What to do when SHTF: Are you prepared to deal with a grid-down scenario?…(I Hope You Do!!)
by: Janine Acero
NaturalNews.com
Thursday, September 19, 2019
The power grid is often taken for granted: People are too busy with their individual lives every day and barely have the time or energy to be concerned about anything else. However, it’s becoming more apparent that the U.S. power grid is aging, reaching its capacity, and even under attack. Should the power grid get disabled at a moment’s notice, are you prepared to deal with and survive the ensuing chaos? (h/t to BeansBulletsBandagesAndYou.com)
Preparing for a grid-down
It’s not an exaggeration – a grid-down scenario is most likely to be followed by discord. Businesses will be interrupted or completely shut down; basic infrastructure such as communications, mass transportation, and supply chains will stop; ATM machines will not operate; facilities such as schools, workplaces, and government and public facilities may close; and the supply of clean water will be a serious issue. These situations call for planning and preparation way before SHTF to ensure the survival of everyone in your family.
Below are the main things to address when preparing for a grid-down scenario.
Backup power
One of the very first things to consider when planning for a grid-down scenario is backup power. It will help with nearly all the other problems you will encounter in a short-term power outage. If you have the funds (or consider saving for it right now) and space available, purchase a generator and learn how to use it. You also need a heavy-duty extension cord for your appliances or have an electrician hardwire your home’s electrical system.
For a long-term power outage, solar panels are a sustainable source of electricity – if you can afford the costly installation.
Lighting
If you don’t have backup power, lighting is one of the more pressing things to prepare for. You must have even just a small flashlight in your car, each bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, the garage, and a spare. You should also have one in your bag and on your office desk in case it happens while you’re out.
If you have money to spare, consider buying at least one industrial flashlight for your home. A crank-powered flashlight or solar-powered camping lamp are also good options.
That said, you can never have enough batteries, so stock up on lots of extras. To avoid having to buy different types of batteries, standardize your flashlights and other battery-powered gear on AA or AAA. Consider buying rechargeable batteries as well and solar-powered or crank-powered chargers.
Candles are another source of light as well as heat, but they are also potential fire hazards, so use them with caution.
Water
If you suspect the power might go out, fill buckets with water, fill your bathtub and sink, and flush your toilets. Designate a bucket for dishwater, bathwater, and cleaning water. Keep used or dirty water for flushing toilets. If the power goes out, use your water supply sparingly.
As for drinking water, keep a couple cases of water bottles around. A 55-gallon drinking potable water drum with a pump and roller base is a good option for water storage. Note that water goes stale after a long time in storage, so make sure to rotate your water supply.
In case you need to find drinking water, have a good water filter on hand – such as Big Berkey or Lifestraw – to make questionable water drinkable.
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