Our power went out again last night. I woke up freezing when the house was 32 degrees. I had to get creative to keep myself and the animals warm. I now have a few tips. Feel free to add more in the comments.
1. Instantly put on a couple of layers of warm clothes including two pairs of socks, hat, neck warmer, gloves, long johns, pants, shirt, sweat shirt, jacket.
2. Instantly put a few blankets, comforter on the bed. Layers are good.
3. If you have a fireplace, keep it ready with wood, kindling, newspaper, matches, lighter to get it going. You should have enough clean, dry wood to replenish it for a day. Candles also provide some heat.
4. If you have a gas water heater, you will still have hot water. You can make hot water bottles, jars covered with a sock to stay warm.
5. You can put a big pot of water on the stove to boil to help heat up the room.
6. You can go into your car and turn on the heater. Be sure to start the car up so you don't lose the battery.
7. If you have car seat heaters, turn them on so you can sit on them or put animals on them. I had to bring our incubators into our car. Thank god the car is big enough.
8. Some cars have AC outlets so you can plus in a converter to run heating pads.
9. Have a head lamp, flash lights with new batteries handy.
10. Use a portable solar charger if the power is out for a while.
11. 7/11 are 24 hours and have microwaves. You can reheat heat gel pads, heating pads/socks with beans inside which will stay warm for an hour or so.
12. There are kerosene, oil, propane heaters, lights. Make sure they are safe for indoor use. Do not bring a fire pit, BBQ into the house as you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
13. If you have a gas stove or oven, you can turn it on five minutes every hour. Don't leave it on longer as it can cause carbon monoxide gas buildup.
14. You can stay in one room in the house to conserve heat. Close off the other rooms and vents.
15. Store bought hand warmers. Have them handy.
16. Exercise to keep warm.
17. Cook a warm meal or hot drink on the gas stove.
18. Snuggle with your loved ones and pets.
19. If it gets bad and you're not snowed in, leave the house. Go somewhere where they have power. This is when your cell phone comes in handy as long as cell tower has also lost power then you don't get reception. Call a local Starbucks. They generally have generators. Also public libraries, schools...or emergency centers have heat.
20. When the sun rises and hits the window, open the blinds, drapes to let the sun in. Keep the windows closed.
21. Get a backup generator with or without auto switch to the power box. Have it installed by a professional. There are also portable gas generators with plug outlets that can run some appliances with extension cords.
If you have any more tips, please, post them in the comments.
Mary Cummins of
Animal Advocates is a
wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
California Department of Fish and Game and the
USDA.
Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.
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