The most important piece of emergency gear is located between your ears! Attitude, preparation, training, and resourcefulness are critical to being able to deal with any emergency situation! Talk with family, friends, and neighbors about emergency planning. Plan to help the elderly, handicapped, or others unable to help themselves. Plan enjoyable things to do to cure "Cabin Fever"!
SAFETY- Burning any fuel inside will use up oxygen, while generating carbon dioxide, and, perhaps carbon monoxide. Adequate ventilation is a necessity! If you feel drowsy, or get a headache, suspect poor ventilation. Do not leave heaters, lanterns, and candles burning when asleep, or when you are not in a room. If you must keep a flame going, keep a fire watch. Refill kerosene and other fuels outdoors. Are your smoke alarms and CO detector operating? One, or more, easy to reach fire extinguishers should be present in every house! You do have a complete first aid kit, right? Consumption of alcohol is not recommended. It can cause poor judgment, loss of body heat, and put a great strain on forced living conditions.
HEAT- Woodstoves and fireplaces are obviously desirable, but not necessities. Other sources are kerosene, propane, lanterns, and candles. Plan on 1 week of fuel. Open drapes to the full sun during the day, then close them as soon as they are in shade. Consider moving into the basement. Below the frost line, temperatures stay around 50 degrees year round. Cover windows with clear plastic to let light in, and keep heat in. Stay in one or two rooms to maximize fuel and light usage. Invite your neighbors over for a party! Rocks may be heated in an outdoors campfire and placed on a fireproof surface in the home.
LIGHT- Flashlights with batteries are great, but you must keep plenty of spare batteries around. Candles are cheap and can be very useful, but the open flame presents a safety hazard. Holders that incorporate a glass chimney are marginally better. Kerosene and oil lamps, especially the enclosed "hurricane" type, give off a lot of light, heat, and usually odor. Wick type lamps must be trimmed to remove carbon buildup. Have spare wicks on hand, along with a small fueling funnel. Only refill outdoors. White gas lanterns give off a lot of light and heat, but are more complex to operate. Be sure to have spare mantles. Spare globes for all lamps are recommended. Have 1 weeks worth of light on hand.
WATER- Your hot water heater has 30-40 gallons of clean water in it. If very cold weather is possible, consider draining your water pipes to prevent costly damage. If you have advance warning, such as a winter storm, clean and fill the bathtub. Snow may be melted, but it takes a long time. ALL water from outside, including lakes, streams, and snow should be filtered or boiled. Plan on 1 gallon/person/day just for cooking and drinking.
FOOD&COOKING-Between the refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards, most families have at least a week of food available. If the weather is cold, refrigerated and/or frozen items can be moved outside. Most foods can be heated with hot water. Long keeping staples are potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, rice, beans, oats, corn grits/meal, and pastas. Since water and fuel may be at a premium, consider a supply of paper plates and cups. Do not pour cooking water down the drain- instead, pour into a pot, reclaim the heat, and use for soup! Do not forget food and medicine for the pets!
SANITATION- Toilets may be manually filled, but will use a lot of water. A folding camp commode would be nice, or a 5 gallon bucket with the toilet seat from the bathroom on top. Small trash bags lining the bucket could be sealed every day. A hand full of lime in the bucket after use will help to reduce odors.
CLOTHING- Most of us already have enough clothing! Fashion should not be an issue during an emergency- warmth should be! Thick sox and a knit cap have kept many campers warm at night in their sleeping bags. Remember to dress in layers.
AUTOMOBILE- Keep your gas tank full to prevent moisture condensation. Many gasolines are blended with alcohol, but if yours is not, occasionally add some gas line antifreeze. Have a winter tune up done. Winter makes any problem worse! Consider a lighter weight oil in cold weather- consult your owners manual. If you MUST be able to start your car, bring your battery indoors to keep it warm- batteries lose a lot of capacity when cold. Stock your cars with jumper cables, shovel, sand or kitty litter, mittens, hat, boots, blanket, flashlight, spare fuses, adjustable wrench, duct tape, and screwdrivers.
MISC.- Have a 2 week supply of prescription medicines.
Contact your doctor or pharmacist about proper storage requirements.
Sometimes phones may work when the electricity is out- have at
least one phone that does not require a wall transformer to operate.
A small AM/FM radio, with spare batteries, will keep you informed
and entertained. If you must go to a shelter, bring food, water,
bedding/sleeping bags, air mattress/pad, sanitation supplies including
diapers, first aid kit, medications, toiletries, spare clothing,
quiet games, books, and radio. Do not take valuables. A shelter
is NOT a hotel!
All the more reason to prepare your home and family for the time
when the lights go out!
McHenry County, IL ESDA