When The Electric Is Out From A Storm What Can You Do?

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solar Power for Your Home, 3rd EditionSolar Power Your Home For Dummies®Hello My Readers,

    There surely have been many changes in our weather patterns over the last 10  years.

It seems the weather in very unpredictable and you just don't know how to prepare.

Here are some tips on how to weather the storm.

By the way, my heart go out to people who is rebuilding from the lost of homes due to extreme

weather.  It is all about people helping people.

    This is one of the tips of several I found for getting light in your house.  Use one of your solar lights from outside.  It will give you light up to 6-8 hours.  This is  what I did (along with candles) and you can't get any better than that.

    Solar energy is cheap and cost nothing to have light.  This solar outside light lid up my whole kitchen even brighter than  regular electrical lights.

     Perhaps,  you can use these same solar panel light on camping trips, picnics and other places where light is needed.

     You can cook outside on a grill your meals; try to  cook foods that could spoil more quickly.

      Have plenty of ice on hand to keep the refrigerator cold if being without electric is over an extended

period of time.  Throw away any spoiled foods.  It is not worth getting sick if you're not sure

how long the electric has been off.

   Always have extra batteries for  your flashlights and  plenty of candles on hand that is placed away from children and flammables.  Don't go to sleep with a candle burning. I use a barbecue lighter to light my candles; it have a safety button in a 2 step procedure that most children won't be able to do- much like the pill containers or bleach bottles. Matches are out these days-try not have them in reach for small children.  I remember the days as a child how we like to strike them and see how long the flame would burn while holding it.  Now, how crazy is that, but to a child it's a magical toy.

    Most of all, check on your neighbors and get some communication going from the community websites

you live in as well as keeping you cell phones charged for any emergency calls you need to place.

    Having containers of drinking water on hand is very important.  In a severe storm, the drinking water might be compromised by floods and sewer contamination.  Filtering your water can be important for

more protection and test your water yourself.

    Another important thing is to go to a public place where there's air condition to keep out of extreme

hot weather.  Call a friend or relative of you situation and invite yourself over for a while. 

Support is what you need.  My neighbors bought me a cup of coffee yesterday they brewed on their outside grill. 
Grilling your food outside in the hot summer is not  bad idea by any means!  Save on your electric and Fun.

    If you can, try to stay close to your home in the aftermath, because you just don't know how many power lines are down and what trees are about to come down near you.

     Having your emergency kit handy which includes a First Aid Kit and another with all your important papers is another step you can take to better prepare.  Sleep with your clothes on might be a good idea

if you are anticipating a storm.  All members of your family should know beforehand what to do in a storm.  Try to stay together until the storm is over.

To  prepare for the next storm, evaluate any trees that could be threatening the electrical lines, your home and you-maybe not in that order.  Have a professional cut down any trees near electrical lines,

Call your electric company for an evaluation and get it in writing.

     What are your tips for weathering the storm?  I welcome your comments. I hope this article serve as a reminder of how to cope in the ever-so-changing weather! 

Peace, Love and Blessings,

Thelma Harcum