How to Stay Warm, Eat and Have Water If the Electricity Goes Out

By Cindy Wright, published Nov 30, 2007
Published Content: 273  Total Views: 434,675  Favorited By: 45 CPs
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Once winter hits you never know what is going to happen with the weather. Do you know how to stay warm, eat and have water if the electric goes out? When I was small, Ohio had a major blizzard. It is known as the Blizzard of 78. We made it through the blizzard without much difficulty. But this is mainly because my parents already had everything needed to make it through. We heated our home with a woodstove, instead of inside plumbing we had an outdoor well, we already several kerosene lamps and my Dad always had canned food from the summer's garden supply. He raised chickens, so eggs and chicken were readily available too. Today's world does not readily have all this on hand. So I do the best I can do too have whatever I need, if the electric goes out or the water freezes. Use these tips to be prepared if a storm puts your electricity out.

I love candles, so I always have plenty of these on hand. I also have a couple kerosene lamps, that I keep filled just incase I need them. When winter approaches and the temperatures start dropping, I keep a five gallon jug of kerosene on hand for my Kerosene heater. I make sure to keep plenty of food in the cabinets. Any milk jugs or 2 liter bottles that I have on hand get filled with water and stored under my sink. I do change the water every two weeks.

So let's say a storm has put the electric out. Now you just want to make sure to eat, stay warm and have water.

To help prevent freezing pipes, turn on faucets slightly. Running water will not freeze as quickly. If it is going to get especially cold you may want to fill several things with water just incase your water freezes and the electric has not came back on.

If you have a gas oven don'tuse your gas oven to heat your home, this one I did not know about, my Grandmother always used her gas stove to heat her home, if she had no other heat however, prolonged use of an open oven in a closed house can cause carbon monoxide gas buildup.

Takeaways
  • To help prevent freezing pipes, turn on faucets slightly.
  • don't use your gas oven to heat your home
  • rig a tent over your bed with a sheet or blanket
Comments
Showing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
 
 
Thanks for the tips! We've already lost power once this winter, but luckily it was only for about a half hour.

Posted on 12/14/2007 at 11:12:51 AM

 
Great tips - we have already lost our electricity two times!!

Posted on 12/13/2007 at 8:12:24 PM

 
Get ready. They say a snow is coming tonight. I have gas for the fireplace and plenty of candles.

Posted on 12/04/2007 at 8:12:00 PM

 
good tips for the winter months ahead. Thanks!

Posted on 11/30/2007 at 11:11:00 AM

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