Winter storm, do you last minute prep ?

**ladytoysdream** · 12-14-2010, 01:20 PM

I know a lot of us have a good stockpile , etc.
But if a winter storm is coming and you think you might lose
power, do you precook food and lay in extra stuff ?

We have a good woodpile stacked for heat. The generater has
gas in it. I keep some extra water in jugs. All kinds of food here.
And we do have a propane cook stove. And a extra tank of propane
in the shed. I try to stay current on laundry. I don't panic.

I was reading online this morning, and came across a post where
the lady preps some extra cooked food, including deserts,
makes sure water is drawn extra, and then orders in pizza ...

so, do you last minute make a run for something..........
or are you ready ?

**thesightofoneself** · 12-14-2010, 01:24 PM

we have a generator. i hope there is gas in it...

and i always have a case of water in my room, nothing like a fast to get you in the mood

**Darlene** · 12-14-2010, 01:30 PM

We're pretty much always ready but I hear a nor'easter/blizzard is heading our way I'll double check and get any errands out of the way before hand. Gas, propane, water, food, check check check check.

**KeithBC** · 12-14-2010, 02:07 PM

The generator always has stabilized gas in it, and a spare jerry can. Since it can run the well pump, water is not a problem.

At the beginning of the winter, DW cooks up several soups and freezes them. Soup is easy to heat up on the wood stove.

We heat primarily with wood (electricity is a backup), so we keep a 2-year supply in the woodshed. The wood box in the basement has a two-week capacity, and we fill it up when there is a storm forecast. Not that the woodshed is a long way away, but it saves being outside in a blizzard or hurricane.

**pinetree** · 12-14-2010, 02:13 PM

We are usuallly ready, have gas for the generator, food & soups etc in the freezer, water is not a problem. We usually prepare in the fall, then there are no surprises later and we dont panic.

**Darlene** · 12-14-2010, 02:27 PM

Feels good to be prepared doesn't it?

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-14-2010, 02:29 PM

I've got a load of wood coming Friday (we're lucky we didn't lose power last night), and my cooktop is propane plus we have the barbecue. So I can cook and stay warm. However, it didn't really occur to me until last night that I can't see in the dark

. Normally storms seem to come early in the day and I would just get ready, then go to bed if power was still out at dark. Yesterday it came late afternoon, it was pitch dark at 4:30 and I was making dinner with the lights flickering when I realized that we don't even have a working flashlight.

**Trishagirl** · 12-14-2010, 03:34 PM

We have a kerosene heater for backup heat and extra kerosene in the garage. We also keep a case of water in the garage and I keep gallons of water in the pantry. I've been keeping my food stockpile filled. I could work on keeping some premade meals in the freezer to pop in the oven, but we have steaks & hamburgers ready to put on the grill.

**Russ** · 12-14-2010, 03:41 PM

Please remember SAFETY when using those heaters indoors.

**lisaflex** · 12-14-2010, 04:32 PM

when i see a storm rollin our way, i check out our wine cache!!! lol. if we are going to be snowed in, might as well drink some good red wine!!

**ladytoysdream** · 12-14-2010, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by lisaflex

when i see a storm rollin our way, i check out our wine cache!!! lol. if we are going to be snowed in, might as well drink some good red wine!!

You gotta do what you gotta do

Me, I'm golden if I can make a batch of chocalate chip cookies

**shoiji** · 12-14-2010, 05:17 PM

Thanks for the reminder. I need to stock up on some water and sterno cans. Pretty sure this winter will be pretty cold.

**Josephhgoins** · 12-14-2010, 07:45 PM

When I lived in the country, we would stop at the gas station and get a loaf of bread and when we got home would fill up one of the tubs with water. When the power went out we would light a lamp and play cards until bedtime and then just go to bed. As I got older that changed a little, we bought a generator and would make sure we had gas for it.

Now that I live in the city, I know the water probably won't go out and it if does it will be back up with in a few hours at most. I have a small indoor propane heater that I keep plenty of gas bottles for. I have a grill on the porch and a camp stove with plenty of propane for cooking if necessary. So, now I don't really do anything to get braced for it.

**Contrary Housewife** · 12-14-2010, 08:34 PM

We don't have a generator or a fireplace, so I don't need to keep fuel for those. I do have a supply of sterno and liquid fuel, candles, oil lamps, etc. for light and a minimal amount of cooking. The grill tank is full, and I have some charcoal left for the smoker, but that's a long stretch in the winter. We survived the worst ice storm this area has seen in 50 years with just those few supplies.

I don't keep water on hand, as we're unlikely to loose it. DH has a commercial water filter hooked up now, so I am not worried about finding something "safe" to drink.

**Brat** · 12-14-2010, 09:33 PM

I have a great stock of food, Gas for the generator, and fire wood inside for heat..oil and candles for light..keep all of this year round just incase. About the only thing that I will get in extra wood if I am low in the winter but usually have it full all the time. I can usually go 3 to 4 days without going outside even...