A winter power outage can quickly turn into a nightmare if you are not prepared. The roads were heavily iced and impossible for me to drive through and nobody could come for me. I was stuck, stranded in my own home and freezing in the brutal icy cold. It had rained and then the temperatures dropped below freezing. The United Coop electric company said emergency crews were out in the winter storm trying to repair lines that had been overcome by heavy ice and come down. Fighting over rough terrain, ice and brutal cold, these workers were doing every thing they could to restore our power but they could not tell me how long it would take because the odds were stacked against them. As a result, I experienced a 3 day winter power outage this year which was caused from heavy ice on the power lines which took them down. This left me with no electricity. I don't have gas or propane as an alternative fuel source because I have chickens and other birds and I worry about toxic fumes that could kill them or me. However, I was more prepared than I thought.
Things that helped me survive A winter power outage
Stored water
Solar powered power sources and lighting
A cast iron wood stove
Candles
Oil lamps-I have a collection of oil lamps I like for the way they look but they have sustained me as a light source through several power outages. They also give off a small amount of heat. I keep one in every room of my home. If the power goes out I have light. (Note: Do not use camping lanterns indoors-the fumes will kill you).
Solar powered generator-Small 110 volt generators can be used to power your cell phone, ipad, laptop, electric flashlights, a lamp with a 25-60 watt bulb and even a heat lamp but not for very long. Larger generators can power a refrigerator, a heat lamp, and small electrical appliances. Power storage batteries can be used to store power from your solar powered generator that will extend the amount of electricity you can use.
Gas powered generator-Depending on the size of your generator you can power electrical appliances the same as the solar powered generators.
Emergency food kits and non-perishable foods
Solar powered power sources and lighting
A cast iron wood stove
Candles
Oil lamps-I have a collection of oil lamps I like for the way they look but they have sustained me as a light source through several power outages. They also give off a small amount of heat. I keep one in every room of my home. If the power goes out I have light. (Note: Do not use camping lanterns indoors-the fumes will kill you).
Solar powered generator-Small 110 volt generators can be used to power your cell phone, ipad, laptop, electric flashlights, a lamp with a 25-60 watt bulb and even a heat lamp but not for very long. Larger generators can power a refrigerator, a heat lamp, and small electrical appliances. Power storage batteries can be used to store power from your solar powered generator that will extend the amount of electricity you can use.
Gas powered generator-Depending on the size of your generator you can power electrical appliances the same as the solar powered generators.
Emergency food kits and non-perishable foods
Water-I have always been concerned about water shortages after a 3 year drought here in Texas so I always wash my used milk jugs out, fill them with water, and store them where they will not be exposed to extreme heat, cold, or sunlight. I cannot tell you how many times, water shortages, broken water lines, and frozen water lines have caused me to depend on the water in those jugs. Every few months, I use the water to water house plants, green house plants or to refill my 55 gallon fish aquarium and then I refill the jugs with fresh water. It only takes a minute to wash out a 1 gallon milk jug and fill it with water. Be sure to store it inside your house somewhere not outdoors. Frozen water jugs can crack and frozen water will not be of much use to you in a winter power outage.
Solar Power-As much as I would love to have solar power or wind power running my home the cost to install it has prevented me from doing so. However, I have managed to purchase several solar powered items that really helped when the power went out on the coldest days of this past winter.
Three solar powered items that really helped out a lot:
Solar powered motion detector lights-Place these where you walk on your property and put one close to your wood pile. The lights will come on to light your path and you will be able to see if you have to go outside at night to get wood.
Solar powered light bulbs
Solar power cell phone and laptop charger
Solar powered or hand cranked radio-Can be used to get weather updates.
One solar powered item I wish I had:
Solar powered generator with backup power storage batteries.
Three solar powered items that really helped out a lot:
Solar powered motion detector lights-Place these where you walk on your property and put one close to your wood pile. The lights will come on to light your path and you will be able to see if you have to go outside at night to get wood.
Solar powered light bulbs
Solar power cell phone and laptop charger
Solar powered or hand cranked radio-Can be used to get weather updates.
One solar powered item I wish I had:
Solar powered generator with backup power storage batteries.
Get a Second Heat Source
If you have electric heat, it is a good idea to get a second heat source. Either gas/propane or wood heat as a backup. I use wood heat as a backup and the reason why is because it is cheaper and even if all other heat sources are down, you can still run a wood stove or fireplace.
Wood Stove-You can use a cast iron box wood stove for heat and as a cook stove to cook your food. Even if you do not use wood heat as a main heat source it is a good idea to keep a cast iron box stove hooked up inside your home and in working order. Be sure to keep a pile of cut firewood too, enough to last at least a week or more (make sure it is in a covered area outdoors and on the same side of the house where your wood stove is). The ice and rain of this past winter storm (2017) left my uncovered wood pile, iced over and the logs were frozen together. I had to go outdoors and use a shovel and an axe in freezing icy rain to break the logs loose. Then I had to bring them in the ice cold house and let them try to thaw out which was nearly impossible. I learned this, wet wood takes forever to dry, won't burn very well, if at all, will put out any existing fire in your fireplace or wood stove, if it's not burning hot enough, and takes way more work than it does to simply keep your wood dry. Thankfully, I did have enough wood stacked by my fireplace to get my fireplace going and used some of that to get the box stove started which gave my frozen logs time to thaw but they were very hard to burn if not completely dry if they burn at all. I found out that if you put a frozen log on your fire it can put the fire out. So, it's a good idea to keep your firewood in a place where it will stay dry in inclement weather.
Heat lamps-You can operate a heat lamp on very little electricity which makes it ideal to use with a solar powered generator. Heat lamps can be used to heat your home, shed, garage, chicken coop and dog houses. Reduce the risk of fire by hanging the heat lamps inside old metal bird cages or metal pet carriers with a piece of tin cut to fit the bottom. Do not depend on the clamps the heat lamps come with. I use heat resistant wire to hang the lamps in cages for my chicken coops, pet houses and even my house.
Wood Stove-You can use a cast iron box wood stove for heat and as a cook stove to cook your food. Even if you do not use wood heat as a main heat source it is a good idea to keep a cast iron box stove hooked up inside your home and in working order. Be sure to keep a pile of cut firewood too, enough to last at least a week or more (make sure it is in a covered area outdoors and on the same side of the house where your wood stove is). The ice and rain of this past winter storm (2017) left my uncovered wood pile, iced over and the logs were frozen together. I had to go outdoors and use a shovel and an axe in freezing icy rain to break the logs loose. Then I had to bring them in the ice cold house and let them try to thaw out which was nearly impossible. I learned this, wet wood takes forever to dry, won't burn very well, if at all, will put out any existing fire in your fireplace or wood stove, if it's not burning hot enough, and takes way more work than it does to simply keep your wood dry. Thankfully, I did have enough wood stacked by my fireplace to get my fireplace going and used some of that to get the box stove started which gave my frozen logs time to thaw but they were very hard to burn if not completely dry if they burn at all. I found out that if you put a frozen log on your fire it can put the fire out. So, it's a good idea to keep your firewood in a place where it will stay dry in inclement weather.
Heat lamps-You can operate a heat lamp on very little electricity which makes it ideal to use with a solar powered generator. Heat lamps can be used to heat your home, shed, garage, chicken coop and dog houses. Reduce the risk of fire by hanging the heat lamps inside old metal bird cages or metal pet carriers with a piece of tin cut to fit the bottom. Do not depend on the clamps the heat lamps come with. I use heat resistant wire to hang the lamps in cages for my chicken coops, pet houses and even my house.
Supplemental Light Sources
Things I had on hand when the power outage hit:
Flashlights-I have battery powered flash lights and flashlights that charge on electric and will stay on for several hours after being unplugged.
Candles-Always keep a good supply of candles and candle holders on hand. Tea candles are cute but do not last very long. I use the long tapered candles.
Oil lamps-Always keep several oil lamps and oil lamp fuel on hand. These are very helpful during a winter power outage for two reasons. One they give you light in the dark and two they give off a bit of heat. Make sure the wicks are trimmed regularly so your lamp oil will burn more slowly.
Flashlights-I have battery powered flash lights and flashlights that charge on electric and will stay on for several hours after being unplugged.
Candles-Always keep a good supply of candles and candle holders on hand. Tea candles are cute but do not last very long. I use the long tapered candles.
Oil lamps-Always keep several oil lamps and oil lamp fuel on hand. These are very helpful during a winter power outage for two reasons. One they give you light in the dark and two they give off a bit of heat. Make sure the wicks are trimmed regularly so your lamp oil will burn more slowly.
Keep non-Perishable Food on hand at all times
You should always keep a good supply of non-perishable food on hand. There are emergency food kits you can buy but be sure to check expiration dates and replace them as needed. I put an alert on my cell phone calendar that lets me know when mine need to be replaced. Keep canned goods containing fruits, veggies, soups and canned meat on hand at all times.
If you are on oxygen
If you are on oxygen you should make sure you have portable emergency oxygen tanks available that will last at least 24 hours. My emergency oxygen tank only lasts six hours so I needed 12 bottles to make it through three days. I did not have them so it was a pretty rough three days for me. This is where a portable solar powered generator or gas powered generator comes in real handy.
Keep Your Pets Warm
If you have outdoor pets, let them inside your house or you can run a patio heater on your porch to keep them warm. There are wood burning patio heaters and propane patio heaters available. Make sure your pets have a draft free shelter like a dog house. Even cats will get inside a dog house if it is very cold. Use hay for the bedding as it will keep them warmer. Make sure that the dog house, cat house or chicken coop is covered with doorways facing South. This will protect them from harsh winds. Most heat lamps can operate on a solar powered generator. In extremely cold temperatures you should always bring your pets indoors. Make sure your livestock has plenty of hay to lay in and shelter from the wind. Build a wall of hay bales around the walls of the barn or resting shacks, it will help them stay warm.
Always Be prepared
The key to surviving a winter power outage is to always be prepared ahead of time. Get the things you need to survive an outage. You never know when the roads may be impossible to travel through or how long an outage will last. Make sure you have enough food, water and the supplies I mentioned to last at least a week. Check the weather reports every single day. I use the National Weather Service website. If you see that the weather will be severely cold or that a winter storm is approaching, go stay with a friend or relative who lives near local businesses. I live out in the country, county roads and small country roads can quickly become impassable. If you cannot get out you can call your local police or fire department for assistance but keep in mind that they may be without power too and they may not be able to get to you, so start planning on how you can help yourself in the event of a winter storm power outage emergency. I hope this information helps you.
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