Hacks to use in a Power Outage

 Hey there Sweet Friends!
Due to the recent power outages around the States, I decided to write and informative blog post on just that! Power Outages can be unnerving, difficult, and sometimes down right scary. 

These Power Outages don't only happen during horrible lightning storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, or floods, but also in pole damage, snake infestation, rodents in the power boxes, cars crashing into poles, and I am sure, some that I have never even heard of before.

As it happens, in our neck of the woods, someone ran into an electric pole a few days ago and well, we were without power for 6 hours. I, being the calm one in the family, NOT, paced thru the house, called relatives, and loomed out the front door into the dark abyss for no reason other than that I could not sleep! That's right, this happened at night, right as we were heading off to bed! And of course, I woke like a kid going to Disney Land! 

Ok, so we had prepared the extra "flushing water" in old cat litter jugs, but what about drinking water, candles, matches, batteries, and then the notion hit me that we should be prepared in our homes and not just for emergencies! And don't forget to crate & bundle up your pets!

So I have scoured the web, talked to friends & family and come up with this list of things that may help out in any Power Outage situation we may face.

LIST: (Pre-filled totes are easy to stack in a corner and  to pop in the car if you have to leave your home)

• Fill jugs with water for flushing toilets.

• Fill gallon sized zip locking bags with water and stand them upright in the freezer. Use to keep refrigerated foods cold when power is out. Clean drinking water when they melt.*Keep these doors shut as much as possible.
• Keep a Large Tote filled with candles, matches & lighters, And/OR flashlights and batteries, toilet paper, a first aid kit, extra medications (tylonal, ibuprofen, inhaler, EPI pen, and any script you may have extra of for emergencies). I keep my meds in a large zip-locking bag for easy access and for trips and travel Mylar blankets (they can be found in the camping section of the store and they are folded into tight squares).
• Have a UPS-plugged into the outlet for those on oxygen. This way the battery pack can keep the oxygen going when the power is out.
• Have a car outlet charger to keep phones charged or a power bank is a portable device that can supply power from its built-in batteries through a USB port.
• Plan ahead for a travel location away from danger to stay safe. Have a highway map to the location in case phone towers are down.
•  If you have kids, make it an adventure. Pack travel games in a Large zip locking bags and keep them in a tote. Pack in granola/energy bars, water bottles, non-messy individual snacks, Handy-wipes or baby wipes, books, a deck of cards, or other hand held battery operated games.
• Have a Large tote for warm blankets, rain ponchos, and a change of clothing for each person (this is good if clothing bags get wet). An extra pair of shoes and socks would be a good idea too!  
• Pop your wallet in a ziplock bag and into your purse. Keep it dry and all your important photos too.
• Have a Large tote with pet supplies, blankets, pet emergency kit, food, and water bottles. Collapsible bowls work great!
• Have a Weather Radio & back up batteries.

Here are a few link with some more good tips:

•  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/mkx/pdf/handouts/weather-safety-tips.pdf
•  https://www.weather.gov/safety/
•   https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/10-clever-hacks-to-get-through-a-power-outage/70002739*some are a bit odd.

 Go ahead and take this list and add your own extra needs to it. Print it off and pop it into one of your totes.
Be Safe!
God Bless You!
Enjoy!

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