Learn what you should
have ready in case the lights go out for an extended period
The majority of power
outages come in times of temperature stress, i.e., winter or summer, when
heating or cooling are drains on the system. They impact you in many ways, some
of which are hard to foresee. That’s the bad news. The good news is there
are a myriad of ways you can prepare if a massive outage strikes unexpectedly;
Preparation
Grill: If you have a patio
grill, get a stovetop kettle if you don’t have one. That will allow you to
boil water outside. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline,
propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices inside a home, garage,
basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. We usually keep a spare
full propane tank (although, to be honest, its main purpose is to keep the
party going if the previous one runs out while the burgers are on the grill).
Cooler: Get a cheap,
large-capacity cooler to store the food caught in the freezer and refrigerator.
It’s a good idea to keep a few two-liter bottles filled with water in your
freezer — they will keep food cold in a cooler for a long time.
Light: Get a flashlight,
candles and lighter (or matches). And be sure to add a supply of batteries. A
good option is keeping a half-dozen cheap solar garden stake lights lying
around. They’ll charge every day and have enough light to last most of the
night. At about $2 per, that’s a cheap, reliable light source.
Trash: Something many people
forget is a supply of trash bags and moist towelettes for sanitation needs. If
the power outage affects the water supply, you may not have the use of your
toilets.
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