Preparing for a possible emergency is good, but fear is not. The Bible tells us exactly 365 times, "Do not Fear." If you're like me, you know you won't be here for the coming war. But we want to prepare others who may be here. We never know who has accepted Jesus. And we want those who are "Left Behind" to know how much we love them and to accept Jesus so they can join us in heaven. By prepping and teaching, we are loving people. They will need to pray and believe more than we can imagine. After the rapture, being a Believer will be very difficult. Think about what happned to the Disciples - I believe there is scriptural reason to believe it will be worse. Below is a secular approach to preparing for a long-temr electricity outage. This is secondary to leaving your Bible and teachings.
Preparing for a long-term electric outage involves comprehensive planning and organization. This process requires anticipating your needs and making arrangements for various scenarios that may arise. Here is a detailed guide to help you prepare effectively:
Understanding the Risks
Before you begin your preparation, it is essential to understand the potential risks and impacts of a long-term electric outage. These outages can result from natural disasters (like hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes), technological failures, or deliberate acts such as cyber-attacks. The severity of the outage can vary, but a prolonged loss of electricity can disrupt many aspects of daily life, including heating, cooling, cooking, and communication.
Developing a Plan
1. **Assess Your Needs:**
- **Health and Safety:** Identify any medical devices or prescriptions that require electricity. Ensure you have a backup plan for these needs, such as a battery-operated medical device or a way to obtain necessary medications.
- **Food and Water:** Calculate how much food and water your household needs. Consider the dietary requirements of all family members, including any special needs for infants, elderly, or pets.
- **Communication:** Plan how you will stay informed about the outage and any emergency instructions. This might involve battery-powered radios or a backup communication system.
2. **Create an Emergency Kit:**
- **Water:** Store at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days, including enough for pets. See our recommended survival straws and rain barrels.
- **Non-Perishable Food:** Stock up on items like canned goods, dried foods, and ready-to-eat meals. Include a manual can opener.
- **First Aid Supplies:** Include a comprehensive first aid kit, medications, and any medical supplies you may need.
- **Battery-Powered Devices:** Have flashlights, lanterns, and extra batteries. Avoid candles due to the risk of fire.
- **Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio:** Keep a weather radio to receive emergency alerts.
- **Portable Phone Chargers:** Ensure you have external battery packs to charge phones.
3. **Food Storage and Cooking:**
- **Coolers and Ice Packs:** For short-term outages, these can keep refrigerated foods from spoiling. For longer periods, consider investing in a portable camp stove or grill, but ensure you use these safely outdoors.
- **Preservation:** Learn about food preservation methods such as drying or canning to extend the shelf life of your food supplies.
4. **Heating and Cooling:**
- **Insulation:** Properly insulate your home to retain heat in the winter or keep cool in the summer. Consider thermal blankets or emergency space heaters that use alternative fuel sources.
- **Alternative Heating Sources:** Invest in a wood stove, propane heater, or other heating solutions that do not rely on electricity, but ensure proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- **Cooling Solutions:** Use battery-operated fans or stay hydrated to manage heat if air conditioning is unavailable.
5. **Water Supply and Sanitation:**
- **Water Storage:** Use clean containers to store water. Consider purchasing a water filtration system or purification tablets in case your water supply becomes contaminated.
- **Sanitation:** Keep a supply of personal hygiene items, including soap, hand sanitizer, and disposable wipes. Store plastic bags for waste disposal if regular services are disrupted.
6. **Security and Safety:**
- **Home Security:** Without electricity, your home’s security system might be compromised. Consider using battery-powered security cameras or other backup systems.
- **Fire Safety:** Install battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Familiarize yourself with fire safety protocols.
7. **Financial Preparations:**
- **Cash:** Keep a supply of cash on hand as ATMs and card transactions may not be possible.
- **Insurance:** Review your home and health insurance policies to ensure they cover outages and related damages.
8. **Vehicle and Fuel:**
- **Fuel:** Keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least half full. Store extra fuel for generators or other equipment safely and in accordance with local regulations.
- **Transportation:** Plan alternative transportation if public services are disrupted.
Implementing Your Plan
1. **Test and Rotate Supplies:**
- Regularly check and rotate your supplies to ensure everything is fresh and in working order. Test battery-operated devices and ensure you know how to use them.
2. **Practice Drills:**
- Conduct family drills to practice what to do in the event of a power outage. Ensure everyone knows the location of emergency supplies and how to use them.
3. **Stay Informed:**
- Sign up for local alerts and notifications. Stay informed about weather conditions and potential outage updates through reliable sources.
4. **Community Resources:**
- Identify local resources such as emergency shelters or community centers that may offer assistance during an extended outage.
Conclusion
Preparation for a long-term electric outage is an ongoing process that requires careful planning and foresight. By addressing health and safety, food and water needs, communication, heating and cooling, sanitation, security, financial preparedness, and transportation, you can significantly improve your resilience during an outage. Regularly update and test your plans and supplies to ensure you are ready for any emergency. By being proactive and well-prepared, you can manage the challenges of a prolonged power loss more effectively and safeguard the well-being of yourself and your loved ones.