Lois Zens “I have oil
lamps, had them for years, for when the power goes out summer or winter. I
found out you really cannot read by them, they are too dim. You can get around
in the dark and see what's going on, but you cannot read. I had seen someone
gift someone else LED lanterns and at the time thought they were a great idea
then forgot about them. I remembered them Friday night and am going to look for
them when we can get around again. They are bright and would really serve a
purpose. They would be great to have
next time....and there will be a next time.
Also I will make sure I have batteries for my
radio. I listened to KOTA AM radio for updates and stories during the storm. I
was alone and that was my company. My daughter has a gas furnace so I assumed
she and her family were warm. They have an electronic ignition on the furnace
and therefore when the electricity went out so did their heat, for 24 hours. I
do not have a fix for that. They cooked
on the grill and bundled up.”
It is amazing how dark it gets when the power is out, and
how long the night lasts isn’t it? I
also heard from people who burned candles, used camping lanterns, and who just
went to bed because they were cold and dark. At our house, I’ve avoided oil
lamps and candles because I worry that they are fire hazards. The last thing I need is something my dogs
could knock over to burn the house down.
So what about these LED
lanterns Lois mentions? Well there are dozens of options on the market; the
one we picked up has a light that’s quite adequate for reading, cooking or
cross stitching. While I was researching lanterns, I stumbled on many other
items that the storm bound might find useful.
See:
Also
the lanterns come in solar powered,
I don’t know how well they work, but it might be worth looking into.
And of course when your power is out, your water is probably
going to be cold as is your food. It’s
probably worth investing in some baby wipes and maybe one of those little pots
that can heat water with DC power. Something like a: Smart
car pot or slow
cooker or beverage
heater or even a portable
stove. Use of these items implies you
have plenty of gas in your car so you can keep your battery charged up and that
you can safely get to your car and run it without fear of carbon dioxide
fumes. After Atlas I’m even thinking
about a battery based generator. They
are quiet and can be operated inside the house with no fear of noxious fumes. Maybe
an Xpower
Powerpack 1500 “a portable system on wheels that can supply up to 1,500
watts of continuous AC power. The product is capable of producing AC household
power from a battery source to run TVs, power tools, computers, stereos, lights
and home appliances. The Powerpack, unlike a fuel-operated generator, is quiet,
creates no exhaust or fumes, has no moving parts and requires no maintenance
other than occasional recharging. It incorporates a 12-volt battery pack and an
inverter to produce AC power. “(Power headaches? take a xantrex. (2002).
Channel Business, 15(13), 33. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/275070241?accountid=44996
) or a similar system: CSA
Mr. Emergency 1500 Watt
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