How many people here are prepared for an emergency?

[Denim Deb]

I'm just wishing that I had room for the horses at home! I hate the thought of going out to the farm today. Hubby just called and told me the wind chill is about -23!

 

[baymule]

And I think it's awful when the animals water freezes.......... In the land of sunshine and super heat, we really are idiots when we get icy or real cold weather. It was 16 degrees last night and for us, that's REAL cold--for some of you, that's a cake walk. I hope ya'll stay warm and keep the animals cozy.

 

[hqueen13]

Well, it was 1 this morning. According to My friend with a weather stain the wind chill was -25. I had no water in the house this morning but the bathroom in the barn still works so at least I could use that.
We kept the horses here in last night and they did fine. They are still in since it is so cold out today and still very very windy.
My friends horses were fine when I checked on them since they are out of town.I was glad because I didn't know what I was going to Do if they weren't! I was very glad I was able to get A tank heater so their water wasn't frozen overnight. I did have to hit the pump with the hair dryer too get it following again, but it want a big problem.
Crazy. So glad I don't have to deal with this almost ever!

 

[Denim Deb]

One thing that hubby is going to be doing this year that he keeps putting off is working on the wiring in this house. We can have either the AC or the heaters hooked up. Since the winters haven't been overly bad, he's left the AC hooked up. But the wood stove and the space heaters just aren't enough to cope w/this bitter cold we have right now. I was warmer when I was outside doing the horses!

 

[hoosier]

We are prepared for short term emergencies, but if everything in the US were to go pear shaped, we would be in trouble - but a lot better off than most.

 

[wooddustmaker]

I am not sure that anyone could prepared for everything, but every little bit helps. Keeping track of things that are "missing" or could be done differently helps me become better off for the next thing.

 

[featherjack]

I've been focusing on water and food at home and cold-weather emergency items in the car. There are so many things that could happen... I'm just thinking about which are most likely. I'm trying to focus on just a few things at a time.

You can't plan for every contingency; figure out how you could stay reasonably comfortable in your home for 3 days without power. Think of what you'd need first, then what would be nice to have. You have to have water, shelter and warmth, and some crackers and peanut butter if that's all you have. A hot meal is a real perker-upper, and some light at night is very welcome. Enough light to read or do puzzles by can help the time pass much more enjoyably.

Try it out some weekend: Turn off the main power to the house and see how you do. You'll quickly find any holes in your plan, and turn the power back on.

Rinse. Repeat.

 

[Hinotori]

It's helpful to find out where you are in priority on powerline repairs as well. We are second to last in our area. Found that out two years ago when we had that nasty ice storm drop lines (and lots of trees into lines). It was a mess with almost everywhere having power out. That means we need to have at least a week, and probably two weeks of supplies.

 

[Denim Deb]

We had a very nasty wind storm come thru end of June 2012. Power was out in some places for well over a week. Ours was out for a day. I don't know how much of it was due to where we're located and how much of it had to do w/downed trees. Our area got the tail end of the storm. Areas just to the south of us had downed trees all over, and 2 kids were killed at a local state park.

 

[hqueen13]

You can't plan for every contingency; figure out how you could stay reasonably comfortable in your home for 3 days without power.

Our county calls itself a storm ready county. We actually for something in the mail the other day that outlined being ready, they recommended 7 days of supplies, which in rural areas isn't unreasonable at all.
I'd add to the list a battery powered emergency radio, that could be the simplest connection to what is happening in the rest of the area.
I also can prepared foods like chili and stews. Just dump and heat. My new grill that I got for Christmas has a side burner on it so we can cook on that plus the grill.
Now we just need to get a wayv to store more water, can more meals, and get a generator and we'll be doing much better!
One thing at a time.