Emergency Shelter and Protection From The Elements

The famous survival "rule of 3's" dictates that you can only last 3 hours without shelter. While I'm pretty sure that most of us have sat on park benches for longer than that without any consequence, there is definitely some merit to this saying.

In the harshest of conditions (both hot and cold), it certainly holds true. And in several other conditions, while the elements may not kill you in exactly 3 hours, it can still happen quickly.

Your defense against the elements needs to include forethought and a few different critical components.

Cold Weather Clothing - Your First Line of Defense

When people think about emergency shelters, they usually think about underground bunkers or off grid cabins in the mountains. However, the first line of defense with emergency shelter is actually your clothing.

The clothing you wear protects you from the elements, be they heat, cold, wet, or dry. When disaster strikes, it would be great if you were already dressed to best handle the situation, but if not, you should at least make sure that you have some comfortable clothes set aside that can protect you from the elements. After all, many of us could be wearing a uniform at work, dress clothes church, workout clothes, or any other number of things.

For most of us reading this, that means that we need to have some winter clothes ready to go. In the upper and lower latitudes, the temperature lows on many nights out of the year can be life threatening. A beanie, gloves, good socks, boots or other good footwear, and a sturdy jacket are mainstays (of all these, a beanie and good socks in particular!).

As opposed to having a some elaborate bug out retreat in the woods, having good winter clothes ready to go is a very minimal and safe "investment" to make in terms of shelter. Even if a crazy emergency never befalls you, having some extra warm clothes is always a good idea.

Sleeping Bag, Bivy, or Other Sleep System

After your clothing, the next closest layer of "shelter" is a place to sleep. In an emergency situation, a sleeping bag is the simplest and easiest version of this. Compact, portable, and versatile for several situations, sleeping bags are designed to keep you warm and comfortable when you don't have a bed.

(If you're looking for an inexpensive B+ sleeping bag that can be used for most of the year, the Abco Tech sleeping bag is pretty solid for the money)

Hypothermia and its relatives are a much faster killer than starvation or dehydration, so you should budget your money and backpack space accordingly. Because of the dangers of "the elements", and the importance of keeping your body temperature right, this is an area that is worth spending a little money on. It's also worthy of a significant amount of space in your bug out bag or your home or car preps.

Tents - If You Have the Money and Space

Like a sleeping bag, a tent is a makeshift shelter in the absence of a better one. It falls slightly lower on the list than a sleeping bag, because it is less immediately responsible for regulating your body temperature. If you could have your choice of a sleeping bag but no tent, or a tent but no sleeping bag, I would choose the former every time.

Still, if you have the money and the space to keep/carry it, a tent is a great addition to your sheltering preps. They provide protection from sun, rain, and bone chilling wind. Not to mention that they keep some critters at bay (mosquitos, spiders, rodents).

In addition to the physical shelter that tents provide, there is just something psychological about being able to shut out the world. It's easier to relax and sleep when you can feel like there is at least some barrier between you and everything else.

Fire Starters

Another critical aspect of protecting yourself from the elements in a survival situation is the ability to make a fire. The heat of a fire can keep you warm in freezing temps. It can also act as a signal, and ward off animals. And, as was mentioned above with tents, a fire can also provide a comforting psychological boost. A warm, crackling fire helps you relax and remain calm.

Lighters

When it comes to getting a fire going, there's pretty much no substitute for a lighter. What kind of lighter? How about a regular-ass, plain ol' Bic lighter that comes from the grocery store check stand? Yep, the kind that you can get in a 3 pack for a couple bucks.

Of course there are fancier versions of this, such as the lighters with the longer necks and triggers. These can be nice to keep your fingers from getting burnt. But the reality is this--when you are in a survival situation, the point is, you want to have a fire, be it by whatever means it comes.

Matches

Matches are the next easiest fire implement. Simple and fast-working, they are not something that requires a lot of fuss. Strike, light, and burn.

They do present some obvious downsides however. The first is that you have a limited time to transfer the flame--maybe 5 seconds. If you can't get your tinder or kindling started in this time, you're out of luck (except you probably have a bunch of matches, so you have a bunch of chances).

Matches can also get wet, if your gear becomes submerged in water, or it's exposed to a serious rainstorm. You can easily waterproof some matches in paraffin wax, but it's another step and a slight vulnerability.

Even with these downsides however, matches are too cheap and easy not to include. If you end up not using them, you will only have wasted a dollar and perhaps a tiny handful of space.

If you want to take it a step further, storm proof matches can remain lit in howling wind and pouring rain (or even under water).

Flint and Steel Fire Strikers

Flint and steel type strikers are more difficult and take longer to use than lighters, but they do have some advantages. The biggest is that they don't require any fuel. You will never "run out" of a striker to get your fire started. This means you have endless chances to get your fire started.

Unlike matches, they will also work when they are wet. They can be dipped in the river a hundred times and be fine.

The big downside with fire strikers is that they are difficult to use. They require some experience, lots of prep time to get your tinder and kindling right, and a bit of finessed technique. These are all things that you might not want to mess with when you need to get a fire going quickly.

All things considered though, it's worth having a trusty fire striker in your preps. Like matches and lighters, these fire strikers are just important enough, cheap enough, and small enough that it would be stupid to omit them.

Of course, it should be mentioned here that you will probably not be using actual "flint" to strike your spark. Flint is a naturally occurring mineral, and extremely rare. You will probably be using one of the cheaper, commercially available fire strikers that you can find in big box stores or on Amazon.

Bug Out Shelters

At the far end of the spectrum, a bug out shelter is the ultimate in emergency shelters. They offer permanent, sturdy protection from the elements (as well as critters and 2-footed threats).

Building a bug out shelter takes forethought, time, and of course, money, so it is not something that will materialize in a day or a week. There are also a million different flavors of what a bug out shelter is--each with their own set of pros and cons, and a group of fans on the internet.

Some people's version of a bug out shelter is a fortress in the mountains. Other folks like the idea of having a bunker, or something subterranean. There are vaults, storm shelters, concrete culverts, and purpose-built shelters to bury underground. Other people rave about the idea of using a shipping container as a shelter (although I think by now, most people realize that it's not recommended to bury them).

I think the smartest way to incorporate a "bug out shelter" in your life is to find a property that can double as a nice vacation getaway, for you to enjoy with your family and friends. If the shit ever hits the fan so bad that you need it, it's there. If not, you still have a great vacation property that can be enjoyed, sold for a profit someday (hopefully), or transferred within your family.

In addition to the "vacation getaway as a retreat" concept, another one that I think deserves particular attention is the idea of converting a storage shed into a bug out shelter. For several years, people have been converting Tuff Shed type storage sheds into livable spaces. And while they might not be the most comfortable or defensible (and certainly not the most spacious), they are pretty affordable. They can be ordered online or at a big box store like Home Depot or Lowes, and delivered to your location.

If you find yourself in the enviable position of having the money to spend on a dedicated backup shelter, you are a lucky soul indeed. Still, with some planning and prioritized action, it is possible for most people make this a reality (notice I mentioned the word "prioritized").

Cold Weather Clothing Layers

March 29, 2024 by Seasoned Citizen Prepper

It is no secret that wearing layers of clothing is a very sensible idea, especially if you are going to be exposed to the elements. It can also be a great benefit if you are going to be going from warm to cold and all points in between in a short space of time because it provides you with the flexibility to be comfortable by adding or removing clothing.

There is no getting away from the fact that layers of clothing are crucial for anyone who will be out in the wild for a bit of time but the most important layer of clothing is likely to be the one next to the skin.

This is referred to as a base layer and you will likely have come across these items of clothing. Some people may take one look at these items and think that they are not the style for them but the look isn’t the most important matter, after all, this layer is meant to be worn under other layers. The real benefits of base layers and why people who take exercise seriously should be considering is of the benefits they bring.

Find the body temperature that is right for you

It has already been discussed how layers can help people to obtain the right body temperature for wherever they are. However if the layer next to the skin has a special focus on retaining heat or removing sweat from the body, it is possible to make a marked improvement over how a person feels. Whether you are running, working out or just looking to enjoy a casual day out in the wild, this sort of clothing item can make a big difference to your enjoyment levels.

Another major benefit that comes to people from wearing this style of clothing comes with the fact that certain muscles and muscle groups will be compressed. This can help to improve the flow of blood around the body and it can help to prevent the build-up of lactic acid. This may be a small thing but if it helps people to get more from their exercise session, it can help in the long run to provide better results and help people to get fitter.

As the saying goes “every little helps” and anything which helps to boost someone who is working out to work out for longer or harder has to be a good thing. It is not as if wearing this style of clothing is going to magically transform someone into a super-fit athlete but it can definitely have a positive impact on how a person performs.

If nothing else, this style of clothing can help to reduce the problems of chaffing, which can blight anyone that works out seriously or enjoys long walks. If you want to give yourself the best chance of being fit and enjoying your training sessions, make sure you have the right equipment.

The Best Survivalist Tent For Bug Outs and Camping?

March 22, 2024 by Seasoned Citizen Prepper

I’ve been looking for a tent for about 2 years now, but not just any tent.

Yes, I wanted a tent in case of bugging out. Yes I wanted a small, easy to setup, tent for camping.

But I also wanted a tent that could be a play tent for the grandchildren to play in in the hay loft if they decided to camp there, a tent that I could deploy in the livingroom for the grandkids or if the power went out and we needed to cold camp in the house AND I wanted a “sick tent” that I could seal off in case of a pandemic.

Kind of asking a lot, aren’t I?

Well, I think I have found it all in this Bear Grylls Rapid Deploy Tent that I bought from Sportsmans Guide on sale for $71 – priced the same thing at Walmart for $119.

So here is the bag for the Bear Grylls Rapid Series 4 Person Easy-Up Tent, its about 36″ long and maybe 20 lbs. – not small. Now as far as I am concerned when it comes to tents, “2 person” means 1 and “4 person” means 2 and that is about right for this tent which has a foot print of about 7’x7′ with the interior height being about 5′ – not big, but not tiny.

I was really excited to see if the tent was what I thought it was and immediately went to setting it up. Here is the bag dumped out. What I want you to note is that white flap on the right – the instructions sewn right into the bag. I love it! Three steps to put it up and two steps to take it down and I could read the instructions without my glasses.

It comes with its own ground tarp and has a bathtub floor, so you can feel very comfortable about no insects, scorpions or snakes getting in. It says 60 second setup – “Ya right,” I thought. I laid the tarp out and the tent out and holy cow, yup 60 seconds or less! It is basically set the legs and pull and it snaps up!

This is a three season tent, so it is all screen if you desire it without the rain fly to stay cool. With the rain fly it will create that dead air space that is so essential for no weight insulation. AND it has TWO DOORS!

Now why am I thrilled with two doors? Too much time camping in Montana where there are bears that are prone to attacking campers in their tents. Bear Grylls knew what he was doing with two doors – may never need the second one, but so nice to have it! If you have ever thought about getting trapped in a tent with no way out except to cut the tent, I would call this a prepper’s tent.

What you can’t see, is that this tent is NOT STAKED DOWN. It doesn’t need stakes! Yes, outdoors I would stake it, but if I want to let the grandkids “camp” in the barn loft or livingroom, or I need to deploy it in the house or garage as a “sick tent” I don’t need to stake it. Also, have you ever noticed that when people are evacuated they almost always end up in a school gym or some such with NO PRIVACY? This tent could give you that privacy on a gym floor or the option of not having to stay in that evacuation area.

So what did I buy? A playhouse for the grandkids and a nice little easy-up tent for the old folks if they want to go camping (more likely to end up on the back of the Harley for Bob’s expeditions), a bug out tent, an immediate small tarped area in the house to keep warm if needed in the winter and a sick room if ever needed (And I pray we never do!) all for $71.

Hard to beat the versatility of this tent in my book!

Plan Ahead for Hot & Cold Environments

March 22, 2024 by Seasoned Citizen Prepper

When it comes to prepping for a major disaster, not all plans are created equally. While you will definitely need a solid supply of food, water and survival equipment; no matter where you end up, factors like the weather will also determine what you should have ready to bring along. In a perfect scenario, you and your family will bug out in a temperate climate that is free of harsh conditions like the searing sun or frigid temperatures. But as you know quite well, this perfect world does not exist, so you have to do what you can to prepare for the worst weather possible.

Surviving the Blazing Sun

Another tough bug out situation involves surviving in the desert, or in a home without power in a very hot location.

The heat can quickly dehydrate you and members of your family, and it can be dangerous to be mobile during the heat of the day. While adults are typically advised to drink 64 ounces of water a day in extreme heat you will need to consume a lot more than that.

Remember that although you can survive for weeks without any food, you will perish after just three to four days without any H2O. In order to avoid getting water stressed, stock up on as much water as possible as well as water purification tablets. In addition, check out the area around your home as well as a potential bug out location for a source of water. Common sources include even a dried up riverbed, dew on plants, rain water that you can catch in a barrel and even the insides of cacti.

As for finding extra sources of food, most cactus fruit is safe and rich in nutrients and liquid, and if you must go out on foot, try to walk as much as you can at night and rest during the day.

You should also be sure to dress for the elements, which in the heat involves covering up enough to avoid sunburn but not being so warm as to induce sunstroke. A great source to check out is the Camo Pattern Buyer’s Guide on the Cabela’s website. The guide lists which types of camouflage clothing is best for which types of weather and surrounding trees and brush; this way, you can choose light enough clothing that will still help to keep you hidden from marauders.

There are also a lot of folks that can teach you how to put together a redneck air conditioner, which works like a swamp cooler (with evaporative cooling), and uses a simple fan and a 5 gallon bucket.

Planning for the Harsh Cold

Surviving the apocalypse in the dead of winter is probably the worst case scenario. But if you live in a colder area of the country that is known for getting three feet of snow in the winter, you have to take extra precautions to prepare for the cold. Freezing temperatures can drain your energy and put an incredible amount of stress on your body. While a typical day will burn up about 2,000 calories, to survive in the cold will use up around 6,000 calories in just 24 hours.

In addition, traveling in the snow and cold can be extremely taxing, and roads that you might have planned to take may become impassable.

In order to survive bugging out in an outside location or even holing up in your home—which may no longer have a reliable source of power—you should make smart use of layering your clothing, and stocking up on as much calorie dense food as possible. This is not the time to think about stashing away cookies and soda, but rather protein rich choices like canned meats and chili, jerky, whole grain low sugar granola bars and wheat crackers. The Prepper Journal recommends using a JetBoil Flash. It’s a terrific tool to keep on hand, in addition to lots of spare fuel cans—this will allow you to heat up your meals which will help you to stay warm.

Also, decide how much wood you’ll need to make it through a harsh winter, and then add a significant amount to it. Chances are good that you will need a much larger amount of wood and other fuel sources to stay warm on those long cold nights than you realize.

4 Tips to Prepare Your Homestead for Winter

March 22, 2024 by Seasoned Citizen Prepper

The Weather Channel is predicting colder than average temperatures through January for the Plains states and the area from southeast Texas to the Florida panhandle. Whether you live in a major metropolitan area or have a ranch covering several acres, winter preparedness is fairly similar for just about every home. You need to keep everybody safe and warm and take all the necessary precautions to prevent extreme weather from damaging your home.

These four tips cover the most important items.

1. Drain Sprinkler System

The first freeze of the year can mean large repair bills for homeowners who have neglected to address their irrigation systems and exposed pipes beforehand. This is particularly the case with PVC pipes, but polyethylene pipes can also be damaged, despite their elasticity.

Most sprinkler systems can be drained manually. The valve is typically located at the bottom of the mainline. Make sure to wear eye protection and release all pressure from the line before draining to prevent injury. The blow-out method, using compressed air to clear the pipes, is the only way to 100 percent guarantee no water is left inside. You can do this on your own, but due to the inherent dangers, it’s better to hire a professional.

All pipes in unheated areas of your home (garage, attic, etc.) should be insulated with pipe-wrapping material that can be found at any hardware store.

2. Close the Pool

There are different methods for winterizing in-ground and above-ground pools, but the end result is similar. Use granular chlorine to lower the overall chlorine level of the water and save your cover from being damaged. After a thorough cleaning, lower the water level to about one foot below the tile for mesh covers and about six inches for floating covers. Buy a winter closing kit that comes with everything you’ll need, including instructions. Cleaning methods for filters and lines will vary by pool, so follow the manufacturers instructions carefully.

3. Clean Gutters

Gutter cleaning is not glamorous, and it can be dangerous if the proper precautions are not exercised. The two most important factors for safe gutter cleaning are a dry roof and a ladder long enough to extend beyond the roof. To prevent slips and falls, do not climb on the roof if it has rained in the past 24 hours. Leaf blowers are effective for cleaning long gutter sections, but its best to watch a professional do it once before attempting this yourself.

4. Save Yourself Money With These Simple Upgrades

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that heating costs were higher for 90 percent of Americans homes last year than the winter of 2012-13. This was mostly due to higher costs for natural gas and propane.

A great way to cut energy bills is to invest in heated bedding. The Electric Blanket Institute (yes, this really exists) estimates a typical household can save up to $40 per month on heating costs by turning down the thermostat 10 degrees while sleeping. Make certain the electric blankets you choose are marked with Underwriters Laboratories safety approval (UL #964). A winterized home also has all gaps wider than a nickel between door and windows frames chalked to keep the warm air in and cold air out.

Every home has unique features, so winterization steps will vary. But completing all of the above are steps in the right direction.

Learning From Old Timers

March 22, 2024 by Seasoned Citizen Prepper

The man you see in the picture is Ted Hicks, son of Ray Hicks, who was considered the last of the old time story tellers. The other picture is the view from his back porch. I had the pleasure of meeting Ted when we lived in the “High Country” near Boone, NC, and I worked for the public transportation system for Watauga County, NC.

On my frequent trips to pick up Ted and carry him to the doctor’s, he fascinated me with the old stories his dad taught him over the years before he died; stories of the mountain people who lived in this region and the old time “Jack Tales”. He told me how his dad and his mother taught him how to look for certain herbs and plants, and how to use them, how to hunt, how to survive the harsh winters, how to plant gardens on those steep slopes, what would grow, and what would not. He spoke with that old mountain brogue which took me some time to understand, but when I finally mastered the language, I was even more fascinated with the stories.

At the time these pictures were taken, Ted lived with his mother in the house you see, which is high up on Beach Mountain. This is also where he was born. They heated and cooked with wood, and only got indoor plumbing a few years prior to this photo. Life on these mountains is tough, and the winters are even harder.

Ted told the following story which you would think was right out of a survival book. One winter day when he was just a young boy, he and his two sisters and brother were in the old one room school house, when the winter snow which had begun early that morning, turned into a blizzard. The snow was accumulating at a frightening pace, the temperature was dropping, and the winds were howling. Since most of the children lived several miles from the school house, and all walked to and from school, the teacher let the children out early and told them to go straight home.

Their dad had always told them, “If you get caught out in one of them “howlers”, stay on the road as best as you can and look for the tops of the fence post to guide you. Don’t take any shortcuts, even though it might be a shorter distance.”

Ted said, “Well, I thought I knew these mountains pretty good, and the snow was almost to the top of some of the posts, so I told my brothers and sisters to follow me, I knew a better way.” He said they told me, “You know what Paw told us, follow the fence post, we aint going with you.”

Ted said, “I bet I’ll beat you home,” and off he went by himself. After an hour, Ted said everything looked the same, the snow was 4-5 feet in places, he didn’t recognize any landmarks, it was really cold, the wind had increased, and he was lost. Ted told me, about this time he was thinking, “I sure wish I had done what Paw told me to do.”

Well, the story did have a happy ending, as he was very close to his Grandparents’ cabin, and he smelled the smoke from the chimney, he said he struggled to get there, and arrived on their doorsteps half frozen. Ted said “God was a looking out for me that night.”

He spent the night with them, and most of the next day. His Granddad took him home the next evening after the storm had quit. He said, “I expected my Paw to get his switch and give me a good spanking, but he guessed they was so glad to see me alive, my adventure was lesson enough.” Ted said there have been many storms since then, and, “I always look for them fence posts.”

As I got to know Ted and his family, I fell in love with them and their simplistic life style, and most of all the tenderness of their hearts. They would do almost anything to help you if they could. I realize now that they were “preppers” by many of our definitions, but they would not have called it that. I think they would say that they had to have food stored in the root cellar if they wanted to eat during the long winters.

They would have to have the firewood cut and stored, and stove wood cut all the time. The kids listened to the stories their parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles told around the fireplace in the evenings and learned how to live and survive in those hard mountains. Ted told me those were some of his favorite times growing up, and in many cases, where he learned so much.

The point is, we all have a natural resource available to us as “preppers”, that being the knowledge of our elders, and maybe just a friend who has a skill that is needed.

Unfortunately, most people in today’s culture do not want to take the time to sit and listen to those with this wealth of knowledge. They would rather watch something on YouTube, or Google a subject on the internet. These can be excellent resources, but you really need to do your research to trust some of the information you get. Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying, much of the modern technology is great, and makes our lives much easier.

However with that said, what happens when we don’t have our smart phone or iPad due to a natural disaster such as the recent hurricane that hit the East Coast and North Eastern section of our country?

Many of you reading this article have the type of knowledge I am talking about. I believe one of our greatest challenges as “Seasoned Preppers” is to find out how to give this knowledge to the younger generations. We are so close to losing so much knowledge about our heritage and our history that it is scary. Have you looked at some of the new history books our children are being taught these days?

On a personal note, I found out rather quickly that if I wanted to talk, I should say communicate, to our children, and especially our grandchildren, I had to learn to text message. That was, and still is a challenge for me. But at least we had some good family talk time as most of our children and grandchildren were home for the holidays.

Cold Weather Survival for Both Car and Home

March 16, 2024 by danecarp

For those that live off-grid, most of the year is spent making sure that there’s plenty of food, wood, and other supplies to last through the winter so that much of it can be spent indoors, warm, and relaxed.

People of all walks of life seem to spend most of their year enjoying all of the hobbies and activities they can before winter makes everyone slow down, bundle up, and stay in. Many people find winter to be one of the most beautiful times of the year, but it can also be one of the most dangerous.

The cold and precipitation of the dark months bring their own unique challenges. Winter is harsher on your home and harsher on your vehicle than the other seasons. It can wreak havoc on your home and public utilities, while winter storms, arctic bursts, “Nor’easters”, and more can cause massive pile-ups and highway travel shutdowns.

Since emergencies in winter can often put your safety in danger much more easily than at other times of the year, so it makes sense to take some precautions that may end up saving your life. Having a few basic preparations in your home and car can help get you safely through a dangerous situation or stranding.

Power Outages And Workarounds

One of the most common things to happen during winter storms is power outages. They can happen for a multitude of reasons and can last for days in some cases. Ice build-up can take down power transmission lines, and car accidents can take down poles, either of which take hours to repair.

Broken water mains can require power shutdowns for blocks until the flooding is repaired. More serious issues can affect substations and more. Power can be out for several days in some cases.

If you have never lost power for more than a day or so at a time, then you might want to consider getting a small inverter. They offer a long run time, steady voltage for your electronics and appliances, and will run a lot of the conveniences of modern life while the grid power is down. If you need a bit more power, some can be run in parallel, doubling the available running wattage.

If there is the possibility that you might lose power for longer periods, between one and three days for example, then a robust dual fuel generator might be a great option for you. They can run for ten to fifteen hours in some cases and have the muscle to push juice to pretty much anything you would need to run on an emergency basis in the winter. They will run on either gasoline or propane, making them an ideal solution for rural residents especially those who may use propane for home heating.

What To Do If Your Heat Goes Out

If the power goes out, you may lose the ability to use certain gas-fired appliances that rely on electric ignition or similar functions. This means you might lose heat. In this case, there are a pair of options that may help you keep your family warm in an emergency.

The first is indoor ventless propane heaters. Often available in two styles, convective and infrared, they both heat well in different ways. They are specifically designed for indoor use and do not need to be vented to the outside.
- Convective or flame style heaters heat the air, handy for large areas that have air circulation aids like fans (think: Mr. Buddy type heaters).
- Infrared heaters use a large ceramic element that is heated and projects infrared heat, warming objects that then store the heat and transfer it to the air and other nearby objects. These will be more expensive than an electric heater, but they will put out significantly more heat into a larger area.
The second option is using electric space heaters with emergency power generation. This is not going to be as effective in heating large areas but is more effective at zone heating. For example, if you need to warm just a living room and perhaps the pipes under the sink, you might find a pair of electric space heaters to be more efficient and cheaper than their propane counterparts.

Preparations Before Winter Arrives

One of the best ways to prepare for emergencies like loss of power or heat is to be proactive in a bid to avoid the emergency in the first place. This means taking a few minutes each season to give your home and seasonal appliances a once-over to make sure they are ready for the winter. Seal up any drafts and insulate where possible, so you can keep the cold out, and the heat in, as much as possible.

Insulating Windows with A Window Kit

Windows are a frequent site of air and thermal exchange. Even the most well-sealed windows can benefit from a plastic window insulation kit.

These are super simple to use, you simply clean the window frame, attach the two-sided tape, then press the plastic sheeting on to seal it. Run a blow dryer over it to basically heat-shrink it and take the slack plastic out. This provides an air barrier that resists thermal change and helps your home retain as much heat as possible.

Wrap Exterior and Perimeter Pipes

A burst water pipe in the winter can be disastrous. If it breaks because your heat goes out, it can be the worst, since all of the resultant water will begin to freeze on the ground. Before temperatures get too consistently low, wrap exposed lengths of pipe on perimeter walls with insulation wrap or tape.

This is a cheap way to make sure that your pipes don’t flash freeze during a cold snap. If an extremely cold day is expected, open a sink faucet or two just the smallest bit, so that they run at the slightest trickle, this can help prevent lines from freezing as well.

Get Your Furnace Inspected

Make sure you get a pre-season checkup for your furnace to avoid any potential mid-season part failures. Check all the regular functions like the thermostat, thermocouple, blower motor, and so on. Generally, you can have an HVAC company come do a checkup for a nominal fee and it only takes a few minutes.

Winter Survival Supplies For the Home

Most modest guidelines say to keep between 3 and 5 days of supplies on hand for most emergencies that would happen in the winter. Some items to keep on hand for the cold months, and the winter season in general include:

1 Gallon of Water Per Person, Per Day

This is crucial since water supplies can often be cut off in a winter emergency. You should plan to have a bare minimum of one gallon per day per person, for drinking and hygiene. This means if you have a family of three, and you want to keep 3 days’ supplies on hand, you will need 9 gallons of water.

3 Days Worth of Food

Keep at least 3 days’ worth of shelf-stable, canned, or other non-perishable food stored. You should plan on having supplies sufficient to make all meals for your family for the duration of the emergency. An emergency may mean no power for refrigeration or electric cooking, so make sure you plan around that. Don’t stock up on pasta if you won’t be able to cook it without electricity (more ideas on our family survival food list).

Home First Aid Kit

This should include bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptic and antibacterial wipes, and over the counter pain killers. Most common commercial kits will be fine, and residential kits will be a bit more extensive than auto kits.

Battery Powered Lights Or Lanterns

In the event that you lose power, you may want electric light since it is much safer and longer-lasting than candlelight. Avoid using candles if at all possible. LEDs will last longer than conventional bulbs.

Plenty Of Spare Batteries

Your lights will need batteries, particularly if the power will be out for some time. Be sure to keep a variety of sizes, the next ones to go dead will be the ones you don’t have on hand, guaranteed.

Chargers For Digital Devices

With our digital devices being our lifeline for many functions, keeping a power bank or two charged up and on hand can be a wise move. This way you don’t need to worry about keeping your phone or tablet charged so you can keep apprised of the details surrounding your emergency.

Stay connected, find out when your power will be coming back on, and communicate with friends or family to let them know your situation.

Cold Weather Survival - Driving in Winter Storms — *Winter can make travel treacherous once the weather gets involved.*

Winter Survival Supplies For The Car

Wet roads can be dangerous enough, but colder weather brings snow and ice that can cause any number of unexpected situations. Clear out a section of your trunk for these essential emergency items this winter.

No matter what causes your breakdown or stranding situation, the following is a brief list of some gear that will help keep you safe and warm until you get help or are able to get going otherwise:

Extra Blankets

In the event that you are stuck on the side of the road and your vehicle is not able to run periodically to keep you warm, you should be ready. Make sure you have a blanket or two, as well as gloves and extra socks.

Flashlight & Batteries

This is a good combo to have in your vehicle regardless of the season. If you are stuck somewhere and it’s after dark, you may need portable task lighting that your vehicle cannot provide.

Emergency Radio

For areas that have sudden weather changes, or large snowstorms that come in suddenly, like areas near the Rockies and the Great Lakes, an emergency radio with a hand crank, solar, or battery back up is another essential piece of gear that can save your life.

Jumper Cables

Winter is a battery assassin. Nearly everyone has gone to start their car at some point and heard that that slow, angry refusal to put enough juice to the starter. Even though most people have been in this situation, many of them still don’t carry cables. If you get stuck and someone is willing and able to give you a jump, one of you is going to need cables, so you might as well have a set ready.

First-Aid Kit

Most commercial first aid kits will be just fine for most peoples’ needs. Make sure there are the basics, such as bandages, gauze, tape, aspirin or ibuprofen, and sterilizing agents like iodine or alcohol wipes.

Water & Food

Obviously, you won’t need several days’ worth of food and water unless you are in a particularly isolated area. The best things to have on hand are some emergency food bars (or some combination of protein bars and granola bars), and bottled water.

You basically just need what would amount to emergency rations for about 24 hours. Again, unless you are traveling in an extremely isolated area, you should not be on the side of the road for more than a day.

Emergency Vehicle Recovery Supplies

Many people live in an area with lots of traffic or a higher population, in which case these emergency vehicle supplies may be superfluous. If you live in a more rural area, or even on the outskirts of town where you may not see as much traffic or have as high of a chance of someone driving by that may be able to help.

Sometimes, you might even be driving from one place to another and driving through a rural area instead of an expressway or more populated route. In situations like this, you may want to consider carrying some of these with you in case you need to effect a self-recovery.

Sand Or Kitty Litter

These can serve a dual purpose. Primarily, you can use either as a traction aid when stuck in snow or on ice. Additionally, both are sold in quantities large enough that they can be used to add weight above a drive axle. Sand can frequently be found in large bags or tubes, and kitty litter can be found in bags and large heavy pails or buckets. While sand will be cheaper to buy large quantities of, kitty litter is often a coarser texture which is more effective in gaining traction.

Snow Shovel

This basic piece of winter equipment will save you some cold, wet hands now, and possibly some frostbite down the road. While most folks don’t have the space for a standard size snow shovel, a small shovel or even a collapsible model is perfect for digging out a couple of tires to get some traction.

Tire Chains

If your state allows tire chains, these are a great way to help give your vehicle extra traction on ice, in snow, and even in slush and mud. Not only that, but you can store them and throw them on if you get stuck, or anticipate getting stuck, and they can be worth their weight in gold.

Tow Straps & Come-along

These are easy substitutes for a winch or a tow truck in a majority of situations. Not only will you be ready with straps if someone happens by and is able to help, but if not, you have the come-along and can ratchet yourself out of a ditch a few inches at a time. Cheaper than a winch or a tow, and they tuck into a corner of the trunk or other storage area.