A word about waiting for the power to come back on (especially in the summer)

When the power goes out, there are a few things you need to do (or not to do.)

1) Turn off your air conditioner.  (Turn it to "Off" at the thermostat or throw the switch at the breaker box.) When the power comes back on and everyone's AC pops on at the same time, you just may throw it off again.

2) If you're using a generator -- Make certain you leave it outdoors.  Understand the wattage of the generator and the items you're plugging into it.  And DO NOT connect it to your whole house (via the dryer plug or any other method), pay an electrician to do it correctly.  (When linemen work to repair lines, they need those lines to be electricity free!  When you rig a generator improperly to power your whole house, you're sending excess power out on the line!)

3) Unplug and turn off as much as possible in your home or business.  This prevents power drain on the circuit when it's restored and reduces the chance of damaging your appliances with a power surge.

4) Leave your porch light switch ON.  Then power crews, neighbors, or emergency workers can identify homes and neighborhoods with restored or lost power in the middle of the night or when you're not home.  I leave mine on 24/7 during a storm or other emergency.

5) Do not open your refrigerator or freezer even one time unless you are ready to take all the food out.  The insulation in appliances can hold the cool for a long time, but opening the door even once greatly shortens the time your food will stay cold. 

6) Unless you have a reptile, bird or exotic, your pets can generally stand temperatures at least as hot or cold as you can.  Keep the calm and cool in the summer and active and warm in the winter, and they'll likely be fine as long as you are.  Never leave a pet behind when you leave due to disaster issues.

7) Don't count on buying anything in an emergency.  Many stores will be closed at first, then they will sell out immediately of staple emergency items.  Research now and stock at least two (sets) of critical emergency items.  I keep two sets of batteries for each flashlight.  The first set I use initially, and the second set is for when I'm surprised at how fast the first set was used up. 

8) While we're talking about flashlights, always store the batteries out of the flashlight (to preserve the battery charge).  Rechargeable batteries must be recharged routinely so follow manufacturers instructions to keep them ready for the moment you'll need them.  Use one flashlight at a time, when possible, to extend the total time you'll have light.

Case in point... Emergency Services

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Friday night, a tornado touched down very near my home.  Actually several touched down in various places around St. Louis, but that's actually fairly typical and is not the point of this post.  One even touched down at the Lambert International Airport - blowing windows out of the main terminal and moving planes of passengers around on the runway.  Many people were affected by wind damage, significant rainfall and power outages, but none of that is the point of this post either.

What is the point?  A friend of mine who works in local emergency services called me at 9:00 pm to check on my family and home.  He told me that no ambulances were available in my city.  In fact, city police had waited at one (tree attacks car) accident scene for half an hour before officers finally allowed a family member to take an injured person to the hospital. 

Thankfully, no one was killed by the tornadoes.  Some have called it a miracle.  I heard the catastrophe at the airport only had a few injured going to the hospital.  Our rescue personnel were serving - being brave and strong and helpful.  But in one hour of (relatively minor) storm-related emergencies, we were left vulnerable. 

We are accustomed to having the help we need at a moment's notice.  But I encourage you to think for a moment how easily those services could become overwhelmed or restricted during a disaster.  Although, money and politics certainly allow more police, fire, rescue, and medical personnel and services are routinely available to us, we must not depend solely on their availability.  Each person, each household, each neighborhood, and each community must plan and prepare to care for one another as well.

Take a first aid class.
Have a flashlight ready.
Know your neighbors, and check in on them.
Keep gas in the car.
Make your go-bag and home emergency kit.
Keep preparing for the best, in every situation.

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Functional Friday: 10 Things You Can Do To Save the Earth

If you are anything like me, you're approaching this 'environmentally friendly' article with a small degree of cynicism. So let me start with my point of view, which may help you ease up a bit. I believe humans have a God-given obligation to practice good stewardship of our planet and resources. We are responsible for taking care of this beautiful planet. I believe many "green" initiatives are trendy but hardly helpful. I believe that we can live in harmony with nature, and that we possess much of the knowledge and technology that we need to do so.  Keeping our world clean and productive is protecting our future and planning for the best.  Here are a few ways that I believe we can preserve the rich and beautiful planet we live on.

#1 Remember the mantra: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? There is a reason that reduce is first. We are a society of mega-consumers. Production and transportation of all the products and packaging we "need" uses massive amounts of energy and creates a lot of waste and pollution. Try to simplify your life, use products as long as possible and bring home less from the store.

#2 Buy local products whenever possible. Reducing the distance a product is shipped will greatly reduce the energy consumed and pollution created for each item. Whether you need dinner or furniture, find local artisans that source local materials.

#3 Get thee to thy local farmers market. Organic or conventional, locally grown produce tastes better and is often more nutritious. And many small growers use heritage varieties and use fewer pesticides and fertilizers. (And you reduce fuels used and pollution created from shipping, storing, processing, and packaging.)

#4 Drink out of glass and ceramic. Using disposable paper and plastic cups increases the amount of trash going to a landfill. Many coffee shops let you bring your own cup, too.

#5 If you use them every time you shop, those reusable shopping bags really do help. Fewer plastic bags are manufactured, shipped and sent to the landfill. Many reusable bags are also made of recycled plastic or natural fibers.

#6 Use fewer harsh chemicals. Cleaners and household chemicals end up going down the drain or in the trash at some point. Use the safest and mildest ones you can to get the job done. You'll be amazed what baking soda or vinegar can do.

#7 Dress for the season and match your activity to the weather.  Dressing warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer lets you use less energy to heat and cool your home.  Saving money on fuel costs is a great perk as well.  And don't forget to change your air filters every month, it keeps the air in your home cleaner and reduces your energy usage even more.  Turning your water heater down can help too.

#8 Eat less fast food.  Saving the environment can help you be more nutritious conscious and cost effective.  The production, packaging, storage, preparation and wrappers of much fast food creates an enormous amount of trash.  A nicer meal in a restaurant that uses fresh ingredients (and maybe even local ones) will produce significantly less trash and pollution.

#9 Dispose of dangerous items safely!  Don't ever throw batteries in the trash.  Consider buying rechargables.  At least, drop off used batteries at your local battery store or check with your local government office for alternatives.  And keep chemicals out of the storm drain.  If you wouldn't dump it in your pool, don't put it down the drain.  Take advantage of hazardous waste collection dates and locations to keep our wildlife and water sources clean and healthy.

#10 Consider the impact your small contribution could make.  Start small, then if you like it, you can build on that.  Routinely purchasing one recycled or refurbished product, planting a tree, using one package of fluorescent light bulbs, taking shorter showers, or growing your own vegetables will make a difference, even if you can't see it.

Keeping it simple...

I'll admit it, my home was spinning out of control.  Family, home, career, and other assorted distractions left me worn out and frustrated.  The blogosphere is full of cute ideas and valuable suggestions for how to spend my time, decorate my house, enjoy my family, preserve family history, and a million other things that I never found time to do. 

But three things let me to the here and now...

1) No matter how hard I work, I cannot keep up with all the great ideas and the influx of stuff that bombards my life and my house.  We live in a stuff filled society, and it all seems to make it's way to my house.
2) Acte gratuite's revelation that a clean and orderly house would be a huge asset in a disaster.  I don't want to trip on the way out the door in an emergency.
3) My emergency management training has me thinking about what's important (people) and how quickly we can lose the rest.

So, I've had it up to here! (Imagine a dramatic gesture of my hand marking point on my body somewhere above the shoulders and occasionally above the head.)  And here's what I'm going to do...

1) I love the idea of a place for everything, and everything needs to have a place in my house, meaning if it doesn't fit here -- maybe I don't keep it.
2) If it's not irreplaceable, then it must be replaceable.  (Not brain surgery, I realize.)  If I don't use it, get rid of it.  If I find I need it someday, I'll leave my clean and orderly house, go to the store, and I'll get another one.
3) I recently made a list of words that should describe the items I'm keeping: immediate, far-reaching, uncluttered, plain and simple, useful, enhancing, sustainable, and valuable.
4) No more "Wouldn't it be cool if..." or "I'll keep this just in case..."  If I'm not using it now, it's probably not going to happen.  (Emphasis on replaceable items, not necessarily antiques or photos.)
5) I'm trying to teach my kids about setting boundaries, and something Dave Ramsey (financial guru) said hit me between the eyes.  Much of the junk (furniture, old clothes, etc.) that I need to get rid of, Goodwill won't even take.  It's junk, get it out of my house.

I'll share a few revelations that I've made...
1) We don't need more that two sets of sheets for each bed.  (And maybe a flannel set for winter.)
2) Four flour sifters is too many.  (Even though these were different sizes and styles.)
3) I'm never gonna use my old cell phone on a float trip. (Like the man at the cell store suggested.)
4) Someone else may actually need that thing.  I places two car seats, a microwave, and a bunch of other junk at the curb and watched each item find a new home. 
5) If I ever lose that stubborn 20 pounds (or more) I'll want new clothes to celebrate.  Give the old ones away.
6) Space costs more than stuff.  Don't believe me? Ask a builder about the cost per square foot for construction.  Very few places in my home does the value of the clutter exceed the cost of that space.
7) My attachment to my stuff lasted until I put it in the trash can, then I usually feel freed.  And I glory in the space I have reclaimed.

... a time to keep and a time to throw away... Ecc. 3:6

Functional Friday: 10 Ways to Cook (or just heat food ) Without Utilities

A power outage can be a fun time (or at least tolerable), if you're prepared.  Make a plan for three back-up ways to cook.  Shop and store some easy and delicious shelf-stable food.  Then wait for the fun to begin.  (As soon as the power goes out, light the tiki torches in the back yard, go knock on the neighbors door and make it a party.)  I know it may not be a party every time, but we're planning for the best in every situation, right?  These solutions will work if it's freezing cold, pouring rain, or otherwise unpleasant.

Gas Grill - Keep an (extra) full tank of propane. It simplifies switching in the middle of grilling those steaks on Sunday, and it ensures you can eat a great meal if the power goes out.  A gas grill can bake and boil as well.

Charcoal Grill - You should keep an extra bag of charcoal around, just in case.  Remember to keep stored charcoal dry.  Use precautions to stay safe, remember you're 'playing with' fire.

Wood Fire - If you don't routinely enjoy a recreational fire at home, this might not be the best solution for you. Although it might be a good excuse to go buy a fire pit and start "practicing" your emergency plan.  Use precautions to stay safe, especially in dry and windy seasons.

Sterno -Especially if you already own a chafing dish, this can be a great way to serve hot food.  Heating the food (or water) from a cold start can take a while, make sure you practice starting from cold food and that you understand the time and temperature requirements for keeping food safe to eat.

Camping or Backpacking Stove (propane, white fuel, butane, pellet fuel, etc.) - I have two camping stoves, and I've used both in an emergency. I have a Coleman Dual Fuel that runs on white fuel or gasoline (although I've never used gasoline in it). I also a have a single burner stove that uses one pound cans of propane. If a camp stove is your back up plan, make sure you keep extra fuel on hand.

Candle/Fondue Pot - A better solution for heating (not cooking) food. My family has had some really memorable and entertaining meals in the dark. Keep the foods you need on hand to make this possible (cheese, chocolate, oil) and have fun.

Self-heating meals - MREs and Heater Meals are two types of self-heating meals I have made and enjoyed. If you have the money and the space to buy and store these meals, they really are pretty good and super easy. Read the nutrition information is you have dietary restrictions (especially calories and sodium).

Solar Power (solar cooker, pizza box oven, hot car in the sun, eggs on a sidewalk, hot tin roof) - You must practice this in advance.  And you need to understand the minimum and maximum times and temperatures for food safety.  The last thing you want in an emergency is a case (or a family) of food poisoning.

Portable Generator (microwave, crock pot, Foreman grill, etc.) - If you plan to use a portable generator in a power outage, consult an expert (an electrician) to know how much power your small appliances require to cook your food.  Also remember to perform routine maintenance, to do frequent test runs, and to keep plenty of fuel on hand.

Eating Out - For a very localized emergency (just your neighborhood) there will be restaurants close by that will be able to take care of you.  People need to be taken care of during an emergency, and a few indulgences are good for your emotions in a stressful time.  If you've planned ahead and saved (and stashed) some cash at home, this would be a great time to enjoy some good food that someone else made.  (We often pick things we would never make at home like: Thai, smoked ribs, or fried chicken.)

Other Notes: Never cook indoors or in a garage with an outdoor grill (gas, charcoal, wood, or other).  Raw foods must meet a minimum temperature before being consumed.  The food also needs to meet that temperature quickly, or you might be growing a colony of bacteria.  (Yuck!) Heating up food (soup) will be simpler than actually cooking.  Boiled and one pot meals are also easier and more fuel efficient.  (Smaller pasta takes less time, thus less fuel.  Try angel hair.)  Watch your sanitation and nutrition in an emergency.  An upset routine and a far jump from your normal diet may cause unpleasant complications you don't want during an emergency.

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