Weathering YOUR Storm

I've been "gone" a long time, I know.  The forecast of Hurricane Sandy encouraged me get back in the groove.  Anticipating the problems and coverage of such a large scale disaster reminded me of the importance of what we do here at Everyday Providence. You can take simple and effective steps today to take care of your loved ones in a disaster or other chaotic times.

I began National Emergency Preparedness Month (September) with a bang, a conference, and a plan.  And then my life went absolutely crazy.  We had been living in tiny (albeit lovely) temporary housing, waiting for a perfect and permanent residence to be available.  My husband called during the conference to announce that we were moving as soon as I got home.  We're now putting the finishing touches on the move, and I wanted to share a few things I learned (or remembered) along the way.

• Don't try so hard to keep things interesting in the kitchen during times of change. Your well-stocked pantry can help keep meals going when life gets hectic.  Pancakes and waffles from a mix, canned soup and crackers, hot and cold breakfast cereal, frozen dinners (bought or made in advance), and easy family favorites can help you put familiar food on the table without the hassle and dishes of complicated meals.
• Give yourself a break! Pick your top priorities and let a few other things go.  We tried to eat somewhat healthy meals (priority #1), but we stopped recycling and we used paper plates occasionally for the few days of the move.  
• There are only 24 hours in a day.  Know that you have to let something go.  We put packing boxes and relaxation (family) time above cleaning.  When we were out of the old place, we gave it a good scrub.  When we were moved into the new place, a once-over cleaning removed a week's worth of dirt.
• It's ok to ask for help.  Twice we invited friends and neighbors to help with moving and unpacking.  A fresh set of legs and a new perspective helped rejuvenate us with the overwhelming task.  I love helping others, knowing that I've made someone's day better.  Let someone else do that for you, too.

I used these concepts when we were new parents (2005), when we lost power three times in six months with small children (2007), and in these weeks as we moved (2012).  Got any tips that make your life easier when the seas get a little rough?  I'd love to hear your ideas, too. Share your story with me here.

Smart Phones, Smart Users?

Americans have tipped the scales.  Surveys now indicate that the number of smart phones being used exceeds that of traditional cell phone styles. 

So what?

As smart phones become integrated into our everyday lives, we need to be aware of how we can (and already do) depend on this technology.

Under the Weather... Literally!

Today the temperature soared over 100 degrees again, tomorrow the forecast indicates rain... and hail, tornadoes and thunderstorms.. all in the middle of the worst drought in 50 years!  We cannot get away from the weather, but we can prepare for it.

Plan ahead to stay safe. - Whether you are facing heat, wind, water or other calamities, your emergency plan should tell you where you'll go to seek shelter.  And remember that you may not be at home when disaster strikes.

Keep supplies on hand. - Maybe the lights go out. Or perhaps your pharmacy is transported to the land of Oz, you'll need a disaster kit stocked with a flashlight, food and water, and first aid and medication to get by until things get back to normal. And a kit in the car and a work may prove as useful as your home disaster kit.

Information in: Information out - When the skies (or dams, volcanoes, and other disasters) break loose, your crisis communication plan will help you know what's going on, how to get help and what to expect next.  And your friends and family will be worried; your plan will tell them (and you) who to call for status updates. Always consider that communications are more challenging with no power.

Certain Flashlights May Not Be Enough

During a conversation recently, a friend told me about the emergency flashlights in her home.  They plug in and store at an electrical outlet, recharging constantly, and when the power goes out they turn on automatically to shine on the floor providing emergency lighting.  "Are those your only emergency flashlights?" I asked. They are.

Here are my concerns:

• In an emergency, the charge may fail too soon if the flashlights come on automatically.  Let's say you leave for work Friday morning at 7:30 am, and your home loses power shortly after.  That night you go out to dinner and a movie with a friend right after work.  You arrive home at 10:00 pm to a dark house with no working flashlights because these flashlights have already been shining for 14 hours!

Oatmeal: Pantry Staple, Survival Food, or Decadent Indulgence?

Oatmeal by: Spencer Ritenour via Park Slope Lens

Did you know this is National Oatmeal Month?  Apparently more oatmeal is consumed in January than any other month.  And no wonder!  Oatmeal is versatile, so start your oatmeal to-do list with a warm bowl of hot cereal but don't stop there.  (It's ok if you don't actually have an oatmeal to do list.)  Oatmeal is cost effective, and we all need that after countless holiday splurges.  Oatmeal is whole grain, so we can get more mileage out of our New Year's resolution to get healthier. Oatmeal lowers your cholesterol and may reduce your risk of heat disease, no really!

Christmas Gifts: A Generator

Talk about saving the day!  You'll be the hero for sure when a power outage comes calling, and it always will.

In the US this year we have already experienced six major power outages (February - Texas, April - Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, July - Chicagoland, August - Carribbean, US East Coast and Atlantic Canada, September - Southern California and Arizona, and October - US East Coast).  And while 2011 isn't over yet, this year's list does not include major outages (defined as 1,000,000 person*customer hours) caused by US earthquakes, floods or wildfires.  No place is immune!  When we look at the diverse causes of the 2011 outages, we see that disasters often leave us literally "powerless".  But we are not powerless with a generator!

Now, I realize that a generator is a gift with a hefty price tag.  I also know many families that give super-deluxe gifts every year.  Wouldn't keeping your parents safe or your grand-kids warm when disaster strikes be a great pay-off for an admittedly unusual gift?

Christmas Gifts: Flashlight and Batteries

The beauty of flashlights is that someone is always asking for one.  It's an easy gift, and with so many ultra-modern tweaks on the old-fashioned flashlight, you are sure to be able to suit everyone on your list.

• Children love flashlights!  And many companies are making child safe versions (unbreakable, locked battery compartments).
• For the office gift exchange, buy a flashlight someone could leave in their desk or use on the job.

Texting to save your life?

Our world is extremely connected through cell phones, satellite radio, HD tv, mobile internet, instant email, podcasting, digital downloads, social networks, video conferencing and more.  Unfortunately in many disasters these services are interrupted by destroyed signal towers, power losses, and broadcast interruptions.  In the midst of trouble, texting capabilities often remain functional after other forms of communication go down.

Make certain that every member of your family knows how to text from a variety of styles of cell phones.  My children have learned to text from a traditional flip phone (push 2 once for 'a', twice for 'b', etc.) They can also use a messaging phone (traditional keyboard) and my iPhone (touchscreen).  Did you know you can text from many email and web-based programs?  Many senior adults may need help feeling comfortable using a cell phone and texting.  (My parents enjoy texting with their grandchildren, and I know it keeps them in practice.)  In an emergency we may not be thinking clearly, so practicing often helps to solidify the how-to text process in our minds.

Generators for Back-up Power

Everyday Providence blogger, Jennifer, shares her experiences and insight from last week's storm.

1.) The time to buy a generator is before you need it.


2.) Think through a power outage scenario and evaluate what you need to keep powered in an emergency – medical equipment, freezer, refrigerator, small window air conditioner (in the event of life-threatening heat) or at least a fan, cell phone chargers, radios and televisions (for news of course), lamps, etc.

Chicago Storm Lessons Learned and Preparations that Paid:

Everyday Providence blogger, Jennifer, shares her experiences and insight during last week's storm.

This was a good “drill” for something more serious.  What if we couldn’t have driven to McDonald’s for breakfast each day?  What if a tree had fallen on our house?  What if we couldn’t get home?  What if gasoline was scarce?  Do I have appetizing shelf-stable food to eat in the first 48 hours before we were forced to grill up everything in the freezer?  Did I have the fuel to grill all that food?


From now on I’ll be putting high-value items in the deep freeze.  I threw out lobster tails, some specialty cuts of lamb, and our favorite sausages because they thawed so quickly in the refrigerator’s freezer (in about four hours) and not the deep freeze.  And veggies, frozen pizzas, ice cream, and  bread will go in the refrigerator's freezer.  I can bear to lose veggies over meat and seafood.

Power Outage Day Two and The Great Generator Search

Everyday Providence blogger, Jennifer, shares her experiences and insight from last week's storm.

Chocolate! After a hot night of hearing every airplane fly over, every emergency vehicle whiz by, and the neighbor’s coveted generator, we were a little crabby.  I opened up a Hershey’s bar and gave everyone a piece before we headed out for breakfast from McDonald’s.  It helped.


We got word from the power company that our projected recovery time was 2-3 days (upgraded from 4-5), so I started seriously calling around to see if we could find a generator.  The refrigerator would already have to be dumped, and we were unsure about the contents of the freezer part, but a full deep freeze keeps food frozen and safe for up to 48 hours.  As we approached 36 hours, if we wanted to save that freezer (and we did!), we needed to figure something out fast.

The Big Chicago Storm and Power Outage: Day One

Everyday Providence blogger, Jennifer, shares her experience and insight from last week's storm.

When we got in the car, it was a hazy, but sunny day.  We hadn’t had rain a week and the skies were just partly cloudy, but off to the west the horizon was dark.  I wondered if we’d have some showers. As we pulled onto the McDonald's near our house (maybe 7 minutes) the sky blackened. Suddenly, the restaurant's power went out, along with the rest of the shopping center, and I could see emergency lights pop on in every store.  Power flickered on momentarily, then it cut out again. As we headed toward the drive-through and a manager came out to tell us that they were closed.  Just after that, a wind so strong came through that I was looking all around for a tornado (or a dementer from Azkaban).  Trees were pushed sideways.  Rain was coming in the car.  The car was shaking, shuddering and rocking side to side.

Food Safety in Power Outages

Everyday Providence author, Jennifer, is putting theory into practice during day two of a likely prolonged power outage.  Although power was restored to over half a million people in less than 24 hours, she and over 400,000 of her neighbors are facing heat, humidity, and up to a week until power is returned to their homes.  She emailed me with her situation report, tentative plans and a few questions dealing with food safety.  It's high time we publish a emergency food safety article, so here it is!

10 Things: Prepare to Use Technology in a Disaster

9/11, Katrina, Haiti... these events changed the world.  They also changed the way we think about using  personal technology during a disaster.  Although we ought to prepare for a day when utilities and communications come crashing down, the truth is that some towers will stand, some messages will get through, and some connections will endure.  So taking a little time to anticipate what technology resources you might want and need in an emergency setting may be time well spent.

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.) 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 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 - making it live!)

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 neighborhood with restored 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.

Functional Friday: 10 Things - Where Was Moses When the Lights Went Out?

Everyone knows he was down in the cellar eating sauerkraut. But he could have been enjoying something a bit tastier if he had planned a little.

Did the earthquake and tsunami in Japan make you take a second look at your emergency supplies? Does the thought of storing a full 90 days of food, water and household supplies seem to be too much? Start Small! Here are my top 10 picks of food to keep in your pantry. (And when the "lights go out", you won’t be forced to eat sauerkraut.)

Water. Adequate water is so important. Everyone in your household needs 1 gallon/day. Store, at a minimum, 3 days worth. When you have that, strive for 7 days, then 21, and so on. You can go a long time without food. Not so much on the water. You can buy a gallon of drinking water for about $1. So for a family of four people, for way less than $20, you can store over 3 days of water.

Nutrition Bars. Individual snack pouches of crackers are nice, but many aren’t very nutritious. Have a look at the nutritional information. Nutrition bars are portable, and yummy. My favorites are the all-natural Zone Perfect Bars.

Fortified Breakfast Cereals. These require no preparation and have a significant shelf-life. Many have protein, and are fortified with vitamins and minerals. They’re mostly portable, lightweight if nothing else, most people are accustomed to the taste. My favorite is Kashi Go Lean. Cereals are often found on sale any given week at the grocery store. Sometimes you can get a box of something substantial for less than $2. If you eat cereal regularly, then this is just planning ahead for normal use.

Peanut Butter. Unless you have an allergy in the family, peanut butter is a great shelf-stable item full of protein, fat, and flavor. It goes well with lots of other snacks you might have, or just from a spoon. My favorite is Smuckers Natural in the glass jar.

Crackers. Crackers can serve as a great substitute for bread. If you happen to have cheese and ham, make a tiny sandwich, same for peanut butter or nutella. I’m a fan of good old Ritz, and if you find them on sale, you can store a few boxes of them.

“Canned” soup. It requires minimal preparation, and feels like a homecooked meal. (crumble some crackers on top!) My pick is a carton of Trader Joe’s Red Pepper Bisque or TJ’s Latin Black Bean (spicy!).

Pouched tuna. It’s a great source of protein, the pouches require no can opener, so it’s very portable. Make yourself a little tuna sandwich out of the crackers or add tuna to your soup.

Dried Fruit. An easy, portable snack full of energy, kid friendly, and it stores well. My pick is prunes and apricots.

A treat. Whatever that means to you and your family: a 2 liter bottle of soda, big bag of M&M’s, Little Debbie Snack Cakes, Chocolate bars, Starbuck’s via instant coffee, pudding cups, chips, gummi worms. It’s going to raise your spirits to have a little indulgence when the lights go out.

Multivitamins. This should probably be part of your normal routine anyway. There are numerous studies showing that people who regularly take a multivitamin have a lower incidence of cancer and other diseases. But if you don’t eat an adequate variety of foods, a multivitamin will fill in the gaps.

Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself. - Desiderius Erasmus (1469-1536)

Over the holidays, I was out with family and reached in my purse for my camera.  I couldn’t locate it by rooting around, and had to set it down and look inside to find it.  How dependent we are on being able to see!  Some time later, my husband couldn’t find a flashlight, so seeing the complete package of 2 flashlights complete with batteries near the back steps, he tore into them, popping the batteries in both lights, thinking that maybe I just hadn’t got around to doing it.  Well, I hadn’t got around to doing it because they were there for an emergency.  I’ve already ordered a replacement for the stairs as well as one for the front door because in an emergency, being able to see is so critical for taking immediate action.  Here are some ideas for your flashlights.

Store the flashlight and the batteries together, but do not store batteries in the flashlight.  Over time, batteries will slowly drain and you might be out of luck when you need it most!  Make sure your flashlight is accessible and stored in a reasonable location.  Inside at room temperature is better than in a cold/hot garage.  Don’t make it too hard to get to.  If it’s in the basement when the sump pump fails, a flooded basement will make it difficult to access.  You may want to keep one in your car and desk at work, too.

Don’t just stop at one.  Have several flashlights on hand for different purposes.  A small one that can be tucked into a hat and used as a headlamp.  A large one with large capacity batteries for bright light needs.  Consider one that can be free-standing and serve as a room light.  Compare bulb brightness (LED vs. incandescent) and capacity (AAA batteries vs. C cells).  Consider diversifying your flashlights and batteries in case the ones you need are out of stock at the store.  Remember that rechargeable ones are great, but when the power is out, there’s no way to recharge.  Also, dispose of used batteries properly.

Don’t forget the trusty old candle as a light source, but beware the risk of fire!  Place and light candles where you normally would – a high, flat, wide, safe surface.  Don’t put them on the floor or on the edge of a counter.  Keep them away from flammable materials (drapes, upholstery, etc.) A candle might not provide light to perform a task, but it can provide orientation for knowing where you are.  Don’t carry around a candle to use as a flashlight.  Do not sleep or leave your house with a lit candle inside.  A jar candle or tea light in a votive holder may be safer than a taper.

Where do you keep your flashlight?

Practice an Evening without Electricity

Have you thought about what would happen if you lost power for an extended period of time? Here’s an idea for you: spend an enjoyable evening without electricity. No TV, no internet, no lights, no microwave popcorn, no electric can opener. Not only is this a chance to spend time with your family by candlelight, it’s also a chance to identify what you would need if it really happened to you.

Could you prepare and eat a meal?
Could you access your garage?
Do you have a flashlight handy?
What about a lantern?
Extra batteries?
Do you have enough candles?
What if the furnace was off, too?
Do you have enough blankets?
Can you make a phone call?
Charge your cell phone?

After you’ve (hopefully) laughed at each time you mindlessly flipped the light switch, sit down with your family and talk to them. Use the opportunity to discuss the season, read a book aloud, or play a game. Don’t wait for the power to go out to enjoy your family.  And when the real thing happens, you (and the kids) will feel a bit more confident that you can handle this.

Preparedness at Night

Yesterday, we learned that Indonesia had a devastating earthquake at night.  Once upon a time, we had a small earthquake as well.  At 3:00 am.  In the past couple of months we’ve had many tornado warnings (actual sightings) in our area, all after we’d gone to bed, all alerted by the community siren.  And this past week, we've had strong and violent winds... at night.  This made me really think about preparedness while we sleep.  I’d argue it’s the single place where we spend the most time every week, so it makes sense to have a plan.  Here’s mine:

• Every night, next to the bed, I keep my purse with basic essentials in it – keys, wallet, ID, cash, etc.  My cell phone is often charging, but it’s charging in my bedroom.

• I wear pajamas. Reasonable ones. This may be a no brainer, but if the smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night, you don’t want your attire to keep you from doing what you need to do. At least, keep clothes or a robe very handy.  Also keep sensible shoes at hand.

•  Keep the floors clear.  If you need to make a quick exit, you may not have the luxury of parting the sea of toys, magazines, or laundry in the living room.

I’ve planned out for specific emergencies we might face at night:

• Tornado?  We have some extra clothing and bedding in the basement in addition to normal emergency supplies.  An extra pair of glasses.  I can see well enough to get downstairs, but once I’m there, it would be nice to watch the television report.  Our go bags are in another part of the house, so we have some duplicate items (flashlights, radio, etc. down there)

• Earthquake?  I also keep a pair of shoes next to the bed.  There could be broken glass and other hazards on the floor.

• Fire/CO Poisoning?  I’ve thought out egress routes and have items nearby heavy enough to break a window for fresh air or escape. A fire extinguisher in the bedroom is not a bad idea. You should have one in the same room with every home exit and/or heating unit (furnace, water heater, stove, fireplace, space heater, etc.)

• Power outage?  A flashlight next to the bed is a must.

These ideas might help you bridge the gap between peaceful slumber and your normal emergency preparations.  And a middle of the night emergency is when you’ll always be thankful for well-stocked supplies, a half tank of gas, and extra cash because the store, gas station and bank are closed.

An ounce of prevention...

In this case, I'm using a plastic cup of prevention. We have a chest style deep-freeze in our basement full of meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, and some foods like trays of oven-ready lasagna or frozen tamales. We always store the freezer full, using PETE (#1) plastic bottles of water to make up the empty space. But I was occasionally worried that the power would go out while we were away or that one of the kids would leave the lid open without me knowing (It happened... my kids, my aunt's house, sore subject.) My concern is that it will all thaw and refreeze without me know about it - exposing my family to food-borne illness.

Fill cup.	Here's what I've done. I took an eight ounce plastic cup (I used a kid's cup from a local restaurant.) and filled it with water nearly to the top.  I placed the cup in the freezer until it was frozen solid.  Then I put it upside-down in the basket at the top of the freezer.  In the event of a power outage (or other freezer disaster) the ice will melt as the temperature in the freezer rises, at least the ice will fall out of the cup at worst the cup will be empty. Since the cup of ice is upside-down, I'll know the freezer has been affected even if everything has refrozen.
Freeze water.	During a power outage, keep your freezer closed.  Don't give in to the temptation to open the door even once.  If it lasts more than two hours, you should evaluate the contents of your freezer when the power returns.  You'll need a food thermometer.  Anything that has been at 40 degrees or higher for more than two hours should be thrown away.  If food in the freezer is colder that 40 degrees and has ice crystals, you can refreeze it.  If you are not sure about an item, throw it away.
Place upside-down in freezer.	Food safety is an important issue everyday.  Conveniences like refrigerators and freezers allow us to have little concern for food spoilage.  When our normal routines are altered, however, we need to put a bit of thought and planning into staying safe and healthy.  One resource available to you is the USDA website.  They offer tips on food storage, thawing frozen food, and using dry ice in your freezer.

Thank God, I have never had a major power outage while I was not home to take care of things.  But I do still check that little cup almost every time I get something out of the freezer.