Winter preparedness
Posted by Cmosby-533@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 83 comments
What are some of your guys winter preparedness? Do you keep a winter bag at home with essentials? Do you have generators/solar? We just got hit with a big winter storm, didn’t lose power but I felt so unprepared. We have just moved to a new house so still getting everything setup but both my wife and I vehicle were almost empty, left with my truck to go get gas in case we lose power and needed to leave and the 4WD went out. I got the truck back but couldn’t go anywhere else. Can’t really have a wood burning stove where we live but have a gas fire place that doesn’t produce much heat. We have tons of blankets but I was really concerned what we would do if power went out and we have an 8 week old at home to keep her warm.
In summary how do you prepare for a winter storm with a family so I can be better prepared next time.
Long-Dependent-176@reddit
Keep cars fueled, stock food/water, and have backup heat, flashlights, and baby supplies ready.
silverbk65105@reddit
Some general tips in no particular order; I am from a NE state.
Vehicles should be kept in tip top condition. The time for maintenance is before the winter season. Vehicles should be kept with at least half a tank. Don't cheap out on tires or batteries.
You should have gasoline on hand for said vehicle and your generator if it uses gas.
You should have a winter kit in your truck, small shovel, comfy boots, extra layers of clothes gloves, energy bar etc, plenty of vids on this.
Backup heat for your family should be off grid with a flame. Kerosene, Propane, wood, coal etc. Even with no storm, your normy heating could fail. It may be a day or two before you get "the guy" or a week to get a part, ask me how I know.
Inside you should have food to last a couple of weeks, canned and dry stores are fine. Buy extra stuff you already eat. You don't need gourmet meals but if you can't get out, or stores are closed or bare shelves. You will be hungry. Buy a butane catering type stove. For $30 you can be a hero. That little thing can heat water for coffee, heat food, fry eggs etc.
I can go on and on, but those are my basics. Good Luck
happyclamming@reddit
Good faith question: HOW do you store gas? I know you can get Jerry cans and fuel stabilizer but I'm worried about how incendiary it is? Do you store in the garage? Outside?
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
In the appropriate Gasoline Containers, I like metal ones over plastic, with fuel stabilizer in the Garage. I personally do not store fuel for longer than 6 months before rotating it by putting the fuel in my vehicle and refilling it.
However, I do not use Gasoline for Generators. Only Propane for my Generator. It is easier and much safer to store with an indefinite shelf life. It is also much easier on the Generator.
TermPractical2578@reddit
Is alright to leave the gasoline can outside in -30 weather?
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
That's fine. Just keep it in the garage.
TermPractical2578@reddit
It would have to be on my deck, as I cannot get into the Lifetime shed in the Winter.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
Then store it somewhere else. I wouldn't leave a gas can just sitting on the deck.
What is the intended use for the gasoline?
TermPractical2578@reddit
Vehicle before a snow storm.
Impossible_Range6953@reddit
your car tank is safest way to store gas if you dont have storage room away from house.
get a manual pump and a jerry can to move gas from car to generator. Make sure it's done in open air with no flame or spark source around.
silverbk65105@reddit
I like these
I use the battery pump, not cheap but you won't spill anything.
Pro tip; buy and store ethanol free gasoline available at marinas, airport and some gas stations.
happyclamming@reddit
Thank you so much.
SheistyPenguin@reddit
Outside of the home, with enough shelter to keep the weather off- even a garden shed or bike shed will do. It won't spontaneously combust; just keep it away from sparky or flamey things.
No_Gear_1093@reddit
Don't forget carbonmonoxide detectors. And extra batteries.
Gjallardoodle@reddit
Are there any you recommend or have worked well for you? I feel like this isn't a 'find the cheapest one on Amazon' type of thing...
DevolvingSpud@reddit
The ones at big box hardware stores are good. Get one that does CO and gas for extra points, but make sure you get the right kind for the gas you have. Natural gas and propane are different.
Gjallardoodle@reddit
Awesome, I appreciate the tip!
-zero-below-@reddit
I get big brand ones. And I always have two, from separate brands, in the riskier places (like my camping van that may operate near running cars).
Gjallardoodle@reddit
I appreciate the reply! Thank you!
No_Gear_1093@reddit
Unfortunately I do not.
silverbk65105@reddit
Yes good call.
A good self respecting prepper has loads of spare batteries for all their stuff. My buddy learned this lesson after Atlanta got snow a few years back. All the stores were sold out and he had to lean of his prepper buddy for some AAs.
OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit
This. I like a propane camp stove better - the Coleman one has 2 burners and with an adapter you can use a 20# tank, which is months of cooking. Then you have the option of getting a Mr Buddy heater, which burn propane and are designed to be used indoors. They do drink the propane, but they create a lot of heat on demand.
A generator is de rigueur in New England. You just own one, it's not even a question. Get one big enough to run your oil burner (or other heating) and a refrigerator and you can laugh at storms. 5000W is probably enough. One that can burn either propane or gas is ideal. Note that if you're on a well, or have sump pumps, etc, you may need to go larger on the wattage.
I couldn't do solar where I lived in NE - too many trees. But if you can afford it and have the open sky you don't even notice power failures. Keep in mind, though, that you can have solid weeks of cloudy weather, so the generator is still a thing.
Mac&Cheese is ambrosia in a NE winter power fail - but by day three you want a change. Stock some variety.
silverbk65105@reddit
Excellent. Just a note not really for you but anyone reading. The butane stoves have adapters available so you run propane from a 1lb or larger tank with a hose. they also come in dual fuel that do both right out of the box.
I do own a two burner coleman camp stove but when you actually try to cook on it you can only get one good sized pot or pan there. So the ideal setup is two of the butane ones.
Just being able to run an old school percolator during an outage is pure bliss.
When sizing a generator, get one you can handle meaning you will have to take into account maintaining it, moving it, your wife moving it, fueling it, attaching cord, lining up breakers and pull starting if you have that style. My wife is not physically or mentally capable so I have a deluxe auto start whole house setup, for when I am stuck at work.
OdesDominator800@reddit
We use a teapot and French coffee press.
MadRhetorik@reddit
I keep 2 Kerosene heaters for supplemental heat when it gets below 30. I’m used to being in the cold and working in it but my wife is in agony if it’s lower than 70 degrees. Other than that I keep a few days worth of propane and a big camp stove for cooking. I’ve got a 100 gallon bulk tank of kerosene so I could weather an easy month of constant kerosene heater usage. As it is I use 3.5 gallons a week with my smaller heater but with the larger one it would more than double. I tell people to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and bored.
KateMacDonaldArts@reddit
One small additional prep for comfort (and sanity): fill a thermos with boiling water before you go to bed ahead of a storm. If you wake up without power, you can enjoy a cup of tea or instant coffee while planning out your next steps.
coffeefrog03@reddit
Whenever there is a (known) threat of power loss, i fill one thermos with brewed coffee and one with hot water. Priorities!!!!!!! If we don’t lose power, it’s nice to have an easy hot cup in the morning!
OdesDominator800@reddit
9500 watt generator in the wellhouse, Dabbson 2200 watt inverter, 500 watt inverter for charging phones and other items, 420 watt solar panels, eight four gallon water bottles filled at the store, six gas cans stored in the utility shed, six propane bottles in the shed, propane BBQ, Coleman camp stove, Coleman lanterns, Coleman heater, rechargeable flashlights, molle pack complete first aid kit, chopped wood for fireplace, pantry full plus food grade buckets with spin lids full of rice and beans. Also, wool blankets, gloves, biker face covering, ski hat, and thermal socks. We also have those packs of instant pocket heaters. Lastly, a 4x4 side by side just in case, even though we have Jeep XJ.
Unlikely_Ad_9861@reddit
When we lose power in the winter, we keep the house livable using a diesel heater exhausted through a window. Powered from a DIY 'solar generator' with 1kwh storage and a 100-watt solar panel wired through the same window. Unlikely the power outage will outlast the battery-solar given the 15-watt power draw. Have a carbon monoxide detector in the room.
MinerDon@reddit
In many areas solar is completely useless during the winter months.
DIYnivor@reddit
I have a generator that will run lights, fridge, freezer, etc. I have a fireplace insert that will keep the whole house above freezing (with the room it's in probably a toasty 80 degrees), which isn't bad. PLENTY of food on hand. I'm not sure I'd buy a house that didn't have some way to keep it warm when the power is out. You could get some of those Buddy heaters and a bunch of propane tanks.
wpbth@reddit
Well insulated house is a good start and benefits beyond prepping. The tent is a great idea
DeafHeretic@reddit
#1 Good shelter (insulated), firewood/woodstove, emergency lighting, two gensets, fuel (both diesel & gasoline). Various prepping supplies including plenty of food and several ways to cook it.
#2 Daily driver is AWD. Pickups and truck are 4WD.
halfcocked1@reddit
We have two bluetti power stations 1800W I believe, with 200W solar panels to go with them. We are lucky to have various heat sources in our house. We have base board hot water downstair, electric upstairs. We also have a fireplace in the living room, a wood stove in the basement, coal stove and a small fireplace in the upstair main bedroom. I think we'd be good to stay in our house without power for awhile.
ImcallsignBacon@reddit
Body heat for the baby, not just blankets.
CTSwampyankee@reddit
Look back at history for answers. Electricity is what provides us with civilization, without it we're back in the days of our forefathers. No electricity means you have to burn organic matter. Get a wood/coal stove.
If you're in an area that supports firewood, then stoke it up. If you can store coal, it's a good backup that doesn't rot and can be stashed.
For people without wood the chinese diesel heaters appear to be a pretty decent way to get some heat.
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
Foil blankets - emergency blankets
Keep a hat on baby and socks on feet. Put a light shirt on baby then pants and shirt or a thick onesies with flannel
The-Mond@reddit
I agree on the emergency blankets. Since foil/mylar blankets are so reflective, they can also be used to set up a make-shift solar cooker assuming you have enough sun light. Obviously, it may not be as effective as other forms of emergency cooking - but just one way this kind of prepping item can have more than one use.
RedYamOnthego@reddit
If we lost power, I know where the tent is. I'd set it up in the living room, and try to get all the cats in. Body heat can really warm things up. I have a few hot water bottles, too, and old kettles that I could use on the gas tabletop stove to boil water in. Extra gas canisters, too. We also have a little heater that will run on the same gas cannisters.
Do your wife a favor and get the blankets washed & dried so they are ready to keep you warm.
And have stuff in your car. Flares, a small shovel to dig out your tailpipe is you slide off the road, gloves, and a couple of extra towels. Towels can keep you warmer, and you can use them for extra traction if your tires are spinning in the snow. A few snacks are good if you'll be driving far from inhabited areas.
Darkmark8910@reddit
I posted a bunch of tips on this thread. "Your wife" may appreciate #15, #23, and #32.
RedYamOnthego@reddit
Lol, I get it. I should pass them along to my husband, huh?
HornFanBBB@reddit
I personally found the reply unnecessary. But they also thought nonchalant was two words so it’s hard to take “pukey” comments like that too seriously.
RedYamOnthego@reddit
Lol, thank you. I was taken aback, but it was true, so there is that. I appreciate your support!
HornFanBBB@reddit
My thought, too, was with an 8 week old baby mom might not be healed up enough to be able to transfer blankets from washer to dryer. I tried to reply to them but I guess they’d already deleted it, lol.
One_Half226@reddit
"Do your wife a favor"
I think I just met a new capacity for eye rolling I never thought possible. 🤮
Darkmark8910@reddit
Here's some preps that cost little to nothing:
1) Have a clean, hygienic spot in your garage or porch or attic. If you lose power, you can store your refrigerated items there.
2) Don't throw out old towels or blankets. They can be useful for insulation if you lose power. Bonus if you wash them, then put them in the hygienic spot for storage.
3) Consider insulation. There's lots of methods online. A classic is to close your curtains & put old towels & blankets (see #2) on windows & then designate 1 room to sleep in.
4) Have someone actually clean your dryer & washer of dust & debris. Serious fire hazard especially if lighting fires indoors.
5) Pick up free old aquariums, barrels, beer/meat coolers, hunters' tarps & windshield tarps, and plastic tubs. Useful for water storage.
6) Make sure your bathtub doesn't slowly drain water when it's closed. Even a slow drip's detrimental.
7) Get water purification tablets or other methods of water purification that aren't reliable upon an electric stove. It's hard to boil water when the power's out.
8) Look at other preps from Texans who survived the February 2021 Snowpocalypse. There's plenty of good tips there - those preps are mainly written for people who live in Texas, IE the only American state with a power grid that isn't built to withstand winter. Other countries worldwide may be in similar situations. If you're in a "cold weather area" then some of their preps may be less applicable.
9) Fill up your gas tank early. Bonus if you have a spare bit of gas lying around at home in a gas can (note: it's an obvious fire hazard but also decent as a smelly firestarter). Same goes for propane & charcoal for the grill. See #17.
10) If you can afford it: invest in jumper cables, a chainsaw, a fire extinguisher, a chain to tie two vehicles together, and road salt. All of these would make you very popular with the neighbors in case catastrophe ensued.
11) Find all your winter gloves & hats. Put them in a single drawer, preferably near your front door - that way you won't lose them. Make sure those winter hats cover your earlobes (see #13)
12) Long underwear. It's a godsend for keeping warm. Long socks are also helpful, but not as helpful as long underwear. Long underwear can also be used as... underwear. Scary, I know.
13) Scarves. Yes, you may look like a fashion model wearing a scarf, but they're very, very helpful for keeping warm on windy winter days and for protecting your earlobes. Your earlobes are the most likely place to suffer from frostbite b/c most winter hats don't cover them, especially if you have a big head or big ears. Scarves fix this and protect your neck to boot. You can make improvised scarves via taking an old blanket & cutting it into multiple "scarves" or cutting a half towel in half.
14) Use a Thermal Leak Detector on your windows, doors, & some walls. Your local library likely has one you can check out for free. If any particular spot's leaking a lot (like a window), then replace it - it'll save you long-term on insulation costs.
15) Consider hygiene, specifically bathroom hygiene, if your power's out and you're on a "boil water only" order. It will not be fun to poop outside when it's -20F and windy at 1am.
16) Have a few cans of soup / chili / etc lying around. Avoid dried foods if you can as water access may be ironically limited. If the liquid's already in the can (see canned soup) you'll be happier.
Darkmark8910@reddit
17) Make sure your tire's have some extra air in them. For reasons I don't understand, suddenly-cooling air affects the air pressure in your tires. Top them off at the gas station while you're doing #9.
18) If you have one lying around, find any of your old "portable phone charger" bricks, like the type you'd take on road trips or keep in a purse/car in case your phone needed a quick recharge. Make sure it's charged. Go through your device(s), see what apps take up the most idle power, and remove them.
19) Figure out how to actually unplug some of your household electronic devices. How do you turn off the fridge?
20) Figure out how to monitor your water pipes in the ceiling & floor. I don't know how - TBH I'm not that handy!
21) Look at battery-powered air pumps for aquariums and battery-powered heaters for reptiles.
22) Clean the bedroom closet. At least the part of the closet you walk on. This would be helpful in case you're all resting in the main bedroom and a family member wants privacy.
23) Have honey & nasal strips & earplugs & other cold/flu home remedies. When it's suddenly cold, the air gets very, very dry - this leads to weird nasal issues, enflamed allergic reactions, and tons of loud snoring. Combine lack of sleep & dry air with colder weather & misery, and you get a recipe for easy illness. Especially important if you have young children. Iced tea mixed with honey can be helpful & sugary enough to be acceptable to kids.
24) Educate household members on fire safety & gas safety. There's lots of people who don't know better - make sure your household DOES know better.
25) Establish a routine for what's most important to do when the power comes back on. It may come on intermittently for short periods of time.
26) Look at your pantry. How many items in there don't require any cooking? IE you could prepare them just in the pantry, not requiring any kitchen utensils. If it's less than a weeks' worth, remedy that.
27) If you're doing #26, your family (and any kids) are going to get sick of Newman's Own Chicken Noodle Soup real fast. Salt & extra seasoning & hot sauce in the spice cabinet never hurt anybody.
28) Call your pharmacy & ask to get prescriptions filled early due to the weather. They can likely accommodate.
29) Pay your monthly bills early. You'll be glad you did. Your Internet speed may be slow.
30) To follow up on #29, download some fun YouTube videos & offline phone games & the like beforehand.
31) Ensure you have some pet wet food lying around. You do not want Lucky or Fido getting a dry cough from all the bad conditions (see #23). It's worth the $10-$15 for a weeks' worth of dog/cat wet food to avoid very costly veterinary bills. Consider how you'll keep your four-legged companions from getting antsy while stuck in one or two rooms all day and how your family will address the inevitable behavioral issues as well as animal bathroom needs.
32) Make sure your children can still access school resources, if your school district has plans to do remote learning. Even if it seems unlikely, it's possible they'll have remote learning days after the worst has passed.
davidm2232@reddit
I can heat the house with my oil furnace, oil boiler, woodstove, heat pump, and electric resistive heat. Any one of those can keep the house at least in the 50s on it's own. I have enough diesel to run my generator for 4 hours per day through the whole winter. I also keep enough wood in the basement to heat the house with just the woodstove through a whole winter. At least 3 months of food in the house at a time. I also have \~200 gallons of gasoline and 3 snowblowers. Plus a plow truck, snowblower, several shovels, and a backhoe. And a plow for my atv. And a backup plow I can put on my SUV. Snow pants, boots, waterproof winter jackets, many warm layers, gloves, etc. I am very prepared for snow and cold.
11systems11@reddit
Check craigslist or Facebook marketplace for great deals on kerosene heaters, solar power banks, and generators. Give them a good test before handing over cash.
The-Mond@reddit
USB rechargeable hand warmers: portable, can last anywhere from a few hours to several hours depending on charge capacity and heat level used, they don't require chemical fuel, can be recharged from any USB power source (power bank, solar panel, car charger), can also warm other often cold areas of body (nose, ears). Be ware, not all of them are created equal, the charge capacity (Milliamp hours [mAh]) can vary - just like a power bank, but I've recently purchased several different pairs for as cheap as $7-$10 (sometimes using an Amazon discount code).
Pbandsadness@reddit
You can get a propane heater like Mr. Heater. Walmart sells one under their house brand that they claim is indoor safe. I still wouldn't use one without a CO detector.
Imagirl48@reddit
Come to r/preppers before the next storm and read through these kind of comments. Great for reminders of the little things you forget to do!
No_Amoeba6994@reddit
This is not intended as a criticism of the OP at all, just an observation - it's fascinating how we get so accustomed to our own regions that we don't even realize others have to prepare for what we consider normal. I'm from Vermont. There's no "preparing" for winter (other than scheduling an appointment to put my snow tires on) because it is ordinary and normal. It will snow, it will freeze, you will lose power when it's 0 F out. That's just.... life. There's nothing special I do because I'm used to it. So when you ask how I prepare for it, I just give you a perplexed look.
I imagine if I asked someone from California how to prepare for wildfires, or someone from Florida how to prepare for hurricanes, they might give me a similar perplexed look. It's just normal to them. Psychologically, that's very interesting.
ellsiejay@reddit
It seems like we might all have to learn how “the other half preps”, given the extreme weather events happening across the ~~country~~ world. Winter people like us can be a huge resource to others just learning about it, and vice versa. Kinda cool in a twisted way!
No_Amoeba6994@reddit
Yeah, climate change is definitely exposing all of us to new and unexpected challenges. Here in Vermont, floods, but also paradoxically summer droughts.
Imagirl48@reddit
Same here in west Tennessee.
gadget767@reddit
I have seen lots of people including “boots” as part of the winter clothing prep, but many people not from places where heavy snows are routine may not have any idea about appropriate winter boots. I am going to make a specific recommendation. For working outside in the snow (for example, clearing walks and driveways after a big snow) I always wear my Sorel brand (Caribou model) waterproof boots. These, or something similar, are what you really need for outside in winter. On glare ice, I would add a pair of ice spikes that just strap onto the soles of the boots. One pair should last pretty much forever for the casual (once in a while) user. I have had mine for about 26 years. Everything mentioned is available from Amazon.
nite_skye_@reddit
Sorel boots are great. Last for years and as someone who likes fashion, you can find some pretty cute ones.
For ice, a brand I recommend is Yaktrax. They use coils to grip the ice. I don’t have any other kind but can attest that these hold up long term and work well, even on a solid sheet of ice.
Imagirl48@reddit
Some Yaktrax on currently on sale on Amazon.
Background_Change359@reddit
Well, you've made the critical first step: you're aware you need to be better prepared. From there know it is a constant progression, picking you way thru a constant series of threats
Classically, there is a distinction between Risks and Threats.
A Threat is something adverse that COULD happen.
A Risk is a Threat combined with the Probability it WILL happen.
Regardless of all the statistics courses you may have or ever will take, no one does a very good job of assigning probability. r/preppers, r/collapse, r/? is ever filled with OPs asserting high confidence in really shitty outcomes, with much arguing on whether various calibers of semi-automatic weapons address that.
This is the path you are on. The small consolation is that you may be better prepared for 'something'. I suggest preparing for weather events first, but that's because we see 4 ft snow falls here 'bouts semi-regularly. And no, ARs don't help much with that, tho a Ruger 10/22 will allow you to plink cans full of ice off the back fence. Know that rednecks will survive.
Successful-Street380@reddit
I usually swap out fresh gas before winter
ScoutAndLout@reddit
SE US. I put on pants and make sure to bring a light jacket in case it is chilly. Sometimes I don't wear flip flops.
Vegetaman916@reddit
This is me, a couple weeks back after hiking to the top of Lone Mountain in Nevada. In a tank top and shorts. In December. It was 62 degrees F at the top, even with the wind.
No, I am not doing much winter prep anymore.
MacaroonUpstairs7232@reddit
When i met my husband I asked him what the plan was if our furnace died on a cold night, he said he has a generator that would run it, I said no, I mean dead, doesn't work -20°. He couldn't comprehend something not working because he is diligent about maintenance and replacement. Anyway, we now have 3 heat sources, oil, propane and wood, along with various space heaters, 3 hot water sources, on demand generator, a back up generator and 2 years worth of wood cut and split.
Alaskanarrowusa@reddit
consider creating a winter emergency kit with at least three days’ worth of non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person per day), along with baby formula or food if needed.
Create a communication plan with your wife about how to handle emergencies and who to contact if you need assistance. Check on neighbors who may need help during storms, especially those with young children or elderly individuals.
Others - a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, ensure your gas fire is well-maintained and stocked with fuel. You can also try The Ultimate Prepping Guide: 100+ Recommendations from A-Z for winter stuff too.
PS - I’d add a portable propane heater as an alternative heating source actually
OutlawCaliber@reddit
Blankets, solar generator with panels, and good clothes. My best one is a portable wood stove with adaptor piping that I've set up to run out our apartment window. She's decent sized, so I can hang blankets over the doors and burn wood in the one room for heat. I have a setup so that I can also cook with it, too. We're not in a house, though, but an apartment. In normal times I wouldn't use that. I have a winter tent that it's actually meant for. I just got the parts for just in case. I ain't freezing to death in my place, and neither is my family.
erock7625@reddit
Get a couple of Buddy heaters, they can be used indoors and run on propane.
Subtotal9_guy@reddit
Blankets in the house and in the car.
Natural gas BBQ with a side burner for cooking if the power is out. Camping stove as a third option.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
You can have a tank top propane heater anywhere. Just be sure to keep adequate air flow or get an explosive gas detector/CO monitor, especially for smaller rooms.
Kerosene heaters work well in larger areas also.
tnscatterbrain@reddit
No wood stove here either.
We have insulated blankets and tension poles to tent up the living room around the gas fire place.
We have a small contracting company, it’s a great way to have a lot of this stuff, lol. We have a small generator & gas so we can keep the furnace fan going enough to stop pipes from freezing, and we have a couple propane heaters. I don’t love the idea of using them inside the house, but if it comes to it…I also have extra CO detectors & I’m constant recharging batteries.
We have a gas barbecue for cooking, as well as all the food that we don’t have to cook.
I’d boil water while cooking and fill up the thermoses. We have 4 big ones, 4 more lunch sized, too many travel mugs, and a couple carafes. I’ve done oatmeal, soups & stews etc in the thermoses while camping. You can have warm food for the day after cooking once.
My husband has all the insulated work gear, the kids and I have a few sets of good base layers each and good quality boots, snow pants, coat etc. We’re in Canada-not in the colder parts, but still Canada- so it gets used regularly.
For keeping the baby warm, look into baby wearing. It’s a great way to keep both of you warm. I stole a few of my husband’s oversized hoodies to wear over the two of us when mine were babies, you could probably find coats second hand for both of you to wear over the baby. Hats and a scarf around you both and you should be toasty as long as you’re dry and out of the wind.
Diaper changes are a pain, keep a pack of wipes inside your clothes so they’re warmer than they would be sitting out. They’re good for giving yourself a wipe down too.
I’ve seen people suggest using hot water bottles to help keep a baby warm. I’d probably put them into giant ziplock bags in case they leaked, a soaked baby & baby’s bed during a winter power outage could be disastrous, and obviously wrap them up in cloth.
Vehicles do fail unpredictably, other than staying on top of maintenance, there’s not much most of us can do about that. We live in town, so it’s not so much an issue for us. My husband’s work truck is 4x4, and I have a Jeep Liberty, it was cheap when we needed a vehicle and I appreciate having the 4wd option. We both do our best to not let them get below half full.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
Check all lights, recharge batteries, replace batteries or have extra on hand.
Make sure your backup off-grid heater is in place and ready.
Check the batteries in your explosive gas detector, CO monitor and fire alarms
Recharge your emergency radio or get extra batteries ready
Wash and dry your warm clothing before an emergency. Make sure your wool socks, wool hat and will gloves are clean with no holes and are ready to wear.
Check your boots for holes.
Fill up your propane bottles or kerosene jugs.
Make sure your wool blankets are ready along with your sleeping bags.
Make sure you have a spare ice scraper for your vehicle. Keep one inside your house in case your doors are frozen shut.
Take a spray bottle of windshield (rubber safe) antifreeze and spray door jams so they don't freeze shut.
Have extra water on hand in case yours freeze.
Have your composting toilet is ready in case it is needed.
Have extra pet food.
Fill up your vehicle gas tanks.
Check your vehicles antifreeze level.
Cover your window to prevent heat loss. Bubble wrap on the glass, towels over the curtain rods, even sheets would help.
Pack your freezers and get rid of the empty spaces. Open spaces allow the freezer to thaw quicker than a full freezer.
If possible, game a heavy curtain it blanket over your outside doors to prevent heat kids 3 when they are opened.
Have an off grid hobby.
Have an off-grid way to cook.
Put gallon ziplock bags of ice melt and coarse sand in your vehicle in case it is needed.
Have extra batteries available.
Have a way to make a dry sink... just in case.
Have easy, quick, foods to cook in an emergency.
If you have medical conditions that need electricity, have a way to power your machinery.
Check on your elderly neighbors.
Know the location of warming centers and red cross shelters. Even if you don't need it, your elderly neighbors might.
Keep your snow shovel inside so it doesn't get covered up in snow or freeze to the ground.
Keep extra socks,a blanket, extra mittens in your vehicle.
Recharge your phone's. Have extra cables available. Remember that your vehicle can charge your phones in a power outage. Have extra car plugs too.
Have an off-grid way to make coffee if that is your addiction.
Have extra toys or off-grid entertainment for kids stuck at home.
Make sure you know where all of the off-grid lights are and that you can find them in the dark.
Make sure outside pets have a good warm shelter.
Have extra sweets available for a moral boost.
Do your laundry before an emergency. Make sure your have plenty of clean underwear and socks.
Have plenty to drink. Warm drinks are great in the cold.
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
Check all lights, recharge batteries, replace batteries or have extra on hand.
Make sure your backup off-grid heater is in place and ready.
Check the batteries in your explosive gas detector, CO monitor and fire alarms
Recharge your emergency radio or get extra batteries ready
Wash and dry your warm clothing before an emergency. Make sure your wool socks, wool hat and will gloves are clean with no holes and are ready to wear.
Check your boots for holes.
Fill up your propane bottles or kerosene jugs.
Make sure your wool blankets are ready along with your sleeping bags.
Make sure you have a spare ice scraper for your vehicle. Keep one inside your house in case your doors are frozen shut.
Take a spray bottle of windshield (rubber safe) antifreeze and spray door jams so they don't freeze shut.
Have extra water on hand in case yours freeze.
Have your composting toilet is ready in case it is needed.
Have extra pet food.
Fill up your vehicle gas tanks.
Check your vehicles antifreeze level.
Cover your window to prevent heat loss. Bubble wrap on the glass, towels over the curtain rods, even sheets would help.
Pack your freezers and get rid of the empty spaces. Open spaces allow the freezer to thaw quicker than a full freezer.
If possible, game a heavy curtain it blanket over your outside doors to prevent heat kids 3 when they are opened.
Have an off grid hobby.
Have an off-grid way to cook.
Put gallon ziplock bags of ice melt and coarse sand in your vehicle in case it is needed.
Have extra batteries available.
Have a way to make a dry sink... just in case.
Have easy, quick, foods to cook in an emergency.
If you have medical conditions that need electricity, have a way to power your machinery.
Check on your elderly neighbors.
Know the location of warming centers and red cross shelters. Even if you don't need it, your elderly neighbors might.
Keep your snow shovel inside so it doesn't get covered up in snow or freeze to the ground.
Keep extra socks,a blanket, extra mittens in your vehicle.
Recharge your phone's. Have extra cables available. Remember that your vehicle can charge your phones in a power outage. Have extra car plugs too.
Have an off-grid way to make coffee if that is your addiction.
Have extra toys or off-grid entertainment for kids stuck at home.
Make sure you know where all of the off-grid lights are and that you can find them in the dark.
Make sure outside pets have a good warm shelter.
Have extra sweets available for a moral boost.
Do your laundry before an emergency. Make sure your have plenty of clean underwear and socks.
Have plenty to drink. Warm drinks are great in the cold.
Rip1072@reddit
I'm in upper Midwest, the sounds like a normal spring day for us, lol. Seriously, generator, food, water, medical supplies, sleeping bags, the normal preps everyone should have, plus, thermal clothing, hand warmers, gloves, hats, boots(i wear insulated muck boots basically all winter). I second the veh. maintenance vote . I usually devote Sept to getting everything serviced and ready, truck, suv and car, snowmobiles, atv, utv, generators, snow blowers. You'll get thru this event, think of what you've learned and how your prepping will change .
Grand-Corner1030@reddit
Winter storms happen every year where I live, your storm is my Tuesday. When it happens regularly, it becomes routine. Getting snowed in for a few days isn't a big deal.
Vehicles, have them filled. Assume the roads are closed, but they'll open eventually. Stay home, you shouldn't have left the house during the storm unless it was dire. Chances are, if you're not prepped, you don't have good tires. Don't be one of those people stuck in the ditch by staying home, Emergency Services are busy enough.
Camping supplies. I have a tent and sleeping bags. Since I can literally sleep outside at -30C, I can sleep inside at -30C. Most prep supplies are in the camping section. Winter camping is a normal activity for some people. Most of it involves extra blankets and staying in smaller more easily heated spaces. Gets some cards, it can get boring.
Little ones. When it was -40 and we had little ones, it was tricky going out. You bundle them up in their car seat and they stay toasty warm. The hard part was getting the buckles around all those layers, but if you're staying home, its fine. Changing the diapers was a pain, you learn to be quick. It gets harder when they're 2, they refuse to stay still and hate getting bundled up.
Clothes. I have winter gear for everyone: boots, hats, gloves, thick pants, long underwear, sweaters, jackets, ski goggles and balaclavas. Power goes out, we're gearing up.
Friends/neighbours (CDN spelling). Stay in contact and make sure they're okay. I'd hate to recover from a storm and hear about the old lady across the street not making it. The elderly are particularly susceptible to the cold.
Electronics, charge up phones. Have plugs on GFCI plugs and surge protectors. If power is an issue, it also means power surges are a problem. That's just good practice for an average day as well as a storm.
J701PR4@reddit
I keep a group of storage bins in the garage: one with winter clothes (coats, gloves, watch caps), one with electric space heaters, and one with really heavy blankets.
PrisonerV@reddit
Also emergency vehicle kit
Full tank of gas
Plenty of food options in the deep pantry.
gadget767@reddit
There was just a good discussion about this. Here’s a link where people chimed in on what they do.
https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/s/5G4P1jVE3m
coffeefrog03@reddit
We also can’t have wood burning - but have the (pointless) gas fireplace. I bought a buddy heater and keep extra propane. Spring tension curtain rods and heavy curtains to hang in doors leading to our main living space (open floor plan). We’ll heat that area in case of power outrage. Portable solar for fridge (technically can use outside to keep things cold). Campstove and grill for cooking. We also purchased a really good sleeping bag for each family member.
Not sure if we’d last more than a week and a half in the cold without power… but at least it’s a start!
eearthchild@reddit
Appropriate clothing layers for everyone in the family (somewhat depends on your region) - silk or wool liners, mid layers, outer layers, socks, hats, gaiters, gloves, boots… etc. Consider pets too. Our dogs won’t wear booties but have warm coats and Musher’s Secret balm for their paws.
Here’s a decent primer to start you off https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/layering-basics.html
ommnian@reddit
We have solar, but honestly it's nearly worthless Dec/Jan and parts of Nov and February. Just too many overcast days with snow, rain, etc.
But, we also have wood stoves. They're work, but always an option. Tbh though, we've never lost power very much in the winter. We tend to have more power outages in the spring and summer.
ommnian@reddit
We have solar, but honestly it's nearly worthless Dec/Jan and parts of Nov and February. Just too many overcast days with snow, rain, etc.
But, we also have wood stoves. They're work, but always an option. Tbh though, we've never lost power very much in the winter. We tend to have more power outages in the spring and summer.
ommnian@reddit
We have solar, but honestly it's nearly worthless Dec/Jan and parts of Nov and February. Just too many overcast days with snow, rain, etc.
But, we also have wood stoves. They're work, but always an option. Tbh though, we've never lost power very much in the winter. We tend to have more power outages in the spring and summer.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
I would recommend you check my post about preparing for a Power Outage.