When The Lights Go Out

[Cheryl Nelson]

http://prepforshtf.com/lights-go/#.UiKYdxYxn8s

[Cheryl Nelson]

Yes, it will.  We had a 24-hour power outage a couple of months ago.  We had lights and water and could heat food, and had food.  I always fill the bathtub before storms, to use to flush with, so we still had that functionality.  But water runs out quickly.  Having a bucket with a toilet seat, thick plastic garbage bags and a good supply of sawdust is necessary when the water runs out.  It's cheap and easy.  But once the bags start filling (yeah, I know, eeeuuwww), what do you do with them?  Think it through.  Make sure you have a shovel so you can dig a hole to bury them in. 

You'll go on a daylight schedule...get up with the sun, go to bed with the sun, to conserve energy.  You'll also busy yourself with preparing food, because when you get into your deep, long-term storage, it will take more effort to prepare food... i.e., grind the wheat to make the flour to make the dough to bake the bread.  Well, that's part of a sandwich, anyway.  Reconstituting dehydrated and freeze dried foods takes some time.  Mixing milk powder with water to make milk.  Using reconstituted milk to make yogurt, cheese, sour cream, etc.  Without refrigeration, you will be making what you need on a daily basis.  You want beer?  Learn how to brew your own.  Chickens can eat bugs but I don't know if they need feed in addition.  Look into it.  Goats have to be milked.  Water will be a daily struggle unless you are near running water or have a well.  If you have an electric pump, better get a hand pump as a back-up.  Get an idea of the effort that will be involved when you can't run to Wal-Mart to pick up stuff? 

No electricity means no vacuum cleaner, so you better be ready to sweep floors.  Hygiene has to be strong.  No washer and dryer.  Figure out a non-electric solution.  One I've seen is putting water in a big bucket and using a plunger as the agitator.  You could do it in the bathtub, but you'll need lots of water.  Make sure you have plasticized clothes line.  In warm weather you can run the line outside.  During inclement weather, string it over your tub. 

You need to keep busy for good mental health, so have a plan.  Who's going to do what?  Got a non-electric mower?  Then you can mow your grass to keep the bugs down.  You'll also need a way to sharpen the blades.  Have lots of good quality garden tools.  Have lots of books and games, and toys for the kids.  Have an educational continuity plan and keep things stable by keeping the kids focused on education for part of the day.  Have the supplies and equipment to do so.  Plan physical activity, too.  Volleyballs and nets, ping pong, swings in the yard, basketball, footballs, baseball stuff, etc.  MAKE PEOPLE WORK.  Make them read and study.  Sing and make music.  Have an acoustic guitar and learn how to use it. 

AND DON'T SLOUCH ON DENTAL HEALTH!  Infected gums are implicated in heart disease and Alzheimer's.  It's a b-zitch to get rid off.  Can even affect your eyesight, making it blurry.  All you need is baking soda (store a ton of this stuff, it has many uses), good toothbrushes, and lots of floss.  The key to success is to use it everyday.  Depression can cause you to stop caring for yourself, so appoint somebody the dental cop who makes sure everyone is brushing and flossing.

Keeping the mind active and focused will help alleviate chaos and depression.  And the reality is, if you start living like this and grid-down situation won't make you blink.  It will just be business as usual.  That's called self-sufficiency.

[Byron wilkins]

I am so glad I am prepared for this to happen, looking at it from the eyes of a non preper will be scary for sure.