A winter black out of some kind is almost inevitable—whether just for a few minutes or, like last year, for days on end. Cars may slide into electric poles, heavy ice storms can pull down wires, and deep snowstorms can cripple the electrical system.
But if you’re prepared for a power outage, it can actually be fun. Take some simple steps to turn your household into a place where you can enjoy life without electricity. Think of a it as a welcome rest from the day-to-day buzz of the computer, fridge, and lights. It’s like the whole world just sighs into a hush. After taking the time to appreciate that feeling, it’s time to spring into action.
1. WATER
a. Fill the bathtub with water to be used to flush toilets, wash dishes, brush teeth, and wash up before bed.
b. Fill up pitchers or bottles for drinking.
c. You can melt snow in a pot on the woodstove or on an outside campfire.
d. If using water from a stream, remember to boil drinking water for ten minutes before ingesting.
2. CHARGE IT
Charge all of your devices in advance just in case you can’t take being totally unplugged.
3. FOOD
a. Open refrigerator only if necessary.
b. Build a small outdoor igloo-style refrigerator out of snow (our favorite). Create a cover for the front of the icebox in order to create a stable temperature and to keep critters out.
c. Keep your freezer as full as possible before the power goes out because a full freezer stays cold much longer. If you don’t have a full freezer, freeze gallons of water to fill the space. Melt for more drinking water.
4. COOKING
Throw a stew on the woodstove, or cook your dinner on a campfire. Be creative.
5. PLAY
Now it’s time to play. Instead of just plain old shoveling, pile all of the scoops into a mound. This is perfect for building a giant snowman or a snow fort. Think of snow as a sculpture medium and the sky is the limit.
Many businesses and people require a constant supply of electricity to keep medical machinery going, to power sensitive equipment, or ensure refrigerators full of valuable products stay running. These situations require the use of a generator. For the rest of us, we get the chance to turn the lights down low, let our proverbial hair down, and embrace the fact that we’re decreasing our environmental impact on the land
