uh oh the power's out
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The US electrical grid is very vulnerable. According to Forbes, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy are all sounding the alarms for threats of all kinds against this critical infrastructure, in the form of cyber attacks, physical terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and even electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). In December of 2022, we saw nearly 40,000 people in North Carolina lose power due to an attack from an alleged domestic terrorist, along with many more reported attacks in Oregon and Washington State in December.
Of course, we as regular people cannot lobby to modernize the power grid. We can always vote on platforms that take the issue of critical infrastructure fragility seriously, but outside of that, our best recourse is simply making sure that our homes, families, and communities are as prepared as possible for the potential of a power outage that could last days or even weeks. I recommend preparing further towards the long term, just in case.
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Quick life story
In early 2021, I found myself smack dab on the road in the outskirts of the Dallas/Fort Worth area during a historic winter storm in Texas - one that listed every single county in the state under a severe winter weather advisory. This was on a Friday, and the brunt of the storm was supposed to hit on Sunday, although it was already cold, beginning to snow, and beginning to ice over.
At the time, I was heading back west from an extended stay in the Southeast and I had been living nomadically for a while, so I had all of my possessions in my truck. My only options were to either hightail it in any direction and try my best to get to a state that wasn’t going to be as affected by the storm, or hunker down in Dallas with all my blankets and wait for a week until the interstates became safer to navigate. Being that there was a 125-car pile up on the interstate not 20 minutes from where I was, and I did not trust Texas drivers on icy roads, I decided my best option was to hunker down in a Walmart parking lot, bundle up and wait it out.
As the weekend went by, the power grid began to incrementally fail, gas became very difficult to find, and temperatures got to nearly 30 degrees below 0 with rapid winds. Although I had enough gas to keep the heater periodically running and enough blankets and cold-weather gear to not freeze to death, it was an unforgettable struggle. In my own foresight, I had more than enough preparations to last that week - including non-perishable food that did not need to be cooked, blankets, hand-warmers, wool socks, flashlights, batteries, and even sources of entertainment.
Many Texas residents were not so prepared, which is understandable because Texas is most definitely not used to this kind of weather. Nowadays, Texans are probably more prepared than ever for this situation, considering that they learned firsthand how critical power outage preparedness is, especially during winter. If it weren’t for my little bit of foresight in making sure that I had all my basics covered and on my person, as well as the gear to keep me warm inside a truck when the weather is below 0, I would have died. Being prepared for the worst saved my life.
What are the first things you should do when the power goes out?
First off, make sure to keep your fridge and freezer closed, this can potentially keep the inside cool enough for items to not spoil until the power comes back on. A full freezer will maintain its temperature and keep things frozen for approximately 48 hours, while a fridge will keep food cold for about 4 hours.
If you have any medicines that need to be refrigerated and it doesn’t seem like the power is going to come back on soon, fill up a small cooler with ice from your freezer and keep your medicines in there until you can find better methods of refrigeration or can purchase more ice. In preparation for a potential power outage, speak with your doctor to find out how long your medication can be kept at higher temperatures before it goes bad.
Unplug any sensitive appliances such as your computer and television, this can protect them if there are any power surges. Leave one lamp on and plugged in so that you will know when the power comes back on. Wait at least 15 minutes before plugging in other appliances once the power comes back on.
Protection from the weather
If the outside temperature is very hot or very cold, look up nearby community locations that have backup power and can regulate temperatures.
Checklist for weather safety:
Extra blankets, sleeping bags
Fleece sweaters, fleece sleeping bag liners
Wool socks, wool blanket
Beanies
Gloves, hand warmers
Battery powered fan/mister
Sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhats
If it is extremely hot, make sure you are drinking extra water and avoiding strenuous activities.
You can insulate your house from extreme heat by covering your windows with drapes or shades, or even tin-foil covered cardboard that reflects heat back outside.
Using a backup generator safely
ready.gov has provided this helpful guide to using a backup generator safely:
Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages.
Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets.
Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock.
Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Food, Water, & Gear Checklist
Water
The general rule of thumb for water is that you’ll need one gallon of water per day, per person for drinking and cleaning.
Also consider that it takes 4-5 quarts to properly cook 1 lb of pasta. There are 4 quarts in a gallon, so you should consider having an extra 1 gallon of water per day set aside for any cooking needs.
Let’s say there’s 4 people in your household and you’re preparing for a week long power outage. That’s 28 gallons total for drinking and cleaning. Add 1 more per day for cooking and you need a total of 35 gallons.
Of course, you can always ration water, eat things that don’t need to be cooked in water, etc. This 35 gallon figure is on the high end of preparedness, so here is a more practical solution: get yourself 10 gallons of water packed away in a closet or in various places around your house. That is enough to safely last one person for one week, but most common regional power outages will be fixed much sooner than one week, so you should be fine with a few people if you’re using it sparingly and smartly.
On top of water that you are storing, I always recommend having a few other potential sources for securing water. A filtration device (such as the Sawyer or even a LifeStraw), cheesecloth for extra filtration, and/or water purification tablets. In the long-term homesteading sense, you will probably already have considered a rainwater collection system, so I won’t touch on that for the majority of us.
I would also recommend having a few sports drinks around, especially if you are in an area prone to high heat. This can help replenish electrolytes faster.
Checklist:
1 gallon of water per person, per day (minimum)
1-2 types of water filters (Sawyer or LifeStraw)
Cheesecloth for filtration
Water purification tablets
1-2 eight-packs of sports drinks or boxes of electrolyte boosting drink powder
Food
Most importantly, you want to have a good amount of non-perishable, ready-to-eat food, but having the ability to cook without power to your home is equally important. I recommend having a small propane stove and at least 5 small propane canisters - the stoves are usually compact and can be stored in small spaces. Sterno brand fire-in-a-can is also good for power outages.
DISCLAIMER: Never, ever use propane stoves or grills indoors. Always cook with them outside.
[insert picture of propane stove and canisters]
Here is what I would recommend as a basic food prep checklist:
Utensils/supplies:
Small propane stove or burner + extra propane canisters
Fire-in-a-can - make sure you set it on non flammable, flat surface that will not be damaged from the high heat coming from the can. A pot or pan that can be set upside-down and laid flat is a good place to put it while in use.
Manual can opener
Ready to eat:
1 jar of peanut butter
1 container of honey and/or jam
2 bags of dried fruit - apple, pineapple, mango, cherries, berries
2 bags nuts/seeds - pistachios, peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
2 bags of beef jerky/meat sticks
4 cans of tuna/flavored tuna packets
Crackers
Dried veggie snacks such as veggie sticks, freeze dried carrots, kale chips, etc.
Protein bars or breakfast bars
Easy to cook:
‘Just add water’ soup mixes - various brands in stores like Frontier or Bear Creek, or check out our article on how to make your own here.
Ramen packets and cup noodles are okay to have, but remember that they have almost no nutrients whatsoever. Try making a dehydrated vegetable mix that you can add to ramen packets to make them more nutrient dense.
Canned soup is good as well
Instant rice
Couscous - I really like Moroccan couscous (the very small grains, not the large pearled Israeli couscous) because it is super easy and fast to cook, it also uses very little energy. Basically, you boil some water, add some spices and/or herbs, add the couscous, stir, remove from heat, let it sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Use 1 to 1 1/2 ratio couscous to water (or stock).
5 cans of cooked beans - can be heated very quickly and easily in a saucepan in about 5-10 minutes, add spices and hot sauce. Served with rice or couscous and you got a fantastic and filling meal.
Instant potatoes - can be store-bought, or learn how to make your own here.
5-10 cans of vegetables such as corn, peas, green beans, or mixed veggies. Not the most nutritious but it’s better than no veggies at all.
Canned dolmas - grape leaves stuffed with spices and rice. They usually come in cans and are ready to eat. Delicious, filling, nutritious, and relatively cheap (about $5 a can).
Other Essential Gear
At least 1 flashlight per person in your household, backup stash of AA, AAA and D batteries
Lighters and matches
A mix of different sized candles
Moist towelettes/baby wipes
Hand sanitizer
Battery powered clock or watch
Well-stocked first aid kit and basic medical supplies - click here for a list of everything that should be in your first aid kit
Cash - always have a backup stash of cash somewhere in your home in case you do not have access to an ATM or bank
Extra blankets, sleeping bags
Fleece sweaters, fleece sleeping bag liners
Wool socks, wool blanket
Beanies
Gloves, hand warmers
Battery powered fan/spritzer
Sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhats
Optional, but helpful
Crank radio
Power bank
Entertainment is important in a power outage
Especially if you have kids, you want to make sure you have something to do when you have no access to television, cell phones, and computers.
You probably already have a few books, which is a good start, but I’d also recommend having a deck of cards and maybe one other small board game.
Aside from these basics, making art is an excellent and productive way to pass the time when the power is out, so long as you have enough light to see what you’re doing. Pens, pencils, paper, and a good watercolor set is where I would start - this doesn’t take up much space but is there when you need something to pass the time.
No matter your financial situation, it is possible to prepare for power outages. The best time to start doing it is right now, and if you have less disposable income to spend on all the fanciest power banks and gadgets, start small. Start with just the basics - water and food for 3 days, a sturdy flashlight and extra batteries, a package of candles, a couple lighters and a couple matchboxes. From there, and over time, you can add more and more to your preparedness plan and ensure that you get by decently in unforeseen circumstances. Remember to never panic and don’t allow yourself to live in fear of these circumstances happening - enjoy your life to the fullest, but be prepared when something inevitably does go wrong. Having this basic preparedness will allow you to sleep better at night. Love to ya all.
𝕊𝕀𝕃𝕂 ℝ𝕆𝔸𝔻 𝔾𝕆𝕌ℝ𝕄𝔼𝕋
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