Preparedness Question of the Month

With all the things that have happened in the last few weeks I thought we would ask these questions:

You are suddenly with out power

Do you know what you need to do? Do you know how to cook? Do you know what you need to do in your home to get ready for the power to come back on? Do you know how to drive with out traffic lights on? Do you have flashlights with fresh batteries? Do your children, if you have them, know what to do until you return home?

These are just a few questions to get you to think and to get prepared. The power can go off anytime.

I did a blog last month about power outage after the hurricane. You can check that out. Also check out FEMA and Red Cross for their information that have on power outages.

What is for Dinner Sept

Here is Saturdays What's for dinner post.

This Week I am Including the menu we had during Hurricane Irene for this Months Idea.

Friday I cooked a 10 pound Turkey, the day before the Hurricane was to hit. I also baked banana bread, blueberry loaf bread, and cornbread. Make Hard Cooked eggs. Browned up 4 pounds of Hamburger.

Saturday: Turkey, instant mashed potatoes, cornbread, and salad. (this was the day the hurricane hit) No Power!

Sunday: Cooked on the BBQ. Homemade Chili and hotdogs, bratwurst, and Blueberry muffins No Power! 

Monday: Cooked on the BBQ.  Turkey and Dumplings NO Power!

Tuesday: Pork chops, Real Mashed Potatoes, and deviled eggs, Green Beans. Power came on about 6pm

                      Wednesday: Make taco rice with some of hamburger I browned up on Friday

Thursday: Chicken, Chicken Noodles, Carrots

Friday: Spaghetti, corn, and bread

Saturday: Roast, potatoes, carrots, biscuits.

 With the weekend with out power we still ate well. We were able to make sandwiches for lunch from the Turkey, We of course had peanut butter and jam, and lunch meat and cheese for sandwiches. We had cereal, hard cooked eggs, for breakfast. We had one hot meal each day when we were with out power.

Generators and common sense

So with the Hurricane and being with power for days. There has been a lot of accidents and almost accidents with people using generators, BBQ's and grills, propane stoves.

Here is the basics on use. NEVER use these items indoors! All the accidents and there have been deaths in past because people bring in the generator, the propane stove or BBQ's to the house. These are outdoor items and need to be used out doors!

Here is the RED CROSS info on Generator use and guidelines. I did copy and paste as, there is so much info and the "professionals" put this info toegther!

Generators

The following information, developed by the Red Cross with technical advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Fire Protection Association (publisher of the National Electric Code ®) and the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is provided to address questions about using a generator when disaster strikes.

Purchasing a Generator
If you choose to buy a generator, make sure you get one that is rated for the amount of power that you think you will need. Look at the labels on lighting, appliances, and equipment you plan to connect to the generator to determine the amount of power that will be needed to operate the equipment.

For lighting, the wattage of the light bulb indicates the power needed. Appliances and equipment usually have labels indicating power requirements on them. Choose a generator that produces more power than will be drawn by the combination of lighting, appliances, and equipment you plan to connect to the generator including the initial surge when it is turned on. If your generator does not produce adequate power for all your needs, plan to stagger the operating times for various equipment.

If you can not determine the amount of power that will be needed, ask an electrician to determine that for you. (If your equipment draws more power than the generator can produce, then you may blow a fuse on the generator or damage the connected equipment.)

Using a Generator
The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution, and fire. Follow the directions supplied with the generator. Every year, people die in incidents related to portable generator use.

Under no circumstances should portable generators be used indoors, including inside a garage, carport, basement, crawlspace, or other enclosed or partially-enclosed area, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death, but CO can't be seen or smelled. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY - DO NOT DELAY.

Because you may have windows open to get fresh air while the power is out, be sure to place the generator away from windows, doors, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors. To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. To protect the generator from moisture, operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles. Dry your hands if wet before touching the generator.

It is a good idea to install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer's installation instructions. If CO gas from the generator enters your home and poses a health risk, the alarm will sound to warn you. Test the battery frequently and replace when needed.

Be sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

Store fuel for the generator in an approved safety can. Use the type of fuel recommended in the instructions or on the label on the generator. Local laws may restrict the amount of fuel you may store, or the storage location. Ask your local fire department for additional information about local regulations. Store the fuel outside of living areas in a locked shed or other protected area. Do not store it near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage. If the fuel is spilled or the container is not sealed properly, invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and can be ignited by the appliance's pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.

Plug appliances directly into the generator. Or, use a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Check that the entire cord is free of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin. Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding.” This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household protection devices.

Future Considerations
The only recommended method to connect a generator to house wiring is by having a qualified electrician install a power transfer switch. This switch must be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code® (NEC), which is published by the National Fire Protection Association, and all applicable state and local electrical codes. Call a qualified electrician or check with your utility company to see if they can install the appropriate equipment.

For power outages, permanently installed stationary generators are better suited for providing backup power to the home. Even a properly connected portable generator can become overloaded. This may result in overheating or stressing the generator components, possibly leading to a generator failure. Be sure to read instructions that come with the generator to make sure you operate it within its limitations for power output.

http://www.redcross.org/

Power Outage

Being with out  power for a few hours is a big pain. Try being with out power for days even weeks. Here are some things that I want to be sure to pass on to you.

If you are lucky enough to only to be with out power for just a few hours, then there is not much to worry about, especially with food. Food safety reminders: If you were without power for over 4 hours the perishable items in your refrigerator need to be discarded. If you lost power for over 24 hours and your freezer was half full or over 48 hours with a full freezer, the contents need to be discarded, they are not safe for consumption. When in doubt, throw it out!

What do I do to prepare before a power outage: 

Be sure to have ice, either make ice and double bag it, and store in the freezer. make bigger ice chunks, as I would call them, with using bigger bowls, etc, double bag them and store them in the freezer. by making your own ice and having it on hand will cost less then having to buy bags at the store, if you can find ice at the store after an emergency. You can even freeze water bottles, for this also. just be sure to leave some room at the top of the bottle for the water to expand as is freezes.


Be sure to have coolers or ice chests in your home, be sure to keep them clean and ready to go! 

May want to have a food thermometer to check temps of food, not only when cooking everyday to to check the temps of foods to make sure they are cool enough! 

When the power goes out keep the refrigerator and freezer closed! Keep a list on the front of the door so you know what is in them, and even where located to you can get in and out of the fridge or freezer as fast as possible. Get everything out at once and replace everything back in at once.    


Food in the fridge should be used first, then the freezer, then your non perishables. This is common sense, but people do tend to forget this at times. 

If your power is out for 12-18 hours prepare the ice chests/coolers for the food. Place in the ice and "pack" the cooler! Find the coolest spot in the house and keep cooler there, even if it is your bathtub. 


Unplug all electronics. Be sure to turn off the AC or the heat if during winter. Keep one light on or even just a nightlight plugged in and on. Everything else should be turned off and unplugged! This will keep things from power surges that may occur. 

Personally I would encourage anyone to get the glow sticks, chem sticks, you know the sticks you buy and break, shake and they light up. Be sure to get the ones that can last for 12 hours or so. Green lights up very well, orange not so much. Be sure to get enough of these little buggers. Simply because they are safe to have around and use with children, pets, and even a house full of a lot of people. Not everyone thinks, esp those that have been drinking. I would encourage you  to have at least one per ROOM, for up to 1-2 weeks. yeah I know that is a lot, but have you ever tried to go to the bathroom in the dark, simply because everyone else has the flashlights. Or if you have small children, or just children in general, or older family members. It is too hard for them to go into a dark room, turn on and hold a flashlight. So yeah glow/chem sticks for each room. You can get the kids for fun the bracelets, or necklaces that glow. It will help calm them down, and distract them from the darkness that comes at night when there are no lights on anywhere! Especially when you try to put them down for bedtime.


We put one glow stick a 12 hour green one in the bathroom and not only did it light up the bathroom, but part of the hallway as well. We were able to shower by the light the glow stick put out. The ones I bought have plastic cord that comes with it, so we just hung it up on a hook in the bathroom.


Be sure to buy extra flashlights, and BATTERIES! When it is announced to prepare for a storm of any kind it is too late to find the size you are looking for! Batteries can last a good long while, buy early and always have extras on hand.  That means you need to know what size of batteries to have, how many each item takes! Some items take 3-4 batteries, some only 1-2. it all depends on what it is.