This was great information! It was helpful to hear the lessons learned from people who experienced the Texas freeze. Thank you for sharing such important tips to getting totally ready for emergencies.
AnnaApril 14, 2021
Very helpful. This has been on my mind lately too.
Penni C BrownApril 14, 2021
All great advise, thank you! We live in earthquake and fire country. I will add the following:
-> Purchase and keep a large fire extinguisher charged and ready. Schedule the maintenance to make sure it is ready if you need it. Read how to use it and have each member of the family learn where it is stored and how to use it properly, practice using it at least once to get the feel of what to expect when using it during a panic situation.
-> Make sure you have the tools to shut off your utilities (if needed) where they are shut off. No one should waste precious minutes searching for that shut off wrench! Get a small clip and chain and tether it the wrench to the shut off valve handle.
-> Buy a water storage bag that fits inside your tub that can be filled/inflated with fresh water as soon as you think you may need to save water for a short time. Using a water safe bag keeps that tub water clean from other contaminates (from flushing toilets, pest, etc.), "Water Bob" is one brand to search, I am sure there are others.
-> If you are currently storing water or worry that available water might not be the best, get a water filtration pitcher and store an extra filter or two. If you have available water but just want better taste, this is a much more economical source for clean water than cases of bottled water.
-> Toilet paper takes up a LOT of storage room, and during the pandemic the cost and availability made it extremely rare. Instead, store small personal hand held water bottle bidets, flushable wipes and doggy doo bags. Use the bidets *if* you have the water. Wipes take up less storage space, and the dog bags are for placing them in after use, as most sewers and septic systems recommend not flushing them in the first place. Wait before flushing, sounds gross, flushing after a BM only! -don't waste precious water flushing what can be easily and hygienically done otherwise. *If* absolutely necessary, you can use a bucket lined with heavy duty trash bags and rimmed with a cut and slit to fit pool noodle as a toilet, not fun, certainly not choice number one, however it will save water and still be useful -channel your inner ancestors.
Keep baby wipes *and* hand sanitizer on hand as well to wash hands, again, saving water.
Any personal hygiene wipes can be refreshed if they dry out with a very small amount of water.
Keep Lysol or other non bleach *sanitizing* wipes in your storage for cleaning. If these wipes dry out, you can refresh them with and liquid disinfectant cleaner to restore -do not mix bleach with *any* other chemical cleaners.
And a final warning about using gas, flame, wood, cookers, certain heaters, fire places, coal, oil, and many other things as a heat source: *Make sure* you have ventilation when doing so other wise you run the very real risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can damage your organs in the least and cause death within a matter of an hour or two.
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Kelly AllenApril 14, 2021
This was great information! It was helpful to hear the lessons learned from people who experienced the Texas freeze. Thank you for sharing such important tips to getting totally ready for emergencies.
AnnaApril 14, 2021
Very helpful. This has been on my mind lately too.
Penni C BrownApril 14, 2021
All great advise, thank you! We live in earthquake and fire country. I will add the following: -> Purchase and keep a large fire extinguisher charged and ready. Schedule the maintenance to make sure it is ready if you need it. Read how to use it and have each member of the family learn where it is stored and how to use it properly, practice using it at least once to get the feel of what to expect when using it during a panic situation. -> Make sure you have the tools to shut off your utilities (if needed) where they are shut off. No one should waste precious minutes searching for that shut off wrench! Get a small clip and chain and tether it the wrench to the shut off valve handle. -> Buy a water storage bag that fits inside your tub that can be filled/inflated with fresh water as soon as you think you may need to save water for a short time. Using a water safe bag keeps that tub water clean from other contaminates (from flushing toilets, pest, etc.), "Water Bob" is one brand to search, I am sure there are others. -> If you are currently storing water or worry that available water might not be the best, get a water filtration pitcher and store an extra filter or two. If you have available water but just want better taste, this is a much more economical source for clean water than cases of bottled water. -> Toilet paper takes up a LOT of storage room, and during the pandemic the cost and availability made it extremely rare. Instead, store small personal hand held water bottle bidets, flushable wipes and doggy doo bags. Use the bidets *if* you have the water. Wipes take up less storage space, and the dog bags are for placing them in after use, as most sewers and septic systems recommend not flushing them in the first place. Wait before flushing, sounds gross, flushing after a BM only! -don't waste precious water flushing what can be easily and hygienically done otherwise. *If* absolutely necessary, you can use a bucket lined with heavy duty trash bags and rimmed with a cut and slit to fit pool noodle as a toilet, not fun, certainly not choice number one, however it will save water and still be useful -channel your inner ancestors. Keep baby wipes *and* hand sanitizer on hand as well to wash hands, again, saving water. Any personal hygiene wipes can be refreshed if they dry out with a very small amount of water. Keep Lysol or other non bleach *sanitizing* wipes in your storage for cleaning. If these wipes dry out, you can refresh them with and liquid disinfectant cleaner to restore -do not mix bleach with *any* other chemical cleaners. And a final warning about using gas, flame, wood, cookers, certain heaters, fire places, coal, oil, and many other things as a heat source: *Make sure* you have ventilation when doing so other wise you run the very real risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can damage your organs in the least and cause death within a matter of an hour or two.
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