I saw on TV today that another tropical depression was heading in my general direction, though currently not projected to hit near my home, but close enough to adversely affect local weather for a week or two.

Flipping through the channels, I ran across an episode of the Simpsons where Bart was trying to deal with a power outage, and was boggled by the fact that TV, DVD players, computers, and  video games all ceased to function when the power goes out.

Putting the two elements together, I started writing.

Having gone through several direct hit hurricanes, as well as many “side-swipes” that affected the local power grid, I’ve had to deal with loss of power for weeks at a time more than once. I learned a few things from it, and I”m sure I’ll learn more the next time, I just hope none of the lessons are too painful.

Things to have available in the event of a long term power outage can be as an elaborate a list as your wallet can handle, or as simple as food, shelter, and water. I like to have something that falls between the latter list and a complete off-grid setup that is 100% functional no matter what calamity hits (not that I wouldn’t want a converted missile silo in my back yard- just in case!)

First on my list is a supply of potable water. I have a rain catchment system that will supply 11 days of water as-is, and can quickly be converted to add an additional 30 days for my family of 4 plus a dog. The good thing about hurricanes, at least as far as drinking water is concerned,  is that they tend to bring plenty of rain, thus filling my system in no time. I also have a well that can be hooked to a generator, if needed (see below).

Second is food and a method to cook it. I buy food when it goes on sale, and have it put up to last between sales, enough to get me by until the food supply and banking (to pay for the food!) systems gets back up and running. For cooking, I have actually stocked up about a cord of firewood, mostly for camping, that will enable us to cook over a fire pit. We also have some propane for our grill and single burner turkey fryer (doubles as a simple burner). We’ve also cooked many times via these methods, for fun and to practice, should the need arise again. Finally, we have a couple bags of charcoal for Dutch oven cooking, a GREAT way to get hot, comfort foods cooked outside with a minimum of effort and energy.

Third is power. Besides the wood, charcoal, and propane, we have two generators, one small enough for the little stuff, and another for keeping the freezer and refrigerator running. They both will also run a box fan, and charge electronics like phones, radios, and Kindles (good to have something to pass the time!). As an added bonus, the larger of the two will run a window A/C unit to keep mama happy. FHB Tip #6 – Happy Wife, Happy Life! We also have a small stand alone 12 volt solar panel system set up that we can draw on for most of the smaller items listed above. During the storm this will not be a great asset, but once the storm passes and the skies clear, we will have unlimited free 12 volt power sufficient to keep us in touch with the outside world, if nothing else. Using the solar setup with one of our small inverters, we can also manage to power most small items in the house, if needed, though for a shorter time.

Emergency Shelter. In the event that we lose the house, we have several tent options, as well as many items to make camping comfortable. This includes the A/C unit, as we have developed a method of using it to cool the large tent we have to the point of being too cold. A nice problem on a hot, sweltering summer night. This option alone has allowed us to camp right through the summer months here in Florida, a typically unthinkable thing due to the heat.

Looking at the list as I type it, I see a pattern of readiness practiced through a single past time – camping. Camping allows us to use our Berkey water filtration system for water; allows us to practice cooking food over a campfire and in a Dutch oven; use our tent for shelter and cool it when needed, with our A/C unit and generator; use solar power to charge our phones, lights, and Kindles. In fact, when I talk about dealing with the hurricane aftermath, I usually refer to it as having been like an extended camping trip for us, only we stayed at home, not far from the truth!

So if you ever needed a reason to go camping, tell the wife it is in preparation for when the tornado/hurricane/ice storm/EMP/meteor strike hits.

For what it’s worth, you’ll probably get a better response to the first three, but if your wife responds better to the last two in the list, I need your spouse and mine to start hanging out 🙂

Hurricane season is here, time to check into your supplies….and learn to use them!