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Survival Basics: Prepping for An Unexpected Power Outage
https://archive.is/XZXvo
http://www.naturalblaze.com/2015/10/survival-basics-prepping-for-an-unexpected-power-outage.html
Today I get back to survival basics and offer suggestions and ideas for prepping for an unexpected power outage. My goal is to get those wheels in your brain cranking, and to provide you with a list of suggestions that can be implemented in stages as your needs and budget allow.
1. Store foods that require very little in terms of warming or cooking. These foods should be items that your family normally eats. Suggestions? Canned meats, peanut butter, crackers, canned fruits and veggies, granola bars, and cold cereals. If you are a coffee drinker, include some instant coffee as well.
The list is endless but let me caution you: if you gag at the thought of cold ravioli out of a can now, you will also gag if you have to eat it in an emergency, power outage situation. Don’t be silly. Store foods that are meant to be eaten cold or at room temperature; or, if not, try sampling them in advance just to be sure. This may sound crazy but cold baked beans out of a can are actually quite good! Don’t forget the manual can opener and some disposable plates and utensils.
2. Acquire one or more alternate cooking sources. You can cook outdoors using a fire pit, charcoal or propane barbeque, camp stove or even a DIY rocket stove.
We are lucky in that we have a propane cooktop in our kitchen that can easily be lit with a match. In addition, we have a Volcano Collapsible Cook Stove, an EcoZoom rocket stove, and three Solo Stoves. These devices provide options when it comes to using fuel not the least of which is biomass. We also have a cast iron fire pit that is set up for cooking, a couple of butane stoves, a gas grill, and a Sun Oven.
3. Store fuel for your chosen cooking method. Except for the Sun Oven, all require a source of fuel so don’t overlook having a supply on hand lest you take to chopping up the furniture to fuel the campfire.
This could be wood for the fire pit, propane cylinders for the gas grill, or 100 pounds of charcoal. It could also be a large bucket of pine cones or twigs to use as biomass in your rocket stove. The point is to store fuel because without question, you are going to need it. One more point: educate yourself on the proper storage of fuel. All of the food in the world will not help you one bit if you blow yourself to bits with fuel that has not be stored and used in a safe manner.
4. Have at least one good lantern plus lots of flashlights. Choose a lantern that will cast a wide beam and one that is large enough to fill a room with brightness when the sun goes down. We have both a Coleman propane lantern and a Coleman battery powered lantern. Coleman lanterns are a timeless choice because they last forever and replacement parts, even for older models, are readily available.
Solar lanterns are also useful and these days, many can be charged when the skies are overcast? My favorite is the Sun Bell which can also be used to charge a cell phone, Kindle, or other electronic device.
Then there are flashlights. Although they are pocket-sized, you can’t beat the price on these Mini-Crees (usually less than $4), the Coast HP1, and the Block-Lite. All right, I do have a flashlight fetish and just can’t help myself!