It is undeniable that true self-sufficiency is no longer required for a great part of the world in modern times. Long gone are the days when you had to secure the source of food on your own to survive, be it from hunting the wild game, fishing, or growing the produce on your land. Your humble abode is no longer entirely dependent on the resources you could gather for the likes of repairs, heating, or illumination. In this day and age, most of these necessities are either provided to you for a fee or easily procurable everywhere.
However, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t aim to achieve a certain degree of self-sufficiency. There are still occurrences where you’d be cut off from the amenities of the 21st century. Power outages, for example, can not only be inconvenient but possibly even dangerous under certain circumstances.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways in which you can prepare yourself for the lack of electricity, including purchasing a gas generator, stockpiling shelf-stable food, buying thermal blankets, procuring bottled water, and even having a flashlight at hand. Follow these tips and learn what can be of immense help during a power outage!
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Buy a Gas Generator
Having a gas generator is one of the most convenient ways to keep your household powered during a power outage. As 10PowerUp experts assure us, the good thing about such a machine is that it doesn’t require you to have an in-depth knowledge of how it works. All you have to do is hook it up, and it’ll provide the electricity you need to power your appliances.
A generator is a great tool to have in the case of power outages as it allows you to get back to your life with minimal losses. It’s also the best way to keep your refrigerators and freezers working properly and maintain a certain temperature in your home, which can be of the utmost importance in case of extreme weather conditions.
You can easily find lists of various generator models and their specs to choose from, so you can be sure that you’ll get one that’s the most appropriate for your needs.
Invest in Solar Panels
Another alternative to a generator is solar panels. The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy that can be used for numerous purposes, including heating your home and even producing electricity. They’re a great way to keep your home powered during a blackout and are great for the environment as well. You can find several different types of solar panels on the market, ranging from inexpensive small models to more advanced ones.
Depending on your needs, you can choose the most appropriate model and install it on your roof or purchase a portable solar panel. The latter is great to have in case of power outages as it can be moved around and placed wherever you want to use its power.
You might also consider looking into installing solar tunnels, which are perfect for illuminating windowless rooms and spaces, like a laundry room. If you go for flexible sun tubes, they can run around obstructions, providing you with enough light during the power outage.
Stockpile Shelf-Stable Food
The next important thing you should do in order to prepare yourself for the lack of electricity is to stock up on food. If there is a power outage and you’re not able to cook dinner or heat up leftovers for lunch the next day, a supply of shelf-stable foods will come in handy.
They are easy to transport, don’t require electricity to keep them fresh (provided they are correctly sealed), and can be eaten cold if needed. Some examples include canned or dried/dehydrated food, powdered milk, drink mixes, nuts/seeds, and even peanut butter.
You can rest assured that they won’t go bad anytime soon, and when the need arises, these may very well provide at least some nourishment to you and your family.
Purchase Thermal Blankets
Many people keep a lot of blankets around the house, but they may not be suitable for a power outage. Most regular blankets are made of fabrics that don’t retain temperature and can efficiently be cooled by the surrounding air. Hence, you might have to put on several layers of them just to get a little bit warmer if your heating is down.
The solution is to buy thermal blankets. They can be used to insulate your home, protect the pipes in your plumbing system and prevent them from freezing or even keep food warm. However, they’re mostly useful during an outage as they can be wrapped around you and your loved ones to keep you warm during freezing nights.
Buy Bottled Water
It’s always important to have plenty of water at home. Of course, you could just drink the tap water, but it’s a lot better if you have bottled water in case of an emergency. The reason is that if a power outage happens and your water supply is cut off, what do you do? There won’t be any water you can use for drinking and cooking without electricity to power your appliances.
Bottled water can be a good solution to this problem since you will be able to access it as long as you have a way to open the bottles. Also, you might be able to use it for countless other purposes, such as flushing the toilet, cleaning, bathing, and even disinfecting wounds.
You can find plenty of bottled water at the grocery store, and you can also purchase water purifiers if you want to feel completely safe during a power outage.
Have a Flashlight and Other Sources of Light at Hand
It’s very likely that you already have some flashlights at home, but it doesn’t hurt to buy more of them. This may sound like a bit of an overkill if you live in a small apartment or condo, but when the power goes out, not only will it be dark inside your home, but possibly even outside. This means that you’ll have limited visibility while trying to navigate your way around the house.
As such, ensure that you have plenty of flashlights that can provide light even in the darkest of times. You should also keep large batteries and spare bulbs at hand so that it’s easy for you to replace them.
However, there are also some other tools that can be of immense help in case of power outages. For example, an LED lantern is an excellent source of light that you can use to save electricity and provide a source of light for others.
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Other products in category: Skylights
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You should also consider keeping some candles at home, as they can provide additional light during a power outage. However, be sure to keep them away from anything flammable.
Conclusion
One of the things that you should always remember is never to take the amenities of modern life for granted. With the advent of electricity, we’ve been able to accomplish so much in such a short time, but it doesn’t mean that we can just sit back and relax. It’s essential to always be prepared for anything, including the lack of power.
If you think this is all very simple and doesn’t require much effort, think again. There are numerous things you can do and buy that can be helpful in the event of a power outage. By following the above advice, you can become more prepared for an emergency.
