Being prepared isn’t just about having stuff or even skills that most people don’t. It’s very much about being proactive … we see what’s coming or what’s possible and take mitigating actions or have plans to deal with it. Our ancestors might have called it “common sense.” But just in case you need a reminder, winter is coming. Here’s a summary of what to do:
- Insulate your home – start with obvious leaks and drafts, move on to larger areas of the home that are lacking proper insulation, such as the attic, insulate pipes, and so on.
- Test and check gear – test all your preparations, including generators, smoke alarms, heaters, flashlights, radios, fuel and oil levels of crucial equipment, and so on. I would also suggest checking all batteries are still good, both disposable and rechargeable.
- Designate a “warm room” a place where you can keep from freezing to death; my only caveat, which differs from the advice given in the video, is to not seal this room up so much that you cannot get fresh air, especially if you intend on burning anything inside to keep warm because of the risk of carbon monoxide buildup.
- Insulate yourself – it’s all about clothing choices, layers, etc.
- Create and retain heat sources – alternative ways to keep your body warm, including hot water bottles, heat pads, adding humidity, and more.
- Winter emergency kit – gather everything you need in one spot (also useful to grab and go if needed) including heaters, cook stoves, food, water, entertainment, etc.
- Power outage plan – make a list of everything you need to do to survive should the power go out (see the video for the complete, lengthy list)
- Stock up on food and water – this should be self-explanatory
Enjoy!
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