How to Prepare for the NEXT Power Outage
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- Опубліковано 20 жов 2024
- What should you do to prepare for the next time the power goes out at your house? In this video we cover three main areas you need to take into consideration when it comes to power outages.
Just two weeks ago, thousands of homes in Moore County, North Carolina were instantly in the dark. Suddenly, every US citizen was made aware of their own vulnerabilities when it comes to surviving cold weather power outages.
The problem is, we think it won’t happen to us.
But, it happened to our family just two nights ago. Over 1300 homes in our son’s neighborhood went dark - just like that. We tell you what we did to get portable power to our kids.
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My husband Rob has solar power lights all over the house at first I thought he was a little obsessed with them but the other night when I had to navigate the stairs in the dark I appreciated them and will never tease him again.
Nice, Jane. If you ever have a power outage you will be well prepared.
The two big takeaways that I have learned from you: 1) start small and keep building your supplies (initially I focused on solar lights, a butane stove/fuel, emergency water/hygiene plan, canned food, extra blankets/clothing to layer, and went from there); and 2) use your supplies so that you can become very efficient in using them safely, and knowing how long they will last - that can help you do what you need to do, and still conserve if you should be without power for a prolonged period of time, as I was in 2/21 for 5 plus days. ** I have learned a great deal from your discussions of the usefulness of individual items. I have slowly purchased many of the very basic items I would need (I live very simply), to be more comfortable in a prolonged blackout. The one thing I did not see mentioned here was filling the tub with water, in case the city water system went down (true whether it be winter or summer). I think that could become very important if one did not have a large emergency water supply - it would take a long time for a tub of water to freeze in winter. If the internal temperature of the house dropped too low, small bottles of water would freeze and not be able to be used. So much to think about, and keep keep thinking about, and so much to learn hands-on, because thinking alone will not be sufficient.
Bri A, Thank you for your excellent comment! 👏👍
Great comment and tips! In reference to filling the bathtub with water, it's important to first cover the drain hole with duct tape. Even a slow leak will result in waking up to an empty bathtub. I know, because it happened to us. I didn't find out until later that we could have prevented the leakage by duct-taping the drain hole. About an inch down inside of our drain is a cross-shaped trap for preventing large objects (like bath tub toys, soap bars, or shampoo bottle caps) from entering the drain. We now take advantage of that trap by shoving a rubber ball snugly into the drain hole before we add the duct tape. Since the ball can't get past the cross-shaped trap, it helps seal the drain even better. You can always use the tip of a screw driver to pry it out later. You can also cover the ball with duct tape first if the ball isn't large enough to fit the hole. We used to use a regular rubber drain plug/stopper we got from the hardware store, but it didn't totally stop the water from going down the drain. If you can afford to buy a water bladder specifically designed for bathtubs, then get one of those. When Hurricane Hugo slammed through Charleston, I was working at a local hospital. Our CEO ordered 30-gal trash cans for each restroom. Each was filled with water for force-flushing the toilets. There was also a 1-gal bucket on the floor next to the larger can for dipping out the water. We were instructed not to place any toilet paper into the toilets if we only needed to urinate. There was a small stainless steel can with a lid inside each stall for collecting the urine-soaked toilet paper. Paper with feces went into the towel bowl. There was a sign on the restroom wall with force-flushing instructions. The environmental service workers were in charge of ensuring the toilets did not become clogged. At high tide, ocean water began flooding the first floor, so Porta-lets were brought set up in the back parking lot. The flooding was so bad, there were fish swimming around inside the hospital lobby. There was a 3-foot watermark on the walls. The elevators were shut down and everyone had to use the stairs. Our hospital had 13 floors. We had T-shirts made that said, "I SURVIVED THE STAIRS AT ST. FRANCIS" 😆
Excellent, Bri. Sounds like you are doing great in your preparations. And, no, we didn’t cover everything. Great suggestion on the water tip. Thank you for your nice comment!
Read your almost identical post after I posted this:
I follow you guys and Urban Prepper. He recommends color coding Sterlite plastic shoe boxes with survival gear. I went out and bought a camp stove and flats of propane canisters, headlamps, batteries, and a solar powered/battery/crank radio with NOAA weather radio. Now I have mini flashlights from Cabella/Bass Pro in every room so I can make it to my headlamp and rechargeable lanterns. Next, Im working on car supplies. I live alone on a teacher's salary, but if you take it slowly and shop Walmart, Bass Pro, and Amazon and pick up a couple things each month, youll be ready before you know it. I dont regret a minute of prepping done. (I also have water, quilts, and dozens of cans of food with a camp stove and propane, old oil lamps with extra oil and wicks. Its kind of exciting.)
@@grinning_owl good to know!!! Thx.
I carry a small flashlight and a headlamp in my purse 🎉 Definitely has come in handy.
Super. They are certainly nice to have. I use my flashlight when I'm out shopping to help me see merchandise on poorly lit shelves.
Never a waste of time. Huge teachable moment in your son's life. Good job Mom and Dad.
Thank you, Christy!
After the 2021 Texas freeze/power outage (I had no power for 5+ days), I immediately invested in a small Jackery with a solar panel, a smaller solar panel (for smaller devices), a few extra 10,000 power banks, and a small emergency radio that can be charged by a built in solar panel or by hand crank. I’ve also added a wool blanket, 20F sleeping bags, merino wool under layers, and a inexpensive puffy down jacket, and convertible mittens (the finger portion can be pulled back). Luckily I already had a good amount of camping gear but it was more geared to warm weather, not freezing temperatures.
One thing to think about is to keep an old fashioned land line phone. Even if you don’t have phone service, you can still call 911 if your cell service is down in some (not all) states
You speak from experience, Mendy. You are so much better prepared now! Excellent.
One of the oceaside counties I have lived in periodically, because of the insane winds, lost not only power this time around but they had power lines and phone lines knocked down throughout the cities. The storm knocked out their landlines for almost a week. I have people around me now that have been without power for going on two weeks and have been told that because of the massive power outages and downed lines, the crews won’t even be able to get to them for another two weeks. ☹️
Hope, it was actually Teddy Roosevelt who originated the quote "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
You got me curious about that, Sherry, so I looked it up. Teddy Roosevelt credited it to someone else, I guess. Here's what I found on-line: "'Do what you can, with what you've got, where you are.' Although this quote is widely attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, he credits it, in his Autobiography, Chapter IX, to Squire Bill Widener of Widener's Valley, Virginia."
I have a small flashlight in my purse and one where I sleep. I also make sure I take one when staying in a hotel and keep it on the nightstand while sleeping.
I have a Mr. heater big buddy and I love it. Power was out about three weeks ago and I fired up the Big Buddy and it was incredibly warm in my bedroom.
I live in the county next to Moore County, NC. Many people had to relocate since they had no preps, they stayed with friends or in motels for 5 days or more. The schools and most companies were closed so they didn't have to work or go to school. The substation in a nearby county was also attacked so power could not be diverted to Moore County, whoever did this wanted to keep the power down. Another interesting fact is that Moore County is next to Fort Bragg, so wonder if this was a way of checking what might happen if they attack that area. One local restaurant did use generators and drove to other counties to get fuel every day. That restaurant let people charge cell phones and offered a warm place to hang out along with warm meals!
Lots of people / companies did amazing acts of kindness that the major media will never share.
One consideration for those on well and septic. When we lose power, we have no water. I keep 15 or so gallons on hand specifically for toilet flushing and personal hygiene. When I know a weather event is coming, I run a few fresh gallons of water for consumption for me and my animals. I also have a Berkey water filter in case I need to grab water from a natural source like a spring, river or last resort a pond.
Yes, fresh water is something we didn't address on this video. You have to take that into consideration for sure. Great comment.
I have a Mr. Buddy heater and really like it. It puts out more heat than you would expect. I have a battery powered CO2 monitor that I always have on when using it or candles. No problems so far. Thanks for all the good information!
I always keep a flashlight in my purse. It came in handy one time when the restroom light at a fast-food restaurant blew out and it was pitch black in there. A mother came out of the restroom and complained that her child was in one of the stalls and could not see. I and my flashlight leapt into action. They were very grateful, especially after learning the establishment had no flashlights or even replacement bulbs on the premises for such an event. Go figure. So, remember: Never leave home without a flashlight.
On a different occasion, I was in an elevator when the power went out. I had a small flashlight in my lab coat pocket. 🙂It helped us to find the emergency box on the wall which held the emergency phone. By the way, remember to always carry a "potty bag", like the ones used for scooping up pet poop. And a couple of protein bars and a bottle of water in case you are not rescued right away. Yep, food, water, flashlight, phone, and potty bag.......and you're good-to-go! 🙂 Oh, and an arsenal of funny jokes might come in handy, as well.
Excellent suggestions.
Even as a teen, my parents insisted I had a small flashlight and a whistle in my purse. Good reminder, as I don't have one in there now.
Thanks!
@@gogogardener We were always told to wear clean underwear (in case you get in a car wreck) and stick enough money for cab fare in your shoe. 😄
Ooof😖 I hope to nnnever be in a situation where I'd be stuck and had to go use the bathroom(so embarrassing. But as the saying goes, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. I have this 3in1 flashlight, seatbelt cutter, car phone charger.
@@wapaa26 That's a great flashlight to have. However, if you have to empty your bladder or your bowels, I suggest not turning on the flashlight. Tucking a large non-transparent scarf with you along with a pet poop bag will come in handy....oh, and also an umbrella to hide behind while you "take care of business". Wearing a long skirt also helps. If you are stuck in an elevator, just turn and face the wall, lift up your skirt and place the poop bag between your legs and "go". Good luck.
The power stations available for the dollar per watt are good but as you say, expensive. However, they are easy to make, well a little bulky. A car battery, an inverter, solar controller and solar panel. You don't have to be an electrician, these components are plug and play. Another advantage is if any one component fails, you only have to replace that component, not the whole unit. Car battery $85, 1000 watt inverter $120, solar controller $20, 100 watt solar panel $100 = 1000 watt power station $325 instead of $1,000! You can get a second battery and swap them out keeping the unit running longer by charging the second battery while the other is in use. You can get larger or smaller components, fancier batteries but however you do it, the cost is at least 1/2 the commercial units.
I keep a charged solar light bulb hung up next to my bed so I dont drain my phone using it as a torch!!! Ive got a keyring torch on my keyring. There's a French liquer called Chambour that comes in a spherical bottle. Fill the empty bottle with water and place in front of your light and you can use it to focus light on certain areas by turning it. Tip 4: dont drink alcohol during a powercut. You need to be thinking clearly,and it can cause extra heat and fluid loss which could result in frostbite!! Keep the number of your local radio station written down for e.g.99.79fm or whatever,so you can tune in easier. Dont use an oil lamp you havnt already tested. If oil is seeping out anywhere it will arc round to the flame in a loop which could cause a fire or use up all the oxygen in the room, which can kill you. I am speaking from personal experience here. It nearly happened to me.
Great suggestions, P Heart. Thank you.
I have collected oil lamps throughout my life but had one, years ago, that did try to kill me. Lol. Now I am much more selective which ones I use.
Hope&Larry, i am surprised how unprepared your son was,i am not judging and not condemning, i also have grown children out on their own and have been at the ready to help and console& direct,as parents our wisdom never stops helping our children especially when they "freak"out from bewilderment of not knowing! Oh by the way,i carry a flashlight in my purse!
Mr. Heater did not work for us it was propane and we had breathing problems.I just put on a jacket with a stocking cap on ones head. A person's body heat goes out the head! We also wrap up in a queen sized comforter. Lit candles,boil water on a propane stove. We have had practice with winter ice storms,and faulty furnace issues! For deep freezers fill several gallon heavy plastic jugs with drinking water and embed these jugs in among the freezer contents. Let these freeze solid and it will keep freezer contents cold for 3 to 4 days with no opening the door! Cardboard laid flat across the top of freezer just under the lid in a chest type freezer. Thats what grocery stores around me do in power outages! I also place a piece of cardboard or paper sack atop of our cooler items to help keep everything colder longer in the summer!
Great tips from your personal experience, Lisa! Thank you.
I have the same weather radio. There's a wire antenna you can connect to it if you don't get great reception.
This is my 3rd reminder to make my Crisco candles.
Glad to help, KB!
Noticed that Prepper Princess quote before you called yourself out 😂 She's amazing! Great video, guys!
Thank you, Andrea!
I carry a flashlight in my purse at all times. Invested in two of the buddy heaters last year as I live in a condo so it is the best think to have on hand.
Agreed! Good for you, Deborah.
Over the summer we bought a small power station after watching one of your videos. It arrived before the solar panels did, so we just charged it from the wall to try it out. We very very rarely lose power, but wouldn’t you know, the VERY next morning we lost power! We lost it around 5 am, so we put the power station in our 5 year old’s room for a night light and plugged a fan in (it was hot, and the white noise helped), and when we all got up we plugged our WiFi router into it so we could easily get on the internet- I can’t express how much peace of mind it gave, even just for the 5 or so hours we needed it! Now I just want to save up for one of the bigger ones :)
Great story, Bethany. Wow! Just in time. So glad you had that for a back up. I use our small EBL 300 watt power station to carry around the house while I vacuum with a small Eureka vacuum cleaner. The vacuum only uses 119 watts and this saves me from plugging and unplugging the vacuum while cleaning up the floors. The small power station is very lightweight and easy to carry. Yours would probably work well for this as well.
I LOVE that you acknowledge it being okay to start small. I'm in the Midwest, right in the path of the huge winter storm that is coming right before Christmas. Memories of the derecho are still very fresh, so I have been gradually collecting supplies and information since 2020. I don't have everything that I would like to have with a situation like this coming, but I have enough that if (worst case scenario) I lose power in my apartment while the wind chills are -35, I should have enough to see, eat/drink, and keep myself warm. I also have enough of my medications to last halfway through January. Most of the supplies are things I found around the house or received from relatives who no longer wanted/needed them. One more trip to a hardware store and the Dollar and Quarter Tree, and the rest will be preparations around the house.
Yes, Lauren, me too! I started to prepare in 2020 also. Now we sit and wait for the storm, and rely on everything we've learned. I feel ready, but praying we don't lose power. I'm in NE Ohio...Stay safe, and Merry Christmas to you!
@@sueture Merry Christmas to you too!
Here's the part that will be funny (ish) for preppers. I had some accumulated supplied that I was wanting to test, but didn't have a lot of time. I decided to test it the week of Christmas because I was going to have time off and wanted to see how the stuff worked before I needed it. Then I found out that the time I was planning to test the supplies is roughly when the storm is set to arrive.
This will be timely here in Australia too. We get massive summer storms that knock out the powerlines with hail stones the size of golf balls. We had a blackout for a week last year and we couldn't shower because the water was cold. The freezer melted and we had to chuck out food. So annoying!!
Oh my goodness, Bluefoxblitz. That's awful.
Sounds like a great time to drag out the barbie and feed the neighborhood.
@@grinning_owl we have a neighborhood Christmas party all set to go. Funny thing is that we all met going out to inspect giant gum trees that had fallen on the road after a storm. So that is a silver lining. Merry Christmas to you too.
@@bluefoxblitz8416 Good neighbors are hard to find and starving ones are even easier. It's good to know you celebrate Christmas together. I'm sure it will be a bonzer affair. 🙂
Last hurricane we used USB strip lights with small rechargeable battery packs. Good thing about this is you didn't shine light in others eyes. The strip lights allowed you to see all around you. Just drape the light around your got the light and batteries on clearance.
I really like the buddy heater. My is twice the size of one shown. With a filter you can hook it up to 20lb tank. It is my emergency heat.
My hubby keeps our Buddy heater hooked up with an adapter cord to a 20# propane tank next to his home office desk ( in front of an openable window) for when he feels chilled.
Rechargeable flashlights make great Christmas gifts
Exactly!
I am from South Africa, we have daily power outages. Thank you for the video. I also need more resources, but will need to get it with time
I had been thinking about the need to be prepared before I found your channel. Watching a few of your episodes gave me the framework to start making my own list and get started.
I currently live in an apartment, so some of my options are limited. But I'm in a better position now should we loose power than I was a few months ago. Thank you.
By the way, my Voyager emergency radio was delivered just the other day. Am impressed with how clear the radio reception is.
Super, KS! So glad you found us.
I used to carry a flashlight, but I don't carry a purse any longer. It's heavy in my pocket, but I should find a smaller, lighter one.
I have a Mr. Buddy heater I inherited from my brother. I've never had to use it...but thanks for reminding me to check on the propane supply.
My dad had a hobby farm that was empty all week before he got there on the weekends. He installed a light bulb "holder" to plug in and turn on a lightbulb under the sinks, so there'd be enough heat to keep the pipes from freezing while nobody was there. It worked.
I'm not ready for a power outage because I don't have a power source of any kind. I can't figure out how to afford one. I've thought about the small ones, but even they cost $500-$600. You live under the median. I live off disability. I'm thankful for it, but it's a barely eaked out living financially. I've never had the means to buy a power source besides a small solar phone charger and some solar powered flashlights. That's my weak spot. I appreciate the info you provide very much. Thank you.
We're all about doing what you can. We started out small. The phone chargers (battery banks) and a small LED lantern are certainly good starting points.
Get a head light or cap light that’s rechargeable
Of course. I always carry a small purse size flashlight. One is on my key chain too.
Excellent, Cbass.
I follow you guys and Urban Prepper. He recommends color coding Sterlite plastic shoe boxes with survival gear. I went out and bought a camp stove and flats of propane canisters, headlamps, batteries, and a solar powered/battery/crank radio with NOAA weather radio. Now I have mini flashlights from Cabella/Bass Pro in every room so I can make it to my headlamp and rechargeable lanterns. Next, Im working on car supplies. I live alone on a teacher's salary, but if you take it slowly and shop Walmart, Bass Pro, and Amazon and pick up a couple things each month, youll be ready before you know it. I dont regret a minute of prepping done. Thanks Hope and Larry!!
I have 2 of the Mr. Buddy heaters due to having 3 young grandbsbies in the household. Haven't had to use them yet. Also, IMHO, another important item to have on hand is a battery operated carbon monoxide monitor.
I actually have 3 Mr Buddy Heaters. I got 2 off Craigslist and the other from a thrift shop. The first one was still unused in the box from someone who was a camper, one I got for free because they thought it was broke. A common issue with these units is after several years of use, the pilot light nozzle is clogged. Qtip and rubbing alcohol! Dip the Qtip in the alcohol, poke the wet qtip in the perfect sized hole, and it is good as new. The 3rd I couldn't believe my good fortune at seeing a shiny red unit at the thrift store that works fine when I got it home. I got the 2 extra to share with my stubbornly unprepared family and friends.
Tips like these I wish I could save. Q-tip and rubbing alcohol, never would have thought of that.
I have an old timey Granny heater with the ceramic grates that runs on propane. It's a small heater I have in my kitchen. Puts out up to 3500 BTU'S. But I also purchased a Buddy heater with a hose so I can connect a grill size tank to it. In case I needed more than my Granny heater. Or to take to someone else in need. After the Texas Freeze. I gave each one of the married couples in my immediate family a Buddy heater with the hose for Christmas gifts.
I ended up purchasing a few months ago two Victorian paraffin lamps and they work a treat. With threats now to the uk regarding power I've purchased, a wind up torch, two lanterns that run off batteries / have the ability to charge and can use the more expensive one to charge phones, we bought two little camping indoor stoves and paraffin bottles. We have a gas cooker and gas to cook if we ever need it and are in the process of going off grid so have an inverter 2 batteries and 2 gennies, we have a wood burner for the heat element.
My main thing would be heat cause I live in northern Wisconsin and just today with the snow storm we had there were a lot of people that lost their power due to broken power lines. Xcel energy is working on it but I am glad I have my heat
I'm so glad you you, Diane. So important to have heat!
I already have a wind-up torch with a solar charging panel, and a radio that is solar powered with a hand-crank - but what I don't have yet is a lantern so I've seen your video and done the research. That's next on my list. We're unlikely to have long power cuts in my part of the UK, but even so, just a few hours without power can be pretty uncomfortable if you're not somewhat prepared - especially in winter! I think a power bank (preferably rechargeable with solar power) would be a sensible next step too. Thank you, Hope, for your eminently practical suggestion that we should put a lantern by a mirror to double the lighting you get from it. I would never have thought of that. Great job, you two, fun, educational and encouraging as always! And I watch Prepper Princess too. I think she's great as well.
Thank you so much, Amanda. So glad you have some things in mind for power outages.
A gas generator can be used to recharge a solar generator. Once it has finished charging, the gas generator can then be turned off. This will prevent having to listen to a noisy generator, especially while you are sleeping or if you need to be in stealth mode.
Great tip!
@@larryware1 A YTuber named leadfarmer73 posted a video demonstrating how to do it. It sure would help on cloudy days and would also save on gas. From what I can remember, and I could be wrong, it also seemed to be a faster way to recharge a solar generator than via electricity or a vehicle battery.
North Pole Alaska, carry head lamp. Power had been out most of the day.
Oh, so sorry. I have head lamps, too. Love them.
Great advice Larry and Hope!Glad to hear your son made it through his power outage!
I have two Mr Big Buddy Heaters just for emergencies. I have a small home with quite a bit of backup propane. I do not like being cold so I might be over prepared there! Lots of back up lighting as well. I have the same emergency radio that you have. I also have a small Eco-flow Generator to run small appliances, recharging phones, lap top etc.
Great video!!! I agree with starting off small, and budgeting. My family started off with a flashlight, emergency radio, and a power bank. Everyone in my family has an emergency radio, a pocket tv, walkie-talkies, a portable solar panel, solar battery recharger, rechargeable batteries, USB batteries, solar/hand crank/rechargeable flashlights/lanterns, a mini generator with 4 ways to power it, power banks, solar chargers, battery powered electric blankets, etc. We take emergencies and prepping seriously in our family too. We practice emergencies and power outages so we know what we need, and what to do if anything happens.
Yes, I'm ready for the next power outage....just went through one last week that lasted a couple of days. I live outside of Olympia, WA, USA, and we get outages about every two to three months here. We also get down into the 20's at night during several months of the year (like now). I prefer my Vornado space heater, which plugs in, rather than something that uses propane. As long as I run it on low during a power outage my 9000 kW Generac generator has no problem keeping it going. Thank you for your great content and looking out for us. p.s. I love Prepper Princess also.
9,000 kilowatts?
@@ajarivas72 Yes, because where I live the power has been known to be out for nearly a week. People around here have even higher kW generators than mine.
@@deerhaven3350
All right. Perhaps you mean 9000 watts.
9000 kilowatts is a small power plant.
@@ajarivas72 Sorry for the confusion...my fault. Yes, there are 9,000 watts in a 9kW generator, which is what I have.
So helpful! I was wondering what to do, thank you so much!
You are so welcome, Kathy.
I have a small light on my keychain. It puts out a good LED light and has a crank to charge it. I have lots of flashlights and a battery operated lantern. And, of course, old school candles and matches.
I'm set if the power goes out, with my Bluetti EB70S. It has 800 W, plenty of power to charge my phone, USB lantern (also solar) and run my USB fan and (in summer) my countertop ice maker and my 12 V heating blanket (winter). I've got a 12 V cooler and a butane stove, too.
Jon in rural BC, Canada
For lighting I've found the LuminAID product excellent - its a solar/USB chargeable LED light in the shape of a collapsible cube. 4 light settings plus SOS and white or red light settings, (nice if preserving night vision). I keep mine, when collapsed, propped in a window. It can also be used as a phone charger.
Another handy thing is glow-in-the-dark tape: I have small pieces on various items - very discreet in the daytime, minimizing trip hazards in the dark.
Hello, I have purchased the Mr. Buddie propane heater this year to be prepared as well as a detector. I will tell you I’m so pleased I’ve invested in this. Larry, I just ordered the radios and Hope I still need to order the Thermos for my coffee. Lol
Thanks for all the great tips. ❤
You're are so welcome, Stacy. It feels so good to be ready. I like to get the radio out in the evenings and see what stations on AM and SW it can pick up. I used to do this in high school with a 1933 Philco radio. So fun. And yes, coffee is important to us as well. Blessings - Larry.
Am interested in purchasing a Mr. Buddy Heater. Am hoping to also purchase a two bladed woodstove fan as reportedly they are the most efficient. They work manually. Have seen many diy videos with these woodstove fan blades rigged on top of a Mr. Buddy Heater. Many great comments as by doing this, the heat is used more efficiently sent horizontally outward rather than straight up vertically and out of a tent or camper rooftop.
No fear, just prepare! YES! Good job, guys! One day at a time and pre-pare! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Thank you, Richard. Blessings.
Great video. I used to camp in my van, so I have several items that would prove useful in a power outage situation: A Jackery and solar panels, a Mr. Buddy heater, small block chargers, a hand-crank/solar-powered weather radio, Luci-lights, propane stove with fuel canisters, butane stove with fuel canisters, a gas grill, a charcoal grill and charcoal, a stocked pantry with canned foods, cases of water, first aid kit, hand-held can opener, coolers, a 9V electric blanket, extra blankets and throws, a tent, candles, kerosene lanterns, matches, lighters, shovels, a luggable loo with plastic disposable bags and cedar chips, extra toilet paper, wipes, and probably a lot more items that I'm forgetting. I keep my gas tank in my car full. I have an emergency release on the garage door so I can open the door if the power is out. The only item that I really would like to get is a gas generator. I also would like to have a wood stove installed, but I'm pretty sure that would be against the condo HOA rules. :(
Had a power outage not long ago after moving into my new place. Was aware this area prone to power outages. Was glad the thermometers and freezer helped me monitor any possible food safety issues. Fortunately I already had more ice packs in the freezer than food. Had waken up to this and had to figure out the power had been off for several hours...btw...there are several videos posted online of campers and others, rigging a two bladed woodstove fan heater as they run on no electricity on top of the Mr. Buddys. These people really enjoy better heat efficiency as the heat is directed a few feet horizontally outward rather than much lost going upward and out like in tents and campers.
We have Etekcity collapsible LED lights in every room. Bought in bulk on Amazon, they were as low as $13 each. They work great and look sleek enough to go unnoticed in any decor.
Super. I've seen these. There are so many different kinds of LED lanterns, flashlights, headlamps, etc. Having some is so important. We actually have four different kinds that can be used. It's so good to be prepared.
Hey guys, I have a flashlight in my purse at all times. I have the pen version of Larry's flashlight so it is not as heavy. I keep the one Larry has by my bed in case it happens in the night.
I want to eventually get the generator for apartments as well as a heat source right now it will have to be old school.
Thank you for all you do. New subscriber here.
You are so welcome, Tux&Phin'sMom. The kerosene heaters are very old school. Simple to use.
Thanks for mentioning the general life expectancy of the Kerosene wicks , we’re on year 2 of ours, doing great !
I have so much to learn from you Hope and Larry. I was just scammed and had 50.00 taken from me. So upset . Why are Thay going after us seniors. Thay never stop.
I have rechargeable flashlights and solar lighting
We purchased a halo jump starter for our vehicles. We used it to charge our phones. Love this item. My husband had a bad battery. In the cold it happens alot. Worked like a charm. We have 2 buddy heaters. The real flame warms your bones, love them. Not sure if it would heat a large home.. may need a few of them.. better then no heat at all.. have a carbon monoxide detector just in case but We never had any problems.
I keep a solar light/radio on my dashboard. It's got weather, am/fm. Crank for power too
I don't carry a flashlight with me all the time, but I have one stashed in each room of our house and I have one in my purse, so I do carry one with me when I have my purse with me.
Just bought the solar lantern! Hubby will love it
How nice, Daily Bible Encouragement (love the name). Ours will easily run all night on a low on a full charge.
I'm ready got a whole bedroom full of non perishable or long shelf live foods. And all kinds of lighting and emergency supplies. Been doing this for yrs. Also took survival outdoor classes. Learned how to make shelter food off the land etc in all environments. I recommend take some survival classes.
What a great tip! Yes. I like to watch "Girl in the Woods" UA-cam channel. She and her husband talk at length about surviving outdoors.
I have a Mr Buddy heater for a # of years. Have used it twice in multi day power outages during the winter. Will keep a small room toasty enough to exist. Now I have a whole house back up gennie, so haven’t had to use the Mr Buddy for household heat, but inexpensive enough to have on hand. Do recommend a co2 sensor. I love Prepper Princess also.
Yes I am ready and I have a buddy heater hooked up to a 20 lb tank and I love it
We had an outage recently. I plugged my lights and TV into an Oupes power station. I also hooked up a simple window antenna to my TV and immediately got great FREE TV reception for 26 channels, including all the major networks, weather channels and a lot more. I’m in a very rural area, so I can vouch for how great the window TV antennas are during an outage.
I had lights, TV, emergency heat with a fireplace insert, and very little impact from the outage.
Way to go, VC123!! Great planning on your part. You were ready!
I was in a restroom after ordering lunch. No windows so it was pitch black. So glad for flashlight in my purse.
Thank you Hope and Larry!
You're welcome, Francesca!
In South Africa we have this thing called loadshedding which means the electricity goes out a couple of hours at a time. We have become experts in managing this situation from rechargable bulbs to UPS for the TV and WiFi but as bad as it is it's so peaceful when the lights go out
Your expertise would be very helpful to know which logistics have proven helpful! Thank you for any additional hints!
Good for you for adjusting to this situation, Disaster. So many people don't prepare and then complain about the outages. If you have anything to add to our experience please feel free to comment. -- LTW.
That’s so very true!!. We’re all way to accustomed to the power grid. It’s a modern luxury .
I purchased a few rubber hot water bubbles. As long as you have cooking gas, one can reheat water to boil and fill the rubber hot water and use it to keep me warm.
Tips begin at 2:45
Tip #2: 8:25
Tip #3: 12:03
Such a great video, guys! Very timely! So, the products reviewed--awesome job! It's so funny watching Hope trying to act normal when she's so sick--the reason I know? Me too! Hope you 2 feel better soon! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Yep, we filmed that on my third day of feeling lousy. I combed my hair and said, "Let's do it". As soon as we were done filming I was back on the couch. The cough is just debilitating. Not a fever, really. But, I feel pretty yucky.
Thank you, Richard. Both Hope and I are suffering some from the early winter colds that are going around. Hope is a trooper for doing these videos through thick and thin.
@@UndertheMedian Hope: I'm so sorry you didn't (don't) feel good...what a trooper! Me? I was out feeding chickens and now have to take care of the household stuff..hubby is now sick (my hubby is the carnivore)...easy immune broth: in med saucepan, cut whole onions(withskins), garlic(withskins), 3" ginger, 4 c water, simmer low 30 min, add salt to taste, cup it and sip! Feel better! Enjoy all the videos! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Yes heat is an important thing especially in winter. How timely your video is. I'm on a budget as a senior but will buy a Mr Buddy. Your videos are life saving...
OMG Hope and Larry you're AWESOME Thank you so much
Thank you for your video. I appreciate your tips.
I live in a rural area and burn wood. That is my source of heat and cooking if needed. I also have a few small lights that use batteries and LED bulbs. And i have several flashlights and 2 head lamps. I really like the head lamps. You can do a lot with them. I do not have anyway thing for communication. Probably ought to work on that. Thanks again.
THE RADIO IS A TOP 1O NECESSITY IMO....GOT 1 W CRANK ...ALSO KEY...SOLAR RECHARGE ON STUFF KEY....
So appreciate your work in helping people think about and plan for emergencies. We have had a wonderful kerosene heater in a box, never used since Y2K. Glad to know it will be safe to use indoors.
Yes! On always carrying a flashlight :)
Mr buddy heater is great. With an additional connection, the heater can be hooked up to a larger propane tank. 20 pounds, I think. It can last a different amount of time depending on how high or low one has the heater. This heater is very popular here in Western Colorado.
Yes indeed, Natasha. We might invest in a Mr. Heater and check out these options.
Mr. Buddy (heater) can be used with 20 lb tanks with the proper hose and pressure gauge.
Yes. As long as you keep the large tank outside. I've seen others demonstrate that.
Hope and Larry, I wish youd do a video on prepping your car for emergencies. As a single woman, i need help with this. I do have a stockpile of water in cans and bottles in my hatch, but other ideas would help so much.
Love y'all. Stay strong in the Lord.
My generator is 2400 watts running, but it's enough to run the electric chainsaw that's coming tomorrow. I always have my flashlight this time of year. I use rechargable AAAs in it. In the 20s outside but 78 in here. I'm just burning a small amount of wood. I went and got a pickup truck load two days ago. One of my propane jugs is about empty. It lasted about ten weeks on a single burner stove. At 2 a.m. the 20 marine batteries are showing 24.8 volts. Going after more wood tomorrow morning and then insulating a wall that's always cold.
Good for you, David. You are so well prepared.
Thank you very much for all of the useful information provided in this video. I just ordered the Hybrid Light using your coupon! Thanks again and stay warm and safe!
We have a big buddy and little buddy heaters, which we use when hunting or ice fishing
Super, Megan. They are quite popular and very reliable.
THE POWER CAME BACK ON, HA HA HAHAHA 🤣 🤣🤣. Yes of course that happened, it happened to me too years ago. Great strategy and story guys.
Thank you, Yvette. It's always good to have a sense of humor about these things.
Inverter generators are AWESOME. I have 2 predator 3500 from harbor freight. Before that I had a inverter and batteries. I want to buy a big power station next.
I’m always prepared. Portable power stations. USB desk lamps . Luci lantern and 300$ o. Flash lights !
My sister lived through the big snowstorm in VA and she was without power for a long time
Thank for this video. I carry a mini flashlight/alarm on my key ring and a flashlight in my purse
You are welcome, San juanita Diaz.
My son lives in the town next to me. We had a power outage about 6 months ago that lasted about 4 hours his side of the city was not affected. He has a generator and I was telling my daughter in-law yesterday if you could ask my son to show me how to use it in case I needed it I would greatly appreciate it. She said she was going to tell him what I asked I highly doubt we will have a power outage at the same time. Anxious to learn how to use the generator.
Mine is about the same as running the lawn mower. Pull start. Some have electric start with a battery. I might upgrade mine to one of those eventually.
Don’t dought any thing
Buy a generator before it happens to you
Kits to add starter are cheap and work great
In South Africa, where we now deal with this almost daily, we have found some interesting solutions.
I'm in Germany and our electrical grid is pretty much safe. We won't have blackouts any time soon. But I have some lighting sources as well. Some lanterns, some flashlights, candles, AA and AAA batteries to power the lanterns. I'm not a proper as you know them, but I am a little prepared. I'm building on it to get even more prepared, but it's still a long way to go. You can never be too prepared for anything
I live in NC, not far from MC. The incident in Moore County is a reminder that it's not just weather events that impact how we live. Authorities have called the Moore County event a targeted attack, which is even more reason to stay prepared for the unexpected. People really need to stop being so nonchalant and apathetic to what's going on around them. It's always better to be proactive rather than reactive. We try to stay prepared in our household because we know our state is not immune to bad weather and unexpected power outages.
Solar power phone charger can also charge anything that takes a charging cord
Right.
You can get great deals on power banks this time of year.
I got myself a whole bunch of large ones that were on sale for $30 down from a $100.
We got a dyna-glo 23,000 BTU kerosene heater last winter just to be prepared for an outage in the dead of winter. $160 is so worth the added peace of mind that we won't freeze (or freeze our pipes) if we lose power in sub-zero temps.
Mr buddy propane safe for indoors and excellent heat for a large room. Best investment I bought
I recently saw a heater guy show how to change out the FAU natural gas, with a car battery. I believe he said the one battery will keep the gas heater going about two days. It powers the igniter and blower.
Living at 6,500' elevation in NM mountains / rustic / frugal lil rancho (20 miles out) with animals one must be prepared. Private well W 1,000 gal (above ground) water storage tank. Have composting toilet / no water needed.. Also like camping so I have solar collaspable lights like back packers use / don't like battery lights but have several. Flash lights too.
Main concern is heat / 2021 purchased 30 gallon propane tank ( filled it stored in carport). Bought large Mr Heater with 3 settings ( 6,000 /12 &18,000 BTU ).. Also wanted to travel after covid shut in / bought RV and its stocked with dry goods & 2 / 20 # propane (full)tanks.
I have pellet stove for home heat so that was original reason for Back Up heat concerns / it needs electricity for blower & augers. Also have a Mr Buddy that was original back up heater. Thankfully I've only used it enough to know how to operate it. I keep extended burn candles and have a camp cook stove. I have hopes of actually using all items on summer camp trips.
Much preferable to emergency use however I feel somewhat prepared for such.
Really like your videos & think they are a great help to so many myself included.
My X-Mas 🎁 to self will be solar power unit & 400 watt solar panels. 🎅 🤶
Happy Trails from NM..
I enjoyed reading your comment, Ella. You have thought out your situation very thoroughly. Good for you! Thank you for your kind remarks.
I'm not ready
. A recent planned outage fried my refrigerator invertor. $300. Lost a lot of food because it took so long to get it repaired. Big frig. Too much food. Lesson learned.
I now own an infrared thermometer so I can tell if food has thawed to much or is safe. Good investment. I found it at Lowes in BBQ section. Joy of Cooking was a great resource. It told me how to tell if food was ok when freezer went out.
Now the electric company is gaving us another warning for a day long outage next week. At least I'm in warm Calif, so we won't be cold. I believe they're hardening the grid, so hopefully it's worth the inconvenience.
I need to get a surge protector or maybe install a GFI outlet at the refrigerator... THIS WEEK. If I could afford a power bank, I'd get one... but not practical currently. So, I'm using up what I can in freezer, now that I've begun restocking it from last outage. Sigh.
Hope it helps someone else.
Oh. Freezer chest was fine for 20 hour outage. My regular frig/ freezer that went out kept cold three or four days, and I canned some of it before it went bad. I opened freezer every morning, checked temperature of contents, removed thawed items, and moved that nights meal to warm frig (still cooler than ambient air) for thawing.
Bad storms are on the way this weekend thru mid week especially for Texas to northeast Dec 16 to start
Now's the time to get ready!
My buddy heater saved me. Two days ago in NH. hooked up to 20lb tank. I was toasty
Love the Aspen gear! Much love from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
That vacation was one of my favorite trips. I really want to go back and do it again. I think we need to do a "vacation video" from the Rockies!
We took a trip there (Aspen) in the early 1990s. I also have a matching Aspen sweatshirt from that trip. My brother lived in Boulder and then Pueblo his entire adult life and we would go out there to see him. I've done some camping and backpacking in CO several times. Love it.
My husband has the exact same flash light as larry in two size and never leaves home with out one of them.
Awesome, Jane. I have several LED flashlights and head lights all in various places. I never want to be in the dark, and you and your husband won't be either.
Hi i love you all content. I pray everyone is well and blessed. If it's okay how does one cook with power outage discretely because you have to ventilate when cooking