Look at my new post - Smart Ways to Weather the Storm of a Long-Term Power Outage

The lights go out. What do you do? You’re without power and, suddenly, you realize just how much you’ve come to rely on it. Your iPhone, Internet, refrigerator, and T.V. don’t work. This article provides some good tips on things you will need to survive the power outage. For futher information, click here.

Have Emergency Food and Water

You’ll need food and water – this is number one. If you go just 24 hours without water, you can become seriously dehydrated. Within a few days, you’ll die. Without food, you’ll starve, but you can survive, at most, a week without it (but it won’t be pleasant).

So, have provisions ready. Water filters, like the Life Straw (or something similar), and water purifiers, should be high on your list of “must have” items. Aside from that, you’ll want non-perishable food, like dried food or canned food.

 

Have Emergency Power Ready

Emergency power should be the next thing on your list. Websites like http://patriotpowergenerator.com sell portable power generators that you can take with you anywhere. So, if you have to leave your home, you’re not without power. You can also have a home-ready generator that’s powered by gasoline. But, be aware, these generators won’t work very long if you can’t access a gas station, which won’t run without electricity. Backup generators that are solar powered work best.

 

Have A Camp Stove

A camp stove allows you to cook food, and it gives you a replacement for one of the more important appliances you own – your stove. It’s a survival essential. While non-perishable foods don’t need to be cooked, the camping stove gives you options and it also lets you eat a warm meal. Even if you can eat non-perishables cold, no one really enjoys it.

 

Have a Way To Make Fire

Fire is one of the most basic necessities. You should have at least 3 different ways to make one. Magnesium, flint, and steel should be one way – it’s almost fool-proof. Waterproof matches can be a good idea. They’re easy to use and very reliable. Finally, you could consider keeping a simple butane lighter on hand. It’s quick, efficient, and reliable.

Keep in mind you’ll need something that burns. Lint from the dryer makes an excellent starter. You can’t assume you’ll have tinder handy, so this is a great replacement and one way to virtually guarantee yourself a fire.

 

Have a Faraday Flashlight

A Faraday flashlight is a flashlight that doesn’t require electricity to run. Instead, it’s operated by a crank. You turn the crank for about 2 to 3 minutes, and it charges a capacitor in the device which can then be used to power a small LED light.

A lot of Faraday lights also incorporate a radio, flashing lights, siren, and accessory ports to charge other electrical devices. Some even come equipped with small solar panels to charge the light so that you don’t have to crank it during the day.

 

Have a Can Opener

A can opener is an under-appreciated tool that everyone needs to have if they have non-perishable canned food as a food source. Without one, it’s virtually impossible to get at the food. We keep multiple  P38 army can openers around our house, in our supplies and on our key rings.

 

Have Candles

Candles provide another source of light – one that’s portable and doesn’t require cranking to make work. Fire is almost infinitely valuable during a blackout, so having multiple sources of it is always a good thing.

 

Have Rope and Paracord

Rope is good for a variety of things from making a shelter to helping you climb a tree. Para cord is cord used to make parachutes. It’s extremely strong and can be used as makeshift fishing line, something that can tie off a tourniquet if you’re injured, or used as part of a trap for catching food.

 

Have Something To Read or Entertain Yourself With

Finally, don’t forget entertainment. Most people don’t think of this as a necessity during an emergency situation, but there will inevitably be some downtime when you have nothing to do but wait. And, it’s that time when you will want to have something to occupy your mind with.

A mind left to wonder what will happen next is a mind prone to anxiety. By keeping a few books and games on hand, you can keep that from happening.

Choose your favorite book, or a classic that’s nice and long – something you can really delve into and keep yourself occupied for weeks on end. If you’re a fast reader, you’ll have to commit to slowing down and enjoying the moment.

If you’re stuck with a group of people, a deck of cards can keep you occupied almost forever.

 

Allen Baler is a Partner at 4Patriots LLC, a Tennessee based small business that provides products to help people be more self-reliant and more independent. Allen founded the company in 2008 after 14 years as a corporate executive leading profitable business for the Easton Press and the Danbury Mint. He graduated with honors from Harvard University and resides in Nashville with his wife and 3 daughters.

 

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Smart Ways to Weather the Storm of a Long-Term Power Outage

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