Prepping isn't just for the end of the world!

Well my wife and I had an interesting Christmas. We live in Biloxi and for those that are close know we had a stormy Christmas. On Christmas Eve Lightening struck our house our neighbors house and the gas main in the road in front of our house rupturing it. Thank God nothing went BOOM but we didn't have gas until this morning. For those who are electric only and don't understand that means no hot showers and no cooking. A minor bump in the road but was a reminder to us that gas and electric can be taken out for short or more extended periods and preparedness can make that experience much more comfortable. M

 

Yes, we get comfortable...and complacent. Then one day-surprise!

 

So did you hop into prepper mode? Were you prepared for that? If that happens here, I jump into action. Lanterns out, generator plus camping stuff. I consider times like that test runs to look for holes in my preparedness.

 

Yes we were prepared I am lucky that my wife got on board a few years ago and we have been "prepping" ever since.

 

I know I insert this comment probably far too often, but I personally think it is that important.

Don't forget to prep for the possibility that civilization won't come crashing down in your lifetime...make sure you can enjoy old age if you are fortunate enough to get there.

 

Yeah, I know what you mean. We had a water main break right in front of the house, a while back. No water at all for three days, and my wife just about lost her mind. "We can't even flush the toilet!" Yes we can, and I went to the rain barrel, and drew off a pitchers worth, and flushed the toilet. She was amazed. We had bottled water on hand in the fridge, and there are a dozen half gallon ice jugs in the freezer at all times for hunting coolers, so we had plenty to drink (and of course we could go to the store if needed) but it is the small everyday kinds of bumps in the road, that smooth out when you have a back up plan.

 

We had a tornado touch down very briefly about 5 1/2 miles away yesterday. The same cell is what caused the damage later in B-Ham it is believed. Major lightning storm with several close strikes pretty much all night. As @Motomom34 said above, we try and use these times as practice runs for if/when things really are out for an extended period.

 

We catch the butt end of the hurricanes when they run though the area. Planning around flooding is what really keyed me off into this. Something really nice about everyone panicking while you sit on a high spot eating
Spam.

 

I really find the idea that we are prepping for the end of the world funny. We prep so our world wont end.

 

We lose power about once a year for a few hours. I think it's a PNW thing, too. I went to a community emergency preparedness meeting in September and was absolutely stunned that several of the people in the room with me felt they didn't have three days of food in their homes. I have at least three days of food in my car. Yeah, if anything truly horrible happens, I can see a lot of civil unrest aggravating the issue.

 

Absolutely right. I have been without power in the winter for several weeks, one summer a tornado took out power for a month, forced out due to a kitchen fire, etc. ALL of these were SHTF situations, but other than being forced out by the fire, none were any great problem because I was prepared for something to happen.

 

Glad you guys are ok.

 

We have a "blizzard" in progress right now in SENM. The forecast is for up to 12" snow tonight and another 4-6" tomorrow. Hopefully we won't lose power or bust a water pipe (lows for the next 8 days range from 12 F down to 5F!). I guarantee ya'll that I feel better than a couple we were with at a party just a bit ago. "We got a couple of blankets for Christmas, so I think we're set. At least as long as we don't lose power." I didn't have the nerve to ask if they had a fireplace and wood to go with it or if they had any way to cook hot food or, as far as that goes, whether or not they had enough food to last for 4 or 5 days if this storm is as bad as it could be.

Me? I finished up today by firing up the little generator and making sure it was ready to go.

Kajun

 

I've lost power from ice storms (2+ weeks), blizzards (1+ week) and a lightning strike on a transformer station (1+ week). It isn't "prepping" it is eating, hygiene, being warm when it is cold and life without interruption.

Life without interruption sounds simple; however, it isn't.

 

In my AO the concerns are wild fires, wind storms and snow storms.. Have come home at midnight after working a shift to find frozen pipes and water spraying every place. Right now I am waiting for the cabin to warm up and knowing it won't get comfortable tonight, so it will be off to bed and snuggling into the quilts for the night..

Others ask how I did with the week long power outage.. I tell them it had no impact on me.. I started the gen and logged on to the monkey for a chuckle.. Gave them some advice as to how to deal with defrosting freezer and how to save all the venison and elk in it..

I carry all the needed equipment to clear the road so I can get home late at night as well as what is needed to move through the snow in the mountains.. A receiver winch would be nice to have, but, do with what I have.. Yes, that is a WINCH, as apposed to a wench.. A wench would be handy with the cold night.. Hmmm??? Prepping can lead in all sorts of directions..

 

Woke up this morning here in SW Texas with a 22 degree windchill and that is the warmest morning forecast for the week. Staying home in Oregon for the winter would have been warmer. Later today they say around 3" of snow with winds 25mph. I'm not thrilled.

 

Are you boys wenching or winching or wrenching??