Six Preps to Survive a 3-Week Winter Power Outage in an Apartment
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- Опубліковано 8 гру 2022
- What tools could help you survive without power in an apartment? The fuel must be easy-to-store and the devices must be safe to burn indoors. These heating, cooking, and lighting devices need to take up as little space as possible.
We created this video at the request of Sheri B. She requested a short, concise beginner video that hits on basic emergency needs. Our apologies to Sheri because we rambled on a bit longer than we should have.
We recommend the following tools to anyone living in an apartment for surviving a winter power outage.
1. Emergency heating and cooking
****VESTA Self-Powered Indoor Space Heater & Stove by InstaFire bit.ly/3TLAgHl (cooking and heating)
****Mr. Buddy Heater amzn.to/3YfbRga (heating only)
****Straight Wall Tent amzn.to/3Pf361i (any tent will work)
7 Lifesaving Tips to Help You Survive a Summer Power Outage
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6 Lifesaving Tips to Keep Warm During a Winter Power Outage
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Safe Indoor Emergency Cooking Solutions
theprovidentpr...
2. Power Outage Lighting
****HybridLight hybridlight.co... and be sure to use the discount code PROVIDENT to get 20 percent off your order.
3. Water
****USA Berkey Water Filters bit.ly/3Q7VZXY - Use promo code PROVIDENT10 for a 10% discount on your purchase. (Best option)
****Sawyer Water Filter amzn.to/3VMWFFk
****HydroBlu VersaFlow amzn.to/3HlnXyd
Emergency Water Filters: Guiding You Through the Maze
theprovidentpr...
How to Store Water for Emergency Preparedness
theprovidentpr...
4. Shelf-Stable Food Supply
3 Months' Supply of Food: Amazing Peace of Mind
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5. Supplies
Prepping for Basic Emergency Sanitation
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Crisis Laundry Management
theprovidentpr...
6. Backup Power
Backup Power Basics: More Power to Ya! • Backup Power Basics: M...
****Inergy Flex 1500 Power Station bit.ly/3HnD1ra
****Generark Solar Generator at bit.ly/3dGJFg4 (Use promo code PROVIDENT100 to get $100 off your order)
****EcoFlow ecoflow.com?aff=128
****Geneverse HomePower 2: Backup Battery Power Station bit.ly/3GkXmRr
Thanks for being part of the solution!
Photo credit for thumbnail image: commons.wikime...
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TheProvidentPrepper.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. - Навчання та стиль
We recommend the following tools to anyone living in an apartment for surviving a winter power outage.
1. Emergency heating and cooking
****VESTA Self-Powered Indoor Space Heater & Stove by InstaFire bit.ly/3TLAgHl (cooking and heating)
****Mr. Buddy Heater amzn.to/3YfbRga (heating only)
****Straight Wall Tent amzn.to/3Pf361i (any tent will work)
7 Lifesaving Tips to Help You Survive a Summer Power Outage
theprovidentprepper.org/7-lifesaving-tips-to-help-you-survive-a-summer-power-outage/
6 Lifesaving Tips to Keep Warm During a Winter Power Outage
theprovidentprepper.org/6-lifesaving-tips-to-keep-warm-during-a-winter-power-outage/
Safe Indoor Emergency Cooking Solutions
theprovidentprepper.org/safe-indoor-emergency-cooking-solutions/
2. Power Outage Lighting
****HybridLight hybridlight.com/discount/provident and be sure to use the discount code PROVIDENT to get 20 percent off your order.
3. Water
****USA Berkey Water Filters bit.ly/3Q7VZXY - Use promo code PROVIDENT10 for a 10% discount on your purchase. (Best option)
****Sawyer Water Filter amzn.to/3VMWFFk
****HydroBlu VersaFlow amzn.to/3HlnXyd
Emergency Water Filters: Guiding You Through the Maze
theprovidentprepper.org/emergency-water-filters-guiding-you-through-the-maze/
How to Store Water for Emergency Preparedness
theprovidentprepper.org/how-to-store-water-for-emergency-preparedness/
4. Shelf-Stable Food Supply
3 Months' Supply of Food: Amazing Peace of Mind
theprovidentprepper.org/3-months-supply-of-food-amazing-peace-of-mind/
5. Supplies
Prepping for Basic Emergency Sanitation
theprovidentprepper.org/prepping-for-basic-emergency-sanitation/
Crisis Laundry Management
theprovidentprepper.org/crisis-laundry-management/
6. Backup Power
Backup Power Basics: More Power to Ya! ua-cam.com/video/UpvV46-GvR0/v-deo.html
****Inergy Flex 1500 Power Station bit.ly/3HnD1ra
****Generark Solar Generator at bit.ly/3dGJFg4 (Use promo code PROVIDENT100 to get $100 off your order)
****EcoFlow ecoflow.com?aff=128
****Geneverse HomePower 2: Backup Battery Power Station bit.ly/3GkXmRr
Thanks for being part of the solution!
Photo credit for thumbnail image: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hurricane_Sandy_Blackout_New_York_Skyline.JPG
Follow us!
*Instagram - theprovidentprepper instagram.com/theprovidentprepper/
*Facebook - The Provident Prepper: Building Your Family Ark facebook.com/ProvidentPrepper
*Pinterest - The Provident Prepper www.pinterest.com/TheProvidentPrepper/
TheProvidentPrepper.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
cold weather, put empty 2/1 liter bottles out to freeze at night and put in the freezer in the day. Free ice.
Simple and brilliant
I freeze the 1.5 liter bottles been doing so for years and people thought I was crazy.
That is a really great idea. I also like to keep one gallon water jugs in the freezer so I have ice ready for by cooler and they are also good for keeping the freezer cold during the power outage.
Thank you both very much. I would encourage everyone to think in terms of a 3 MONTH period due to the current world situation. But just do your best and trust the Lord for the rest. 😎👍🏻
Sitting here like ***I'd just be in bed for 3 weeks, miserable.**** ...2 minutes in 'or you could hang out in a tent in your livingroom' *****Mind blown!! Now it's fun and I'm camping!! ;D
I think a portable DVD player to watch movies in the tent would be a must. And a box of cheese nips! Lol
Hand crank power is the most reliable on a budget IMO. Anyone can afford $10-15 for a hand crank radio/lantern/phone charger that also has a built in solar panel. Up north sun is scarce for solar power in winter. I have a small $40 solar generator to run a few lights and USB devices. I recently tested a theory and yes, I can charge my generator with my hand crank radio. Not saying it's the easiest way, but on a tight budget in a small space it's better than nothing. My mini generator can run over 2 days with 2 lights, a USB fan, and charging a mobile battery (which can charge a smart phone 3+ times itself). Everything is also highly portable and can be carried. Again, it's the minimum but super affordable for any budget.
Heat will be your friend if you are in a cold climate. Water pipes will freeze if there is no heat inside the house. Maybe a carbon monoxide detector might be a good addition too.
Yes we saw icicles dripping off the chandeliers in TX, 2 yrs.ago...and a patriot supply source said 700 people froze to death in their homes because of that storm/grid dn sit.
I'm 71 years old and as a child my parents taught me to be prepared. I am always prepared to survive for 2 years without outside resources. I was enemployed for 6 months once and my famiily still had food and comfort. I still have e3 gardens and my wife and I can and dry food every year and grow enough to give away every year. Water and sewage is the biggest problem, but we have access to a clean creek 500 yards from our home and a means of transporting 55 gallons at a time with cart hooked up to a bicycle. Even though the creek water is pretty clean we puriify all the water we consume. As long as gas is available I use my lawn tractor to retrieve water and have a hand pump to fill the tank.
I live in an apartment. What’s the best way to purify water. We drink bottled water because our tap water has a lot of chlorine in it. You can smell it when running cold water. Thank you
Thank you so much for addressing us apt dwellers
People need to be prepared all year round for anything that may happen. Be a good boy scout and stay prepared. I live in southern Louisiana and EVERY year we have the threat of hurricanes and tornadoes that are spawned by them. We also are vulnerable to moderate to severe flooding. We moved from New Orleans, after losing our home to hurricane Katrina, to Baton Rouge but are still somewhat vulnerable to severe tropical events. WE MUST prepare yearly and honestly all year long. I require a CPAP EVERY night and keep a dual fuel generator and a solar set-up for an extended outage. These things require regular maintenance and costs. It is a "WAY OF LIFE" to prepare and be ready in this culture in southern Louisiana.
Even if you save your pipes, you can run into a problem i had in Texas. The water dept can end up shutting down due to pipes freezing. Make sure you have water and a way to use the bathroom.
My favorite water storage in my 450 sq. ft. apartment is 30 gallon barrels stored in the corner of a closet (short enough for jackets/shirts to hang above it.). I use a battery powered pump that mounts on top, for easy transfer to vessels for kitchen or bath.
I survived Hurricane Maria and 72 days with no water or power. But I lived in a house with over 1000 gallons of saved water and a spare room full of food. Now that I'm living in an apartment in Texas, I have to rework my plans, especially if we have a repeat of the winter of '21. Tent is on my list to buy even though winters here are more like spring compared to my native New York City.
Yea, but sometimes we have a week long ice storms… sincerely a Texas native.
@@judyreynolds305 - yeah. Been here a year now. Missed the '21 storm by 6 months but winter '22 was decent. Just wanna be ready no matter what.
@Predbeau101 - thanks!!
Yup, ‘21 sucked. We tent camped in our living room with our sleeping bags, etc. in our house. If we lose power again from a freeze, remember you can put the food from your fridge outside on a patio in a cooler (to keep it away from critters) and not need ice. The great outdoors is your cooler. Granted, that strategy doesn’t help at all for a power outage due to hurricanes….
If you can make a bed under a table, cover with blankets to make a tent to stay warmer
3 days but not three weeks. People tend to forget that your neighbors aren't going to be as smart or prepared as you are in an apartment building. Pipes will break without heat, sewage will back up in the pipes, someone will cause a fire due to candles or cooking, elevators and security systems won't work. You can't forget fire extinguishers, CO and smoke detectors, rope ladders if you live in elevated floors and need to escape via window, door shims or braces if electronic locks don't work.
Burst pipes is one reason I run heat tape off a small palm-sized power bank. It's attached to the metal pipe where city water enters the house, since heat tape can't be used on pvc pipe or the pex pipe I prefer. Pex pipe might freeze, but it won't burst at least. Expensive retrograde but still well worth the cost.
@@frostyfrances4700 - A "palm sized" power bank might heat that pipe for a couple hours at best.
If your warm and fed in your apartment after 3 weeks, your biggest problem is going to be security.
I ordered a MR. BUDDY indoor heater. The box warns that it puts out LEAD DUST and BENZENE. My health has been seriously affected by benzene/toluene. It's going back! The VESTA sounds good. Thanks!
The vesta heater will heat 250 SQ feet
Oh, I don't want that anymore.
This was great you guys. I love seeing seniors getting on board with these emergency preparedness devices. I'm 67 and have been prepping since 2020. So I have 2 solar back up batteries. An electric cooler and small cooking appliances I can use with my backup batteries. I have solar lights and back up food and water storage. I'm consistently expanding my emergency supplies. This summer we had to put our supplies to the test during Hurricane Ian and made some additional purchases to add to our supply list. This Christmas I got some emergency supplies for my kids and grand sons. I want them to get on board and to stop thinking they are invincible. They were not prepared for Ian so I'm hoping their gifts will come in handy during the next emergency we have. Stay safe Happy Prepping and Happy New Year!
D - my longlost sister from another mother!
I’m in total agreement with you. I started putting aside emergency supplies in 2018. My food storage came in handy during COVID. Unfortunately, I lost almost everything in a house fire in 2021 so I’m starting over. I no longer have a yard so I’m gardening indoors with a variety of hydroponic systems. I’ve replenished about 50% of my food, water and miscellaneous storage. Water is a major priority since we are experiencing both extreme heat and drought conditions. I have solar lights and a solar cooker. Heating is not an issue where I live. I haven’t needed to use my heater for the last 7 years. Staying cool in the summer desert is a concern. I have a small portable evap cooler, a small portable AC unit and battery powered fans(with rechargeable batteries). I do not have solar battery packs, yet. I was set to buy my first one last month but the price increased 33%. Battery back up won’t be an issue until next summer so I have time. Like you, I’m trying to get my kids to start preparing for emergencies. My son buys produce in bulk and freezes the excess. He recently became interested in my dehydrator and some of my tabletop hydroponic systems. My daughter and son-in-law recently bought a generator after their AC went out and it took three days to repair. This happened while we were experiencing temperatures of 119 so the HVAC companies were very busy.
I work in a restaurant so I get free food grade buckets. They are great for food, water, and other storage uses. They stack and carry well. And I could use them to grow food in, wash clothes, and use as a make shift toilet if need be. I also save other containers glass and plastic to store food and water. Med containers are great mini emergency kit containers for sewing, first aid, etc. Be creative. Have fun! And thank you guys for keeping real and positive.
my heat pump furnace is out after the raised my rent $100 again! last January i went the whole month without heat. i have a my Buddy heater... thanks to wonderful people like you guys..i am just working extra shifts until they can fix it...i have eletric blankets....and waiting for matress pad.. a 2 solar generators..over kill for my 800sqft apatment.
Please do not forget the pets. One of my pets has several pet beds. In addition to her evacuation bags, she also has a medium nylon, portable dog kennel for home use that I have set up as her warmest bed should she want to access it. A warm dog bed inside, with a warm blanket of insulation underneath. A bit of layering insulation underneath on the outside. And a very large, cloth insulated curtain draped over. She can sleep on top and keep warm or lately with the change to colder weather, she can curl up and stay warm inside. Moved a year ago. Two power outages, so far. Moderate beachside temps, more or less year round. Our last place, I had layered this pet bed as the winters were much colder with blankets, Refletix, the large insulated thermal cloth curtain which is very dark colour but picked up warming sun rays during the day, and an old coat. Would sometimes check her to see if she was warm, and she was cozy warm, sometimes 'hot'. Am proud should it get cold, my arthritic, elderly kitty has the warmest sleep spot in our home.
I cut an insulated food bag for shopping to fit my cat's backpack for evacuations in winter. I figure that even if his little screens are not covered the foil backing with the insulation will allow his body warmth to stay in the backpack especially if I put a polar fleece throw over it and his harness vest on him...maybe a cat sweater under that too. It's cold in MN. I don't think he will wear a stocking cap to keep his ears warm.
A handful of additional suggestions:
1. If you have a chest freezer and have even a little room near the top, bags of ice cubes (or ideally, 5-10 pound blocks of ice) on the top, will also work. Just remember to open the freezer as minimally as possible. Cold air falls, so keep the ice on the top. You can even freeze your own ziploc bags of ice prior to an emergency, and keep them in the freezer. When you have power, keeping the freezer full will also make it run more efficiently.
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2. For food stuffs, don't forget the old standby: peanut butter. Great tasting, lots of protein (and probably lots of sugar for most brands), and doesn't need refrigeration.
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3. For heating, check out the myriad of Crisco candles and flower pot heaters. Crisco is very safe as a candle, as there is a minimal amount of the fuel that is liquid at any time (usually less than 1 teaspoon). A can of Crisco (or other lard based fuel) will run for 72 hours all by itself. Use a small and a large flower pot to keep the outer layer from getting too hot.
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4. For warmth, a good cold-weather sleeping bag will also make your nights much more comfortable. Also, having a bunch of mylar "space blankets", as they reflect heat quite well, especially in your micro-environment.
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5. If you have window shades that are dark on the inside surface, put them in south or west facing windows, but install them backwards so the dark side faces outwards. They will absorb heat during the day and radiate that into the room. At night, hang extra blankets or comforters over the windows, so the heat is kept inside.
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I only recently discovered this channel, but I love it. Everything is easy to understand and implement, and the advise is sound. Keep up the great work!
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gen81465 (George)
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BONUS SUGGESTION for those with "polydactyly" (i.e. 6 fingers)
6. Clean drinking water: 5-gallon jugs of water available at Walmart for about $6.00 each. Refills from their reverse osmosis machines range from 25-40 cents per gallon. A manual pump handle for the 5-gallon jugs costs about $10.00 on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Aketek-Drinking-Bottled-Dispenser-Office/dp/B001OBRKXO/ By using the manual pump, you don't need a water cooler machine that requires electricity (and about $130). And if you can only fill from water sources that are somewhat suspect in quality, add a Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System from Amazon ($25.00 when not on sale): www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ Attach it to the end of the pump hose and it will filter up to 100,000 gallons of water.
Instead of expensive ice blocks or ice cubes, take empty 1 gallon WATER jugs and fill them up not too full and put those in your freezer. Do not use empty milk jugs. Later on, when they thaw out you can drink the water.
If it’s cold enough outside, you probably don’t need ice at all. The temperatures outside may be cold enough on their own.
😊
I was lucky to purchase hand pump for my 5 gallon bottles during the summer last year. It works wonders 😌. No lifting heavy bottle to put up on dispenser. Ugh! My back will not allow it. $18 then.
To match the solar generator - I bought a small 1800-watt dual fuel inverter generator. It is cloudy for weeks here in Michigan and the gas/propane generator can charge the solar battery. I am pretty sure I can get a week out of the solar battery and then charge for 5 hours for another week. The solar battery keeps the furnace running which keeps the house warm. The temperature would be set to 60F degrees in emergency to make solar battery last longer.
Unless you're elderly and/or infirm, with 3 loose layers of clothing etc. most people are perfectly okay down to 50 degrees. See my comment upthread for further suggestions if you like. Pipes won't freeze at 40 degrees, what I'd use myself if shtf. But then I'm an old Polar Bear, so it's second nature to me. During my 2 winters in NYC, I didn't use one drop of hot water in the shower ever. Primes the immune system! :)
@@frostyfrances4700 You are right about going down to 50F degrees. Although, I don't know if my house could work at 40F since it has "weak spots" in pipe insulation. I stated 60F since I wanted some margin between the thermostat, located in the middle of the house and the coldest pipe at the corner of the house - right next to the outer brick veneer. I don't want to come so close to freezing any pipe that may be the worst place to do plumbing, to replace that pipe. Besides, the colder one keeps the house - the more chance for condensation on the walls.
"The solar battery keeps the furnace running which keeps the house warm". What is the fuel source for the furnace? Most people have natural gas and that will most likely be unavailable as well during an extended disaster.
@@g-whiz286 The furnace uses natural gas for BTU's. The gas supply, being buried underground, is not as vulnerable as the electric grid. There is enough gas stored to service our area until springtime - so says our utility. There is only a diesel (or natural gas) gen set needed to pressurize the whole gas supply.
But my plan "C", if the grid and the gas supply are sabotaged - is to drain all water pipes (except downstairs), put RV antifreeze in drainpipes (except downstairs), and run Vesta heater downstairs where family will be gathered. The solar generator will power the AC/DC electric blankets, fans, lights, radios, TV's, and phones. The fans circulate the heat generated by any heat sources.
@@mikecaster4612 - It's good to know that your gas supplier has the resources and means to keep gas delivery going for several months. My only concern would be your generator. An operating generator tells everyone within earshot that you have resources that others may not and that could be inviting unwelcome visitors.
I have been lightly prepping for about 8 years and I watch a ton of videos and read a lot of sites. I loved your approach on prepping for in an apartment and you had a few ideas I have not seen before like the backup power devises and the HybridLight. Just fantastic. You both are great to watch (laughing about the kids don't watch your channel! I get it!) and I will be watching more and using your link to get a lantern!!
I have been light prepping for years, too. I have so many lanterns and flashlights and tap lights, and, yet yesterday, I saw some rechargeable LED lightbulbs at Lowes that go in regular sockets and thought, boy, wouldn't it be nice to have one of those in my living room lamp and a few in my basement.
When I had covid last year and was on oxygen (using a concentrator), my worst nightmare was the power going out and cutting off my oxygen supply, but thankfully I had an EcoFlow power station so that gave me peace of mind.
Lighting: directional headlamps for reading, task lighting. Many have USB charge cord. Solar porch string lights can remain bundled for room lighting that's easily moved in & outdoors for charging.
Thank you guys for the information and caring, I live in an apartment and it’s helpful to know what’s the best things to get and how to prepare! God Bless you guys 🧡now if people really need to use candles,,,?, then they can also, use a big coffee container that’s empty to put 3-5 candles inside for light or even heat,,, the coffee container should be out of metal, anyways it could help to protect the candles and with kids around,
Be sure to keep even tea lights at least an inch apart so the wax itself doesn't burst into flame. A burning wick is plenty enough.
I am in Florida instead of empty canning jar Waiting to be filled I have them filled with sterilized lids full of water. already have space for them.
My son recently purchased a dual power generator, rechargeable battery and solar panels to use in a power outage, in addition to a gas powered generator to run the fridge, chest freezer and the coffee makers. Plus mom is always canning something, putting things in mylar and dehydrating like crazy.
1. Co2 detectors. Extremely important to have them mounted approximately one foot from the floor.
2. Smoke detectors with fresh batteries. Please check them and make sure they are working properly.
3. Working fire extinguishers. Multiples in easy to grab areas that are highly visible. Don't want to be fumbling under the kitchen sink when you have a fire. (that is where mine is, I am going to go and move it right now).
Since I use vinegar a lot, I save water in them! Plus I’m lucky enough to live 45 minutes to an actual stream that is set up with pipes to collect stream water. Gratitude always!
Thanks... My apartment is at the top of a 12 story building with a balcony in Northern Britain. I have spent money on solar panels & a wind turbine (works well up here) 7 130 AH batteries & inverters the biggest being 3000 watts at 240 volts AC. I have done tests & can power the whole apartment by wiring the inverter directly to the fuse box. All lighting & appliances work.
You're lucky; most US apartments won't allow solar anything.
@@frostyfrances4700 I own it so I do as I wish.
Very nice set up. I have been looking for an apartment oriented preparedness video.
Thanks for this . I am an apartment dweller and got some good ideas from your talk
600 Watts of Solar Panels on our Shed.
20 Amp Charge Controller.
eep Cycle RV Batteries and 1 100 Amp lithium Battery.
Indoor use Kerosene Heater with ALL of this Winter's fuel requirement ON HAND!
LOTS of Rechargeable Lights we use with the solar.
Two Butane Camp Stoves with 100 Fuel Canisters in reserve.
Once again a fantastic, well thought it, teaching video. Sometimes in my preps, I need a 'back-to-basics,' list of specific areas, where I can think through what I have, to look for any holes. Love your videos!!!
Many times, entertainment is forgotten on preppers lists. If you were to go more than 3 days. You sort of, go squirelly without something to amuse yourself between chores and survival, especially if you happen to have kids in your family or care at the time. I wouldn't want to deal with whiny bored kids during a power outage lasting more than 2 days. So having games, board games, books, music and some toys ready, will be important in prepping.
I would send them outside for a while and let them experience how cold and miserable it is. They will not want to do that again. No, I definitely agree with what you said. However I still think my idea is pretty good too.
sherry (or who it may concern) this may be a shock to you of cost. preping cost. (they said 300 to get really ready) if you do not have 300 sitting around that's a lot. but you can save by useing what you have or go to the dollar store for some things. cost saveings is the goal in my book. heat/warmth: use blankets (lots of blankets) those you may already have use them. if you sleep or sit under 19 of them to be warm do it (no one will ever say "hey why are you useing 19 blankets" )(19 is just a number i picked) sounds like a lot but if that is what it takes for you, do it. food: get good but cheap and what you will eat. you buy 4 cans of sardines but hate sardines...do not get them unless someone does like them. buy canned stuff, corn 89 cents a can, peas, 4 cans of something at 3 dollars (and use coupons if you can). beans at 2 for 3 dollars soup is now 2.50 or more a can use pouched soup may be cheaper and gets stuff in the preps. look for good cheap stuff you will eat (and little ones will if you have them.) light: he threw away a good flash light (yes rechargeable is great) but if can't afford batteriy ones work well i'd rather have a cheap $1 flash light then none, (yes if it does not work because it is cheap, no good) i've had recharable ones good bad, so there. tea lights but watch open flames give off some light (little heat) but work in a pinch (and cheap.) $1 dollar tree outside lights, set out side bring in when charged again not much light but good for a dark night. water filters is where it gets pricey but boiling water works really well just need a way to heat up water. (again water filtering is the most costy in my book, no way around in house doing ) if i'm wrong please comment i'll listen intently. (and learn a few things) preping is learning and trying and listening and doing. i could go on but i'd have to have my own show to get it all in. hope all can do/prep well on the good but cheap (and i do not mean bad cheap) but that is part of the doing, learning.
If we're preparing for even an extended power outtage, talk about cheap but GOOD: the 2 main foods you should keep on hand? Rolled oats and (powered if possible) peanut butter. You'll reach a point where you'll hate them evermore, but they'll keep you safely fed for a month at least w/o harm.
I live in an apartment so this was very helpful. Every time I check, the Vesta Heater is sold out. It would be perfect for an apartment. Thanks for making this video!
I ordered a Vesta heater/cooker when I first heard about them on one of the Provident Prepper videos. When I tried to order another one they were sold out for about 8 weeks, after that I was finally able to get a second one. You have to frequently check availablity because they sell out quickly as you know. Worth the effort however.
Check 4 patriots
I ordered mine from My Patriot Supply. I had just received it when I saw the video from Prov Prepper on the Vesta. I’d like to get another one sometime. Ive been stocking up on the camp heat cans at Walmart when I see them there. Our rural store doesn’t always have things in stock like the stores in the cities do
@@juliehall2343 they don't sell the vesta heaters
@@alm777 that is where I bought mine,must be out
I thought about a f 2 folding table with a heavy blanket over top of it in my smallest room and my twin matress under it this will work for I hope
Thank you so much Provident Prepper. ❤After watching a previous video of yours in which you reviewed the Vesta stove/heater, I ordered a couple to put in my kitchen and bathroom to help keep the pipes from freezing if our electricity goes out. So nice to have a SAFE option to cook on and to provide some heat indoors. My next project is to get some solar powered lanterns. Another option for lighting that I have used during emergency power outages is the AYL Starlight 330 lantern (Amazon). It gives bright Led light for 5-7 days continuously using 3 D-cell batteries. We keep several AYLs on hand with plenty of D-cell batteries for emergencies here in hurricane alley.
Yesterday, I was at Lowes looking at LED lightbulbs and they have some that are rechargeable with a regular light socket. It will run for 5 hours after the power goes out. I thought those were good to have in my basement and one for my living room lamp. I already do have lanterns - solar, battery-operated and rechargeable. I found out that rechargeable things die eventually where battery-powered ones often still work years later. I have solar things that fail when the winter weather is bad. Redundancy is important for everything.
Candles have their place old technology has its place because if power outage is due to an EMP all those electronic gadgets will no longer work probably
I just watched this video last night. Excellent advice. So many are not fully prepared for power outages. I so appreciate your experience and great advice in these matters. It's always good to be prepared and I love all your attention to detail! Blessings.
A bathtub water bob is great for apartment preppers.
Thanks for sharing your ideas! My family and I live in a small 2 bdrm apartment and I've been making videos on how we plan to survive during a power outage or worse. I have a few videos up on survival candles and how to bathe using snow and Norwex Body Cloths.
We've been focusing on our heat sources, food, water filtration, lighting, bathing, how to do laundry off grid, growing plants, building rocket stoves, indoor heaters, and what we'll have to do for using the bathroom. I've been doing my best to share a lot of this info on my UA-cam Channel and on FB, Twitter, and Twitch.
Thanks again for sharing!
Being around New England, I heard on the
radio from Boston recently, it depends how
cold the winter will be for our power here.
Natural gas is big for electrical power.
I have an EcoFlow 500 Watt battery for a
couple of years now which cost about
$500.00. Yes, bigger supplies cost much
more.
I have been an Amateur Radio operator for
over 60 years, since being 17 in High School,
and my wife knows the hobby, is licensed too.
Being 78+, I have a several months supply
of my medications.
My biggest worry is my Insulin, which was
in the news when the war in Ukraine began
for people over there to survive.
I don't use a lot, as I lost 50 pounds, after
Insulin increased my weight, and I eat very
carefully, not having much meat.
Now we need to stock up on water 💧 and
some food supplies, and a heat source.
So we are working on being prepared here.
@@TheProvidentPrepper Thank you very
much. Yes my last A1C test in October 2022
was 5.6, the lowest I have been. I have had
Diabetes since 2001, over 20 years now and
am doing well. Before starting Insulin about
6 years ago, my weight went up about 50
pounds over time, but the 24 hour Insulin I
take now, Lantus, is less of a weight gain
problem than Levemir and Humilin-N were.
My cousin, who is younger, just turned 70,
has had Parkinson's for about 15 years, and
recently retired after about 40 years in his
profession. That illness is tough too.
Last year, my wife and I were for 2 months,
Jan.-Feb., in Florida, which helps to relax.
Now we leave in 10 days for 2 months there
again, which is nice, but there will still be
some winter up here until Spring returns.
Good luck with your medical condition too.
Best regards Ray, W2CH, and Marylyn,
KC2NKU.
The grid can't take the hit this winter......supposedly....in Dublin Ireland....I'm so weary of this.....but thank u for this vid....it's good4camping, general knowledge and for the obvs. ..the real deal......
It’s gonna be hard to charge with Solar when you don’t have enough sunlight.. they don’t charge good on cloudy days
You and me both. And most winters I have 4-5 feet of snow on my southern exposure balcony!
Christmas light strings take barely no wattage off powerpacks if you need lighting. They do make battery light strands.
I'm a 68yo alone woman...I bought the Vesta grill and 5packs of cans..I live in an apt. If I need to use the Vesta heater I'm hoping it won't set off my carbon and fire detectors...I feel secure knowing I can cook if need be...thank you both😊✌️🙏
Anywhere north of a line even with Nashville will get you trouble in the winter, if there is no power, and especially if there is a freak blizzard, like for Christmas 2022, you will have a problem even for just the few days they need to get things fixed. Fortunately, the power company in my area recently trimmed trees to prepare for the winter.
Please don't keep Sterno or any kind of fuel in a bedroom or a room where people sleep or occupy. Keep it in a ventilated storage room, or the garage.
The Buddy heater might be safe for indoor use, but anything that burns fuel must have some occasional ventilation as he mentioned!
I would not fuel under my bed!
For those concerned about bathroom issues, 2 buckets are much more sanitary. Urine can be disposed of almost anywhere as it is almost sterile. Feces carries dangerous organisms and needs to be more carefully stored and disposed of. The 2 buckets nest and take no more storage space than 1. Google 2 bucket toilet system.
Not "almost", urine is completely sterile. It is safe to drink. Not that I yearn to do so.
I have a camping gas stove and 100 x CP250 Campingaz cans. I'm good for making tea, filling hotwater bottles, and cooking rice, curry, soup and beans, for 3 months. That will take me up to mid March.
Great video, I have one of those vesta heaters and I think it's great, and each time I go to Sam's I buy another flat of chafing fuel.
The vesta heater requires xtra hot heat .The regular chaffing heat is a food warmer.I bought 2 of the vesta heaters,and called ,asked about the difference between "xtra hot" chaffing fuel & regular.Theres a difference they told me
Solar lamps are nice, but you need a bright sunny day to charge them. So if you have a snowstorm or hurricane, the solar lantern won't be much use until after the storm is gone.
You'll need several solar lanterns, and use one each day, then recharge or replace the battery, or put it in the sun if you just have a power outage.
I do keep a Dietz lantern and an UCO candle lantern. In the event of an EMP or solar flares which can damage electronics including LED lights. The UCO three candle lantern can also be used to heat a small pot.
Math on the safe heat in the Vesta is about 20 flats to run 24/7 for 3 weeks. But there’s a good chance one doesn’t need to run it all day and night, or might run it with 2 instead of 3 cans. For 2 cans 12 hours a day it’s 7 flats.
I have a Vesta and you can definitely cook or heat using only 2 cans of Safe Heat at a time. The heater only heats up the area immediately surrounding it even using 3 cans. However, it puts out enough heat to cook food, not just warm it up. Thanks for the update about how much Safe Heat we will need to operate the Vesta during an emergency.
@@lyndarina9839 it will heat up to 250 SQ feet
The big problem with medications is that insurance won’t pay for it more than once a month, so stocking up would be impossible unless you can pay out of pocket….and even then some pharmacies won’t refill meds if you’ve just gotten them or if enough time hasn’t passed. I don’t know how to get around that.
Have your Dr. Send your 90 day prescription to a different pharmacy. Your insurance won’t pay for it, so you might just pick up 30 days. This will help stock ahead.
Well, I think I’m ready. I have a 60 KW generator and 1000 gallon propane tank and I have some other back up stuff just in case. And this morning 35° where it supposed to be warm where I live in Arizona along the Colorado River it was 35° 630 this morning power went off generator kicked on, and it covered quite an area for almost 2 hours. My heater work just fine.
I just learned the hard way to prepare as if I had no generator. A good company, short on help, couldn't get here for 3 weeks to fix it when it quit. During that time of course I lost power. Not enough water stored and lost food in the fridge. Fortunately the outside temp was 50. This
60kw is huge!
I leaned some good things ! Your sterno heater cooker is really neat !! I live in an apartment, in a warmer climate. I have an outdoor grill with charcoals, lighters, matches and lighter fluid. A case of sterno's. A butane stove and extra butane. Portable power supply. Water filters and purification tablets. Water and a lot of shelf stable food. Great content !!
Another fantastic video. Great idea, microenvironment. That vesta heater/cooker is on my list to get. Thank you Jonathan and Kylene for your terrific videos. Happy trails!
The vesta heater really needs the"xtra hot chaffing fuel"The ones you're showing is only to "warm" food, Not necessarily to heat the heater.I called the company ,and there is a difference,in the chaffing fuel.
Good to know thanks :)
Appreciate all your ideas. Creating a warm room next to the "kitchen or cooking area" and bathroom ideal... then using your great idea of the Vesta Indoor Space Heater/Stove. I have a camp stove which I could use outdoors for summer power outages (don't feel as comfortable for indoors). The generator with solar panel is still outside my budget. I was thinking of purchasing a "hot tent" ... using it on an area rug or carpet --- it could be a life saver. Or, place a tent on a bed mattress cover it with a wool blanket ... and even use a summer bed roll with sheet and wool blanket wear warm clothes and socks. Store plastic wrap for windows; make stuffed door draft "snakes". I'm afraid we may have many power grid issues going forward ... we all have to "be prepared." I think you also mentioned practicing ... very important!!
Once again, great products and life-saving items. Thank you!!
Number One: Make sure the apartment complex turns off the water, if temps are going to get below zero. In NY and TX, frozen busted pipes caused the most property damage, and caused people to leave their homes.
So glad I watched this video! I've had my eye on the Vesta Heater - Stove for a couple of weeks and had not seen it cheaper than $129. Followed your link and it's on sale right now for $99! Yay me - Thank you!!
finally found something for an apartment.. thank you
If you have no available resources for heat make sure you always keep your vehicle filled with fuel .so that you can resort to that,if nothing else.
Most apartment buildings do not permit propane to be stored or used in apartments or on balconies.
Many more don’t allow any kind of stuff that burn even that caned heat stuff will get you kicked out of where I live. No candles no nothing
All apartments need outside VENTILATION if any fuel sources are being used inside.
That hybrid lite is great.. its SO brite......I'm blind in1eye and I whack into things in lo lite so a power outage for me is a real risk....thanks guys...
@@TheProvidentPrepper But can you change the battery in them?
Thank you thank you thank you so much for including apartments no one is observing that other folks live in apartments not just homes so I thank you so much for including Apartments❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊
No no no. Skip the heater and gas can and propane tank!! Just buy super warmer hot hands. A pact of 45 is less than 30.00 and they stay extremely hot for the 18 hours!!! So safe and so efficient and so cheap. When you shake them, put them in a pocket or bag abd they heat up so hot it burns. Also just get the butane portable stove. Do NOT use propane indoor. The gas is heavier than air and will accumulate on the floor and cause an explosion. They don’t allow propane gas on boats for that pacific reason. Anyways super warmer hot hands is all you need.
For a winter power outage, if the temps are cold enough, just store your food outside on your patio in a cooler or some other container to protect it from dirt and critters. Also get a small inexpensive backpacking burner or camp stove and a few canisters of isobutane or propane fuel (not butane). Most apartments will allow them to be used on a patio where they don’t allow charcoal BBQ grills. A smaller Jackery-type battery backup and solar panel can charge your devices and run a cpap machine for
Love you guys !!! Definitely the best preparedness on UA-cam but I get that your son in law invented that vesta heater but is every video going to be about that thing
Your right 😊
Combine a sawyer filter with the extra filtration of filtering the water with an active carbon filter. The active carbon filter will remove/reduce a lot of different chemicals. These can be bought relatively cheaply. You can even make one yourself from active carbon filter material you can buy from your local aquarium/fish shop. Just make sure you use activated carbon.
If you have an active carbon filter why even use the sawyer?
i have 2 buddy heaters with 5foot bbq tank hose. both hoses i used last year clogged. so theres that to know.
meds.. we have lots & keep them in coolers so high & low room temperatures wont ruin them.
Get the filter for buddy heater
@@sweethomefam1064 filter is after the hose.. its fine.. 👍 the hose where it screws into the tank has a metering device that cloggs. i tried to unclog clean it.. its a sludge buildup. im just glad it didnt get into the heaters. but not happy each season i need new hoses
I've rewatched this show several times to check and update my preps. Thanks for all the great videos. They have been really instrumental in getting me ready for various emergencies. I think raising the subject with neighbors in the building so they can get prepared too would help everyone. Most people see the value of having a supply of food, water, toilet paper, working flashlights and extra medicine for about a week. Heating, cooking, communication and sanitation are big unknowns, so thanks for discussing the first three topics here. I know you did an in-depth show about sanitation recently so viewers may want check that too. What about a mylar blanket to keep warm? One costs a few dollars and can help you to keep about 92% of your body heat. When you put a regular comforter on top, it gets toasty! A human body generates about 73W at rest, so we just need to lose less heat than we generate to stay warm.
I’m in Indiana. We have winter outages and no one ever mentions kerosene heaters. Kerosene can store for years. Mine is the round tower type and I can cook on it. It heats the house! Kerosene also lasts longer than the propane options you’ve shown here. Please remember you have water in your water heater that can be used.
Thank you both so much.. things most of us don't think about
This might sound weird but baby food pouches are a good source of food for fruits and vegetables. Also yogurt. They don't need refrigeration. They add other healthy ingredients to them. I have used them for camping and road trips.
We’re in the first night of winter storm Elliot and so far so good. No power outages, but there are quite a few in the state. I got out my Buddy Heaters that I learned about from you, and Ran them this afternoon to 1. Get comfortable using them and 2. See what they would do in my home in below freezing conditions and 3. See how long the bottle lasts. My tough buddy kept the living room at 70 degrees on low and the bottle ran over 4 hours. I’m going to use them tomorrow and also try running a space heater on my small gas generator to see what I can do in these cold conditions to keep us warm without having the heat pump come on. It’s a good test and great way to practice using this stuff without it being a dire situation. While the solar generators are a huge Investment, i believe they are worth every penny. They are well worth it and a critical part of my back up power preps. I would splurge on a Delta 1300 if I could only have one and get 400 w of solar to keep you operating longer and recharging faster. I have gotten so many items you’ve recommended and explained and it feels great knowing you can get through a dire situation using the backup system.
It would also be a huge help to close off any rooms that are not absolutely essential and have thermal draperies on Windows that aren't on the Sunny side of your home.
Thank you.
Great post! Thanks for covering the Vesta and Buddies. The Vesta is new to me, and I love the dual function. My Little Buddy stays in the bathroom for extreme winter bathing use only, thus, my green bottles last a long time. Plus, I have a twelve-method collection for boiling water and cooking. Happy holidays. 💖🎄
Thank you for all the help. Grateful 🙏
💯 excellent. Hope everyone gets on board.
Some nice ideas. Bathroom omitted. I purchased a hospital bedside commode for outage situation's. Bio hazard bags n lime. Stay safe and warm. 🎄🎄🙏🙏
That is a wonderful idea
If you're starting from nada, and have a car, I'd knock prep food/ water out, in 1 trip. I don't, so it took time.
Get the biggest backpack you find at Academy. The hard part is not eating your prep, but don't unless you comitt to replace what you ate/ drank.
Another option for food is canned meat. Chicken, tuna, salmon. Tuna and salmon also come in pouches. You can get individual packets of miracle whip or mayo to add to meat for sandwiches or on crackers. Add taco seasoning to canned chicken or tuna and put in a burrito shell for easy tacos. You can add canned tomatoes. Peanut butter is a good staple food to. Along with canned fruits and vegetables and soups or canned spaghetti, ravioli etc. I also like canned sweet potatoes and beets or pickled beets and dill pickles and olives and mushrooms. I also like to eat dry cereal without milk. It's a healthy snack. You could have individual bags of chips. Nuts are a good snack to have on hand and dried fruit
I love Kylene and Jonathan, but once again, they are bashing my candles. I believe that when used safely and in an appropriate manner, candles are a fantastic resource. One of the best aspects of candles is that they will store safely forever with no expiration date, rotation needed, or worries about leaking containers with hazardous fumes in your house. By the way, candle technology has not been stagnant over the years. A person from the 16th or 17th centuries would be amazed at how much light and heat modern candles emit along with how little of a smokey and drippy mess they create when compared to what they had.
With that being said, I do love the Vesta heater and have found the solar battery system that suits me. My budget for this year is blown, but I'll have both for next year.
There is a lantern like container that holds candles. It is definitely s safer way to use them in your house.I believe it it called UCO
@sheri B. yes Sheri, candle lanterns do make using candles safer and more convenient, and the UCO lanterns are especially nice examples. Unfortunately, they are a bit pricey and only take proprietary candles, which are pricey too. I have seen some videos on hacking them to use mini oil candles and creating improvised molds to make the replacement wax candles, so that would help. I am already heavily vested in more generic candle lanterns that I found far cheaper at Walmart, plus they can use a wide variety of candles. Thanks, and stay safe out there.
90% of a candles' efficacy goes to heat and only 10% to making light so using a candle as a light source is very inefficient. As far as heat goes, and typical candle produces 75-85 BTU/hour. It does not matter if you use it to heat a metal plate or cover it with a clay pot, it's still just 75-85 BTU/hour. For reference, the human body eating 2000 calories a day produces about 330 BTU/hour, or about 4 candles worth of heat. However, I do agree that they are cheap, safe to store, and have an infinite shelf life. Don't get me started how uneconomical that Vesta "thing" is. You will absolutely go broke buying canned fuel for that thing. You'd be better off buying 3 cheap alcohol stoves and refilling them with HEET (in the yellow bottle) from your local auto supply store.
Having a solar "generator" is an expensive (but valuable) asset, but don't forget a solar panel to charge it. In a grid down situation, a good solar panel is just as important as the solar generator itself as a dead solar generator is useless. Portable panels are more expensive (per Watt) than framed models, but are thinner and easier to store. Charging with the solar panel will be tricky as you do NOT want to "advertise" or call attention that you have that capability. You will want to keep your panel as out of sight as possible. That means laying it on the ground flat or inside through a sunny window. If it is outside, it is a prime target for theft so will need to watch it like a hawk. Panel performance will also suffer under these conditions so may need to oversize to compensate.
FYI: With outdoor propane tanks, in temps 20°F and below the fuel freezes! We get down to -37° and our big propane tank has frozen for our kitchen stove and generator.
Near
thanks guys...great great vid...so calming to b prepared... .yip saw cheap tents there recently and meant to get1....also I want to really get into camping for my health and I love the idea of it and to build my resilience......so I want to get camping stuff I can use in a power outage....i like the €500 little generator.....
Great suggestions!
It seems as if people are not depending on their "wits" they go from one type of dependence to another. For decades my family from our grandparents to my older grandchildren and other family branches, 4 x a year for a week NO modern items could be used. That was spring,summer,fall and winter, we live in an area where our summers are over 100 and winters are up to -12 below. You learn to survive through it.
Jackery 300 for lights, fans, and entertainment. DIY solar generator that is 1280 watt hours to power freezer. 200 watt solar panels. Dual fuel 2500 watt generator if no sun. 2 gallons of denatured alcohol for cooking on a Tangia stove. cans of food. Natural spring water source. Most importantly, a weapon to protect my food supply.
I rarely have to turn on my heat in the winter. My apartment has such good solar I have to run the AC instead! If I had to keep warm like I did for the two week cold snap -10 to -20 F, I would make a mini igloo around my bed with bookcases, room screens, a garment rack and blankets on a ridge line strung between the bookcases at either end of the bed which is up against a wall. Put another sheet over the garment rack "door" and you're set for the micro climate. I have a mid weight sleeping bag and survival mylar bivy in my gear. That combined with the cat (fur covered heater) a few quilts and wool blankets, my winter coat and warm clothes, I would be fine. The city might cut water off so pipes don't burst if they are smart, but that's debatable. The apartment building might choose to cut water off if they know about the outage, but that's debatable. I hope they do if it comes down to it. Then it's winter indoor camping until someone sets the sprinkler system off by using fire...like a fire pit, in their apartment. I've seen it done. Bad idea. If the sprinkler system goes off in the winter and it's cold enough to freeze inside you will have walls, ceilings and floors of ice sheets, not just cold. All your stuff will get wrecked. I would use the fire tools with great caution so you don't destroy your home and the homes of the whole apartment building. Your neighbors will be very angry with you if they survive the outage. I plan on using a flameless cooker to heat food, but if it's that cold it won't heat it that much. The upside is that the container will be warm and you can set it on your lap while you eat. I have solar lights too.
Project Farm UA-camr tested water filter systems and Zero Water came out on top, even beating Berkey.
Thanks! I am sharing with my Patriot Group!
Thanks for doing this. We all need to be prepared and I’ve been refreshing my Florida hurricane kit. Here’s some food for thought from my multi-storm experience over 50+ years. For water, consider a Grayl bottle which filters out everything including chemicals and micro plastics. It’s expensive at about $100 but that’s still way less than bottled water and better for the environment. I use coffee filters and bandannas for a pre-filter to make its filter last longer. I have an extra filter and if that fails then I have aqua tabs and unscented bleach for backup (remember an eye dropper to use for the bleach). I also have expandable containers I fill-up when the hurricane warning is given.
So far my natural gas has remained on through the blackouts and I’ve continued to cook on my gas range but I do have a BCB Bushcraft Firedragon stove with solid alcohol fuel and extra alcohol for a backup (think British military - it’s similar to an Esbit but non-toxic).
I’ll vote for the battery/power station with solar panels and a 12V fridge/freezer (think camp style). Saving the food in the fridge/freezer (which I’ve lost twice) paid for them. The solar also allows rechargeable batteries and moves the alkaline ones to backup.
I guess my main piece of advice is to consider what you really need then handle it with a backup/failure plan. Also, remember cash because plastic doesn’t work during blackouts. I also have a “bugout” bag pre-‘packed for an evacuation center and I store a lot of my items in the interior bathroom that I use for a storm shelter. I have an interestingly stocked linen closet. I can’t imagine needing heat … it’s tempting to dream about micro climate a/c but fans and mosquito spray will do. Thanks again.
Apartments are hard. That's because one doesn't have their own real estate (or lots of it) to throw out lots of solar panels, or run a gas generator. (Though one can temporarily find some outside location.)
If one is worried about burning stuff indoors, I think a big battery is a good option. Even if it's expensive, it can power so many other things, esp. LED lights, electronics, induction stove plate, ... It's worth the investment. I would go with at least 2kwh (Bluetti or Ecoflow "solar generators"). Get some portable solar panels (at least 400w). More the better. Also, a gas generator. That way one can go out into the boondocks, either throw out some solar panels, during the day, or run the gas generator for a couple hours, to charge your battery.
Also, rotating power outages are going to be more likely, as utilities try to deal with strain on the grid, than a 3-week straight-on power outage. This is where rapid charging capabilities (e.g. Ecoflow) can be a plus. One can use the "on times" to quickly juice up.
As for efficient electric heating, consider using electric blankets, or infrared lamps. These use much less energy than heating up the whole room. Also, a good overcoat can help.
Awesome information, you guys are the best 👍🇦🇺✌️
These are good products! Thanks
Excellent video but, possibly due to time constraints, it couldn't be complete. Please allow me to pad it out a bit. I need to pin a supplementary list on my timeline anyway.
(1) Learn to make a sand battery - simple enough if you have playground sand, an iron skillet or dutch oven, and the means of heating already mentioned. Just pour sand in the cooking vessel, light the fire, and stir with a wooden or preferably large stainless steel spoon. Sand won't melt below something astounding like maybe 1100 degrees (?), but you also need an infrared thermometer to monitor that. Myself, I'd stop around 900 degrees. Pour the heated sand into metal buckets, then cover and wrap with enough material so they won't burn you on contact. (But don't use double-wall metal containers since they won't radiate the heat you're after.) Slip those into the tent or your SLEEPING BAG and you'll stay warm all night. Use either small cans with tight lids or some container that won't tip over easily. This might not be as cute as a $150 heater/stove, but it gets the job done. Keep in mind that rocks and even bricks can explode if overheated. One reason I prefer sand. Learn on YT how to make a rocket stove of your own with various sizes of empty metal food cans.
2) If you have enough room to store some lumber or even metal poles 6-8' long, get enough of those to make your own teepee or triangle tent frame. It will give you far more elbow room than hiding under a table. Lash the poles or lumber together with the paracord or other rope you should have on hand anyway to make the frame of whatever shape shelter you prefer. Buy a few rolls of plastic sheeting to cover if you'd rather not invest in a big heavy tarp.
(3) Re regs: I retired to a tiny country town with an average quarter-acre lot, so I can pretty much do what I want, and although elderly and alone except for dog(s), the best real Vic I could afford is 2200 sq ft, so the upstairs is almost entirely storage. It looks like a Cabela's.
So w/o constraints I have a big pile of moving blankets to drape over the top of an indoor micro climate. Plenty of space for solar panels. BUT! Everyone should be aware that when it comes to solar charging of generators, most apartment complexes would send the cops to your door if they see solar panels on your patio. Same for condos or neighborhoods with ANY HOA. So you need to be discreet. If you don't have a window nobody can see in to place a solar panel, which should be set back a few inches btw, then you might be shot outta luck for solar.
What you can do otherwise, however, is to buy something like the EcoFlow River 600 solar generator ($300-500) which charges 3 different ways. Keep it topped off via wall charge - my new ones only lose about 1% charge over 6 months. That series will handle a small apartment-size frig or about anything under 1200 watts MAX. I have a 6K BTU Medea window AC far below the watt limit. You're better off with one or two main generators and a collection of spare batteries (around $200-300 each) than spending a fortune on a whole-house solar generator that costs thousands.
In case you run out of solar power and batteries, gradually collect some handcranked items like radios and lights or even stand alone little handcranked generators. Instead of relying on dangerous candles for lighting, look for those tiny usb bulbs that are a boon in the dark and barely sip any power at all. If you have young children, they can easily take turns turning the crank of the hand generator or whatever. Don't be afraid to be firm. Best to keep them occupied, and yourself as well. Don't forget books and board games etc.
(4) Consider a solar cooker either diy or one from 4Patriots. GoSun has everything solar you could ever want but they're unnecessarily higher priced. I have 3 from 4Patriots myself (around $50 each) as they can boil water, cook food, and do all sorts of other useful things like heat sand or rocks for making bedwarmers. Don't try to heat canned food in its own can, as they're often lined with plastic you can't see, and that will melt in the heat.
(5) When possible, buy little solar power banks that fit discreetly in a window. They run anywhere between $50-200 and can charge other small things like handwarmers etc. Speaking of which, keep a big bunch of the single use handwarmers on hand too in case your window solar things quit or deplete. If you can afford the cost and space, buy the biggest roll of foil-wrapped bubble wrap (ie, Reflectix) to rig various heat savers.
(6) For sanitary use, buy or make yourself a 5-gallon dry toilet with urine diverter. Keep PLENTY of kitty litter on hand. Line with black contractor bags which incidentally when clean also serve as emergency ponchos etc. If power stays out long enough, start setting pans of older kitty litter out on the patio to disinfect in the sun so you can recycle your supply. Apt bldg managers probably won't care, and by that point HOA's might not care either about anything they can't suspect might be unsafe.
(7) Invest the time to learn more bushcraft skills which can be used even indoors in an apartment. Stay away from the hysterical prepper sites that try to sell high priced stuff that will allegedly see you through a zombie apocalypse. Find someone in addition to this channel that will just give you sane, practical advice that doesn't take a real expert to use. Most people aren't mentally or emotionally prepared to delve too deeply into the greater depths of this subject. But you can also buy copies of the Army's survival handbook for good advice. Don't advertise what you've got at home, but try to find a (again, sane) prepper group to join bc everybody will have different skills and knowledge. Don't fall for that every man for himself crap - it can be counterproductive. The most important weapon you have is your MIND. So use it to learn all you can way b4 you'll need it if ever. True enough, a lot of my relatives were Army rangers and such, so I grew up in that atmosphere and it's pretty much second nature to me. I can even function as a fairly decent bush medic. But with some dedicated effort, you can learn a lot too. Turn it into a game if you have kids. They'll think you walk on water. Address them as 'soldier'. Award ranks for jobs well done. Etc.
Carry on.
We have had two power outages this yr. We have spare blankets and other means to keep warm. When they came to fix our heat, one of the guys told us that since our unit is over the Boiler we don't need to have the heat on much since we are heated from the Boiler. The only time we need to heat on is when the outside temp is 20 and below.