. This is an issue that is critical to keeping your family healthy! Get it wrong, and your whole family could get sick! Once you are satisfied with your level of research, create a plan for treating water that you can implement, if needed, in the event of an emergency.
Here are some website that give even more ideas:
Here are some website that give even more ideas:
Emergency Preparedness: Water
Water Information from Ready.gov
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
Water Information from Ready.gov
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
Preparing and Storing an Emergency Drinking Water Supply
If you liked this post, you may also like:
If you liked this post, you may also like:
- 10 Things Countdown: #10 Think Safety First
- 10 Things Countdown: #9 Maintain Cleanliness
- 10 Things Countdown: #8 Wash Clothes
- 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
- 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
- 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
- 10 Things Countdown: #4 Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
- 10 Things Countdown: #3 Handle Sanitation
- 10 Things Countdown: #1 Keep Your Family Safe From Harm
Friday, September 6, 2013
The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How To Do Before You Lose Electricity!
#3: Handle Sanitation
Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday, until we countdown to #1, I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.
I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator.
I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!
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This is one of the hardest post for me to write because it is the one I am least prepared for. I have planned for a lot of options, but I am not 100% satisfied with any of them. This is because this issue is deadly serious. Get it wrong, and you and your family will get very sick and can possibly die. In addition, it is also a topic that no one wants to talk about, me included! However, it must be dealt with during an emergency, and dealing with it safely is one of the most important things you can do to keep your family healthy. Hence, it warrants number three in the countdown.
How you handle this issue depends on how your house was built. Do you have a septic tank? Are you hooked up to a city sewer? If you have a septic tank, it will be much easier, less messy and less unpleasant to handle. You should be able to use your toilets throughout the emergency. However, if you don't have power, the toilet tank won't refill. You will need to provide an assist by filling the tank/toilet when you need to flush it. That means you need to have access to water. It doesn't have to be potable water, but it shouldn't be stagnant smelly water either (unless you have no choice). This is because your septic system requires bacteria to be effective. You want to be careful what you put down the toilets so you don't harm/kill the bacteria in your septic system. So, to all the homeowners/renters who have septic systems, you need to have access to water so you can assist your toilets in flushing.
If you aren't on a septic system, then you are probably hooked to the city/county sewer system. (Or, like me, you could be hooked to a private sewer system.) If you are hooked to a sewer system, you will encounter two problems if the power is out for any serious length of time. The first is the inability to use your toilets and the second is a potential back up of sewage into your home. I say potential, because it is determined by gravity. If your house is at the lowest level on the sewer line, the likelihood of a potential sewage backup into your home is greater than if you lived on a hill looking down on everyone else.
Now, if the power is only out a few days, neither of these will be an issue. That is because most cities/counties have planned for backup power via generators. Your toilets will probably work fine. If they don't, I am sure you will receive instructions on what to do. The problem is, if you don't have any backup materials available, you may not be able to follow the instructions your local government gives you.
So, this post will give you some options you can think about implementing if/when you ever find yourself without the use of your sewer system.
How you handle this issue depends on how your house was built. Do you have a septic tank? Are you hooked up to a city sewer? If you have a septic tank, it will be much easier, less messy and less unpleasant to handle. You should be able to use your toilets throughout the emergency. However, if you don't have power, the toilet tank won't refill. You will need to provide an assist by filling the tank/toilet when you need to flush it. That means you need to have access to water. It doesn't have to be potable water, but it shouldn't be stagnant smelly water either (unless you have no choice). This is because your septic system requires bacteria to be effective. You want to be careful what you put down the toilets so you don't harm/kill the bacteria in your septic system. So, to all the homeowners/renters who have septic systems, you need to have access to water so you can assist your toilets in flushing.
If you aren't on a septic system, then you are probably hooked to the city/county sewer system. (Or, like me, you could be hooked to a private sewer system.) If you are hooked to a sewer system, you will encounter two problems if the power is out for any serious length of time. The first is the inability to use your toilets and the second is a potential back up of sewage into your home. I say potential, because it is determined by gravity. If your house is at the lowest level on the sewer line, the likelihood of a potential sewage backup into your home is greater than if you lived on a hill looking down on everyone else.
Now, if the power is only out a few days, neither of these will be an issue. That is because most cities/counties have planned for backup power via generators. Your toilets will probably work fine. If they don't, I am sure you will receive instructions on what to do. The problem is, if you don't have any backup materials available, you may not be able to follow the instructions your local government gives you.
So, this post will give you some options you can think about implementing if/when you ever find yourself without the use of your sewer system.
- For short term use, a water/sanitation system such as this one from Emergency Essentials may do the trick. I have a few of these, here is a picture of one of mine. It requires the use of a garbage bag, so be sure to stock up on plenty of those. You can add dirt, sawdust or cat litter to help control odors.
- For a more durable short term solution, you may want to exchange the cardboard box for a five gallon bucket. Emergency Essentials sells a toilet seat that will fit a five gallon bucket. This solution will also require garbage bags. You can also control odors with a product by Reliance called eco-fresh. It is a waste digester & deodorizer. You can get it in the camping section of your favorite store. I have quite a few boxes of this product in storage.
- The two solutions above may work a longer period of time if you think outside the box and separate out solid matter from liquid matter. Set up more than one 'station' where you can better control what is deposited. Clean up will be easier and less messy that way. Here is a blog post I read awhile back that gives MUCH more information on this idea.
- If the power is out for any length of time, it may be time for you to consider constructing an outhouse. No need to get out the saw and hammer, Cody Lundin gives an excellent example of how to construct one, with simple things you have at home, in his book: When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes
There is an excellent graphic that shows what to do on page 250, but the entire chapter entitled Savvy yet Simple Significant Substitute Sanitation is extremely informative. If you are really into emergency preparedness, go ahead and buy the book. I have it and found it an interesting read. However, if you are not into emergency preparedness (or you aren't sure if you are yet) I would suggest going to the library to find the book, no need to purchase it without trying it out first.
- If you find that you are on the bottom of the sewer line, you may want to put some backflow valves in the sewer pipes that come out of your house. That way, you can prevent sewage backup from entering in the first place. Actually, this is a really good idea no matter where you are on your sewer line. No one wants sewage backup into their house. Unfortunately, if it does happen, you will be forced to evacuate until you can get it cleaned up. Here is a blog post that explains it better than I ever could.
- If the power is out for an extended length of time, say months, you may want to consider composting your waste. While humanure should not be used on vegetable gardens, it is fine for flowers and trees. Here are some posts on how to compost human waste correctly:
- The Humanure Handbook
- The Humanure Handbook online (for free)
- Humanure: The end of sewage as we know it?
- Lots and lots of info has been written on this subject by other bloggers. You can find some helpful information about how to deal with sanitation in these posts:
If you ever find yourself in a situation where the grid is down for an extended length of time, handling human waste correctly will be one of the most important things you will need to do to keep your family healthy!
If you liked this post, you may also like:
If you liked this post, you may also like:
- 10 Things Countdown: #10 Think Safety First
- 10 Things Countdown: #9 Maintain Cleanliness
- 10 Things Countdown: #8 Wash Clothes
- 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
- 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
- 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
- 10 Things Countdown: #4 Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
- 10 Things Countdown: #2 Obtain Safe Drinking Water
- 10 Things Countdown: #1 Keep Your Family Safe From Harm
Friday, August 30, 2013
The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How To Do Before You Lose Electricity!
#4: Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday, until we countdown to #1, I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.
I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator.
I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!
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Non-electric appliances can be found in all areas of the home. For example, my gardening tools are all non-electric. I don't have a tiller. If I need to turn the dirt over, I use a shovel. I also don't have a vacuum, I beat my rugs. But putting all that aside you won't need non-electric appliances like these for a short term power outage. The need grows greater the longer the outage. I have discussed some of these in the previous posts of this series.
Today's post is about non-electric appliances you will need in a short term power outage. That is, non-electric appliances for the kitchen. Most (normal) people have electric appliances in their kitchens. But as we all know, they won't work in a power outage. So, I have made a list of the top five non-electric appliances I use on a daily or almost daily basis. This should give you an idea of the type of appliances you will need if you ever have to prepare and cook food without power.
In my kitchen, I have two kinds of non-electric appliances. Those that are required for everyday cooking and those that are required for every day food processing. I use both on a daily basis and find them critical for working when you don't have (or don't use) electricity. However, this post and this series is about what is needed to maintain your household when the power is out. In that regard, I am sure processing food from the garden or grinding wheat won't be high on your list of priorities.So, I will stick with the appliances used in everyday cooking. I will write another post of the top non-electric appliances I use to process foods once this series is complete.
On another note, I really don't think these are appliances. To me, an appliance implies something with a motor that needs electricity. I call them tools. So I will refer to each as a tool for the rest of this post.
Here are the top five tools for everyday cooking that I can't live without :
#5: Kitchen Timers
Some people might say that kitchen timers really aren't critical. You could use your watch or a clock and keep an eye on the time instead. That was my thought process for quite a few years. However, after burning many foods in my Dutch Oven because I turned my attention to something else, I can assure you that these are not a luxury, they are critical to cooking without power. Think about it, how many times do you use the timer on your stove? How would you cook if you didn't have that timer? These timers have been critical to my being able to manage cooking different food items at the same time. The are really inexpensive. I got mine at one of the big box stores.
#4: Mortar and Pestle
I use this thing every day. Something always needs to be ground to a powder. Herbs from the garden, vitamins for Molly, something for the plants in the garden like hot peppers for insecticide or Tums tablets for calcium. I have had this one for years and I can't imagine not having it. Some other common uses for a mortar and pestle include making pesto, guacamole and gazpacho. The Indians used it to grind nuts and corn into flours. It is also handy to grind sun dried tomatoes into a powder when you need to thicken tomato sauce. You can find them made from many different materials, mine is made from marble. It is super easy and quick to clean. They are not expensive either. Mine is so old I am not sure the design is available anymore. Here is one I like on Amazon that very similar to mine.
RSVP White Marble Mortar and Pestle
#3: Blender
This is a wishlist item for me. I don't have one (yet). I put it at number three because I think about it on a daily basis as I try to blend, whisk and shake by other methods! We drink kefir smoothies on a daily basis at my house. Making these smoothies would be so much easier if I had one of these. I would also use it to grind up onion or garlic powder. I have been reading about this blender for quite sometime and I believe it does everything all electric blenders do (comments on the Internet say it is only so-so on crushing ice). I am going to ask for one for my birthday. I will write a review when I get one!
Update on 10/28/2013:
I now have one and I wrote a review on it! You can see that here.
#2: Hand Beaters
Hand beaters are used almost daily in my house. I don't think I would be able to cook without them. While a whisk is fine for small things, you can't beat egg whites with it or mix some types of cake/quick bread batter with it either. I use these hand beaters a lot when cooking with food storage. (Look at some of those posts and you will see this tool in the pictures.) Now, I will say it takes some getting used to. Your hands can cramp the first few times you use it. Go slow at first and then increase speed. Switch hands often! If the directions say to mix for two minutes with an electric mixer, you will need to mix for five to six minutes with these. I have had mine for so long I don't remember where I got them. It has nylon gears similar to the ones for sale on Amazon shown in the link below.
Norpro Rotary Egg Beater, 12 inch
I also want to say that I have four sets of hand crank beaters. Two have nylon gears and two have metal gears. The metal ones tend to rust and just like gardening tools, require oil to keep them clean. (I use olive oil on mine.) I like the nylon gears better. Easier to use and easier to clean - no oiling required.
#1: Sun Oven
While it is possible to use your grill (both charcoal and gas grills) as an oven, I must say I don't know how I would be able to cook with out one of these. This is my oven of choice. You can read more about how I cook without electricity (Ten Ways to Cook Without Electricity) by using a Sun Oven here. I reach for it first and only consider using other ways of cooking if the sun isn't shining. It even works with on/off cloud cover if you are using it as a slow cooker. Clouds will inhibit cooking when you need a high consistent temperature such as when you are baking a cake or bread. I so love cooking with a sun oven that I am now the proud owner of two of them! My new sun oven is a double oven that holds two pots at the same time. (The sun oven in the picture is quite small and will only hold small pots.) There is also a new oven on the market that will consistently reach temperatures of 400 to 450 degrees. (I know what I am going to ask Santa to bring me for Christmas this year!) I will write a post on the advantages and disadvantages of each soon.
So, there you have it! The tops tools I use to cook with on a daily basis. In my opinion, when you have these five tools, you will be able to cook just about anything, whether you have power or not!
If you liked this post, you may also like:
Today's post is about non-electric appliances you will need in a short term power outage. That is, non-electric appliances for the kitchen. Most (normal) people have electric appliances in their kitchens. But as we all know, they won't work in a power outage. So, I have made a list of the top five non-electric appliances I use on a daily or almost daily basis. This should give you an idea of the type of appliances you will need if you ever have to prepare and cook food without power.
In my kitchen, I have two kinds of non-electric appliances. Those that are required for everyday cooking and those that are required for every day food processing. I use both on a daily basis and find them critical for working when you don't have (or don't use) electricity. However, this post and this series is about what is needed to maintain your household when the power is out. In that regard, I am sure processing food from the garden or grinding wheat won't be high on your list of priorities.So, I will stick with the appliances used in everyday cooking. I will write another post of the top non-electric appliances I use to process foods once this series is complete.
On another note, I really don't think these are appliances. To me, an appliance implies something with a motor that needs electricity. I call them tools. So I will refer to each as a tool for the rest of this post.
Here are the top five tools for everyday cooking that I can't live without :
#5: Kitchen Timers
Some people might say that kitchen timers really aren't critical. You could use your watch or a clock and keep an eye on the time instead. That was my thought process for quite a few years. However, after burning many foods in my Dutch Oven because I turned my attention to something else, I can assure you that these are not a luxury, they are critical to cooking without power. Think about it, how many times do you use the timer on your stove? How would you cook if you didn't have that timer? These timers have been critical to my being able to manage cooking different food items at the same time. The are really inexpensive. I got mine at one of the big box stores.
#4: Mortar and Pestle
I use this thing every day. Something always needs to be ground to a powder. Herbs from the garden, vitamins for Molly, something for the plants in the garden like hot peppers for insecticide or Tums tablets for calcium. I have had this one for years and I can't imagine not having it. Some other common uses for a mortar and pestle include making pesto, guacamole and gazpacho. The Indians used it to grind nuts and corn into flours. It is also handy to grind sun dried tomatoes into a powder when you need to thicken tomato sauce. You can find them made from many different materials, mine is made from marble. It is super easy and quick to clean. They are not expensive either. Mine is so old I am not sure the design is available anymore. Here is one I like on Amazon that very similar to mine.
RSVP White Marble Mortar and Pestle
#3: Blender
This is a wishlist item for me. I don't have one (yet). I put it at number three because I think about it on a daily basis as I try to blend, whisk and shake by other methods! We drink kefir smoothies on a daily basis at my house. Making these smoothies would be so much easier if I had one of these. I would also use it to grind up onion or garlic powder. I have been reading about this blender for quite sometime and I believe it does everything all electric blenders do (comments on the Internet say it is only so-so on crushing ice). I am going to ask for one for my birthday. I will write a review when I get one!
Update on 10/28/2013:
I now have one and I wrote a review on it! You can see that here.
#2: Hand Beaters
Hand beaters are used almost daily in my house. I don't think I would be able to cook without them. While a whisk is fine for small things, you can't beat egg whites with it or mix some types of cake/quick bread batter with it either. I use these hand beaters a lot when cooking with food storage. (Look at some of those posts and you will see this tool in the pictures.) Now, I will say it takes some getting used to. Your hands can cramp the first few times you use it. Go slow at first and then increase speed. Switch hands often! If the directions say to mix for two minutes with an electric mixer, you will need to mix for five to six minutes with these. I have had mine for so long I don't remember where I got them. It has nylon gears similar to the ones for sale on Amazon shown in the link below.
Norpro Rotary Egg Beater, 12 inch
I also want to say that I have four sets of hand crank beaters. Two have nylon gears and two have metal gears. The metal ones tend to rust and just like gardening tools, require oil to keep them clean. (I use olive oil on mine.) I like the nylon gears better. Easier to use and easier to clean - no oiling required.
#1: Sun Oven
So, there you have it! The tops tools I use to cook with on a daily basis. In my opinion, when you have these five tools, you will be able to cook just about anything, whether you have power or not!
If you liked this post, you may also like:
- 10 Things Countdown: #10 Think Safety First
- 10 Things Countdown: #9 Maintain Cleanliness
- 10 Things Countdown: #8 Wash Clothes
- 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
- 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
- 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
- 10 Things Countdown: #3 Handle Sanitation
- 10 Things Countdown: #2 Obtain Safe Drinking Water
- 10 Things Countdown: #1 Keep Your Family Safe From Harm
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