Thinking about disaster prep

[KKC]

I’m in Texas but in far west TX with a different power grid that the central part of TX. We were also on the edge of the storm and so had warmer average temps than much of the state. El Paso is generally not prone to typical disasters but increasing extremes from climate change make everyone vulnerable. But the time to start thinking about disaster prep is when everything is fine, not on the eve of the disaster.

I’m thinking that if I were in Central TX and I knew this storm was coming I would stock up on non perishable food and potable water, gas up the car, make sure all batteries and portable electronics are charged up. Have the stuff to make hot drinks with just water. In hindsight it appears that filling the bathtubs and any other water containers available would be wise. Perhaps turning off the main water supply if possible. Dig a pit toilet in the yard before the ground freezes.

Have a supply of firewood every winter if you have a way to burn it.
Have a generous supply of drinking water at all times. I always have multiple gallons.
Always keep your gas tank full and some cash on hand.
Buy some solar chargers.
Don’t forget you need pet food and water for pets if you have them.
Buy a generator of some kind if you can afford it but keep in mind gas powered ones need gas. Remember no fossil fuel burning device can be running inside.
A propane camp stove or burner (like for seafood boils) or grill to at least heat water.
Have a water filtration system, even a camping style water filter on hand.

I’m sure that many of you are better preppers for disaster than I am. What can be added to the list that makes sense for a homeowner who needs to shelter in place?

[JohnF]

@KKC

What can be added to the list that makes sense for a homeowner who needs to shelter in place?

Beer. Lots of it.

JF

[KKC]

@JohnF

Beer.

While I do love beer I don’t know that I’d be consuming copious amounts in an emergency. Also for the females the need to constantly pee is a bigger problem than for the males.

But speaking of females, having a supply of sanitary products is a must. I’m past that age now so forgot.

[muddy]

I don’t know what you call them, but a supply of those warmer packs you bend to activate that you can stick in your mitts or socks to warm you up.

First Aid kit.

[JJD]

@JohnF

Beer. Lots of it.

John is right about this. I am keeping up with a lot of friends and family in Texas and potentially running out of beer and booze seems to be the number one concern across the board

And this is from folks who have been sleeping in cars who have had no utilities (no water, no electric, no natural gas) for 48 hours+ now. These are my people. They have their priorities straight

edit to add: These are the other things on their wishlists: water, propane, fuses for vans/RVs, coffee, wool socks, hats and firewood. Oh, oddly, the first time I’ve ever heard this from a Texan, “snow shovel”.

[JJD]

@muddy

a supply of those warmer packs you bend to activate that you can stick in your mitts or socks to warm you up.

Yeah! I actually sent a big pack of 60 of those to some friends in their Christmas gifts. They live in the country and he leaves for work before dark so I thought they’d be nice for using the cold steering wheel in the winter. I talked to them this morning and he said, “you know, when you sent me those, I thought we’d never use them all, but now we have 5 left”.

https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Warmers-Choose-Quantity-Below/dp/B01MZ1BD5G/ref=asc_df_B01MZ1BD5G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194838933099&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16672906740014595060&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002242&hvtargid=pla-312944218235&psc=1

[KKC]

@muddy

warmer pack

Like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_5?crid=19H490GQYDZUU&dchild=1&keywords=hand+warmers&qid=1613588893&sprefix=hand+w%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-5

There are also rechargeable ones that charge on USB so they wouldn’t take a lot of power. I have a heated vest that operates on a portable rechargeable battery. I bought it for socializing outdoors this winter and it’s been worth every penny.

@JJD

potentially running out of beer and booze

It’s great for barter with neighbors as well. I read on twitter of one person trading a pint of whiskey for some coffee. Instant coffee lasts a long time and can be made more easily than brewed coffee.

One of these only pulls 300 watts.

https://smile.amazon.com/Norpro-Electric-Immersion-Heater-Warmer/dp/B01M0TB9PI/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=single+cup+water+boiler&qid=1613589355&sr=8-6

[JJD]

@KKC

rechargeable ones that charge on USB

@KKC

only pulls 300 watts.

I think what I am learning from folks is to have stuff that doesn’t need any power other than battery or propane.

The other wishlist item also includes “more stuff that can go on the fire”. I guess those Keurig machines don’t make good coffee on a fire

And wet wipes!!

I think the answer is “camping stuff”, that seems to be what people need right now.

[KKC]

@JJD

is to have stuff that doesn’t need any power other than battery or propane.

That’s ideal but if you have a generator or periodic power, stuff that pulls less power is better than stuff that pulls more power.

[Rolf]

Ensuring your state does not have the same terrible governor and representatives / senators as Texas so proudly elected.

[JohnF]

@KKC

While I do love beer I don’t know that I’d be consuming copious amounts in an emergency.

I’ll bet you would.

@JJD

potentially running out of beer and booze seems to be the number one concern across the board

At the beginning of our hard lock down I was actually in the UK, but made it back within a day or so. My OH had did a sterling job stocking up with various stuff, but she’d not got as far as the beer.

Luckily, we had no shortages in supply, but just in case over the next week or so we stocked up, well!

JF

[HH_AZ]

I’m waiting for Home Battery systems (such as Tesla PowerWall) to come down a little in price and/or some state tax incentives to be implemented. Unless AZ learns from this Texas failure, nothing will happen until a new governor and state senate move away from the energy lobbies’ control of them.

I fear a TX sized failure for AZ in the middle of summer. Last time that happened I took the dog and camped in my Tesla w/ its AC and satellite radio.

[Skai]

Our location (Hawaii) and the fact that virtually everything is shipped/flown in, we try to be ‘disaster prepared’ at all times.

The two critical items at the top of the list are rice and TOILET PAPER, followed by butane cartridges for the one burner stove.

[Christine_Shirtcliff]

All good suggestions and I have few to add. Make sure that you have your medications as far in advance as allowed. If you stock food and hand/foot warmers be sure to have a system to rotate them so that you don’t open them in a disaster and find them all expired. Yes, even the hand warmers expire. Most importantly have a plan for your family. How will you check in? Often you can reach an out of state relative or friend more easily than local. Get someone like that to agree to be your contact. Have a hard copy of key phone numbers. After a disaster talk with your family about what needs to change for next time. When you’ve perfected your shelter in place plan, develop your plan for needing to leave in a hurry - people, pets, papers, supplies.

[RebeccaF]

We’ve been through several power failures (one lasted nine days), but fortunately not during extreme temperatures. We don’t have a generator.

A lifesaver for us was having a full tank of gas in both cars and using an inverter to get power from a car idling in our garage (garage door OPEN) to charge phones and computers in the house. We had a business to run during those outages, and we were able to keep working.

An inverter takes low voltage direct current and converts it through a process called inversion into the proper voltage of alternating current to run equipment that takes 120-volt power. The inverter was connected to a long heavy-duty extension cord that snaked in under the door and then a power bar in the house. It wasn’t enough amperage to power the refrigerator, but it ran some lights and electronics. It was enough for us to keep our business going.

Each day, a car was idling in our open garage for hours, and it hardly used any gas.

I wouldn’t suggest this for a guest, but it’s good preparedness for a host.

[JJD]

There are so many things wrong about this photo and its comments.

1. People are driving on both sides of the road just fine. There is not that much snow on the Texas side. I live in the NE with a gazillion snow plows and we have that much snow on our city streets for days at a time - with no expectation of it melting in a few days like it will in Texarkana. So, Arkansas clearly has too much equipment and too much time on their hands and are certainly not putting their money in the right places, but we already knew that.

2. It would be ridiculous for Texarkana, TX to have snow plows for the little bit of snow they get. Arkansas gets more snow and they have communities in the Ozarks so it makes sense that they have plows. When I was paying taxes in Texas, I’d be pissed if money went to snow plows. Close down, let it melt, have some time off and we’ll still be out of school a month earlier than the NE.

3. Who the hell plows one side of the street??? This picture sums up the problems with this country, whether it be attitude, imaginary lines, football, politics or bureaucracy, this is ridiculous. Because I know Texarkana and that road they are showing and I know how snowplows work. The person who plowed the Arkansas side of the road had to drive back on the Texas side of the road but he pulled his plow up instead of leaving it down.

4. “There is a leadership failure in Texas…” Yes, there is, but at least they aren’t buying snowplows

[NordlingHouse]

@KKC

What can be added to the list that makes sense for a homeowner who needs to shelter in place?

A generator. If you already have a propane appliance get a propane generator and a big tank, and keep it topped off regularly. Get one that’s wired in and starts automatically if you’re not home. Change your wiring so that important stuff is on separate circuits that will stay on when generator fires up.

I’ll be installing heat pumps soon, and part of the installation include a generator. I’ll want propane for the cooking top when I remodel the kitchen anyway.

The generator, like all electrical in the house, will be monitored by my smart-home-in-progress system.

[Christine_Shirtcliff]

I’ve heard that this can be done but never talked to anyone who did it successfully. I have a Prius and definitely need to do this. Have you run anything bigger like a small electric space heater or dorm sized fridge?

[rmiriam]

I’m in Austin and have been so grateful that my parents are visiting, so no official guests! We were prepared for the snow, but not for the power outage. Looking into generators (and now interters!) for the future. The propane grill has been a lifesaver, but if we could just keep the heat and hot water going, we’d be set - I say the most important things are heating/cooling, cooking, and device charging.

[KKC]

@rmiriam

device charging.

I have a small inexpensive solar charger panel that just has a usb that is perfect for that. In a place like El Paso or Austin where sunshine is likely even in freezing weather it could come in handy.