Hello Dear Friends

The storm appears to have been finished with us, we have lots of ice and snow, we have gotten at least half of our normal winters snow in a matter of about ten days, well over three feet, plus drifting, we have had down limbs and branches.

We did prepwork on the farm and we got lucky! It could have been much worse, it was not..

As I read the news reports, I say it again, please, please consider preparing for a event like this, I know that the government says prepare for 72 hours, and if a 72 hour kit for your family is the what you are willing to do, then do it! and that ‘s is awesome!

But if you really want to get a good solid start, have a rock solid plan for 2 weeks if needed, and then work your way upward depending on what happens in your own neck of the woods, here in my area, if you get a proper nasty ice storm, you are looking at two to six weeks of possible on your own..

But lets go back for a moment, lets cover the basic’s, and by true basic’s I mean what you will need in order to cloth, feed, water and shelter..  when the heat is off, layer up.. one to three pairs of socks, with good heavy slippers, to layers of pants, at least three layers on top, don’t forget to cover your head, gloves for sure and if you sit, you want to use blankets, if its wet, switch for dry..

Close off most of your house, live in one room only, ideally the room you pick will get any sun you can, adding solar heat but cover the windows as soon as the sun is no longer there to keep out all thermal cold, your room should ideally not be more then about 400 square feet, make a honey bucket and use it. A good lamp or two, (keep in mind that if you are in a very draft new eco house, that you can have issues with not having enough air flow (have a tester in the room with you!) and a little warmer with a candle, and good quality sleeping bags, even if you only have one, and if that is the case, put it under the whole family on the bed, sleep together with lots of blankets on top and if you can do it, create a outer old fashioned bed coverings to help keep in the heat that you and yours will generate.

IF the beds have a chill to them, warm a brick or a stone or even a marble cutting board over the candle and run it down the sheets, to take the chill and damp off before climbing into bed, sleep with a touque on! you will lose more heat from your head.. don’t let it happen..

Forget about washing for awhile, warm just enough water to wash hands, faces and feet if needed.. that’s it, no wet hair, no full body scrub downs, etc..

When you heat water for tea or drinking etc, use a flask, and then you can hand out warm drinks for hours afterwards.. Consider investing into something like the shuttle chef, I can heat water, and it will still be hot eight hours later.

Think about these things now or after the storm, so that when the next one comes, you are better prepared! I want each and everyone of you to come out the other side holding your own, please! It does not all have to done at once, just pick up one or two little things each payday and make a box, make a kit and when something happens, it could be life saving!