So glad we were prepared!

**sunshine** · 03-13-2006, 01:04 PM

Tornadoes ripped through our area last night. Power is still off for large areas, and will be for several days.

We sustained only minor damage here, but were glad to be prepared for power outage, etc.

We had the shake 'em flash lights, oil lamps, candles-- lots of books to read and my crochet projects to do. . . . we had battery powered radios (hand crank ones too) and a small TV with an interver for the car-- so we kept up on what was happening.

My kitchen range is propane, so this morning we had muffins, eggs, sausage for breakfast before heading out to face the day.

Power to us was restored just a bit ago--my parents are still without power.

I called my son last night to see how he was doing--- he had 7 people there , as he also has propane kitchen range, shake flashlights, oil lamps, etc. He thanked me several times for the lessons on preparedness. . . and he also managed to serve his guests breakfast this morning ( bacon, eggs, biscuits, juice) before they headed out to check for damage at their places.

**Darlene** · 03-13-2006, 01:07 PM

Phew, glad you are all OK. It really is a great feeling being prepared and how cool that your son is continuing with what you've tought him. Hope the power is on for everyone soon.

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-13-2006, 01:12 PM

Sunshine,

Glad to hear your ok!

**Dixie** · 03-13-2006, 04:29 PM

WTG, Sunshine! I need to take lessons from you. I'm afraid I would flunk the preparedness test.

**homesteadmamma** · 03-13-2006, 04:51 PM

Denise, I'm so glad you were prepared and are all safe.

**madhen** · 03-13-2006, 05:24 PM

I saw some of that on the news today! Looks like you were lucky not be in the path, and kudos on such great preparation! My next home improvement project is to have a large propane tank installed and retire my very old (1987) electric stove in exchange for a new gas stove. Probably have to squeak through a few more winters, though, before that happens. I do have one of those little camping stoves (single burner) that fits on a propane tank (and the tank that goes with it - does propane have an expiration date?) and one of those emergency "shake" flashlights. I'm not wild about the power in those things, though. Much prefer my rechargeable handheld spotlight lantern. I can see for miles with that thing!

**sunshine** · 03-13-2006, 05:36 PM

Ahh-- but the shake lights got us to the oil lamps without stubbing any toes

**madhen** · 03-13-2006, 05:42 PM

My shake light is out in my tack room, because I can always make it to the tack room in the dark, but invariably find that I don't have any open bales of hay and have to find a pair of scissors. I try to keep them on the same hook, but with rambunctious chickens hanging out in there all day, things sometimes get knocked off the hook or pooped on. Either way, I want to see what I'm grabbing! I find I have to shake it EVERY time, and even then, I get this anemic little glow. I guess it is better than nothing.

My spotlight sits on its recharger on the livingroom bookshelf, so I can always get to it pretty quickly. It is mostly used on moonless nights, when the dogs decide to start barking furiously at ghosts at about 2:00 am! About once in every twenty times I check, do I actually figure out what they are barking at! (Once, it was a teeny little cottontail bunny who dared to stop and eat grass outside their run. Usually, it is a rattlesnake.)

**Michele Annette** · 03-14-2006, 02:09 PM

Denise I am glad you and your family are safe and prepared!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 03-14-2006, 02:58 PM

Know just how you feel Sunshine! We felt that same way in 2004 when we had all those hurricanes come throught South Florida. I felt like the Home Depot to the neighborhood as we had extra plywood (leftover from job sites) tarps, rope, and propane gas.
Also 2 generators that made coffee, recharged cellphones and ran the fans. Like you my son made me proud when he got throught to us and was cooking up food for the folks in his apartment complex on his grill. Always keep that extra tank of gas just in case!

Laurie in Bradenton
Now's a good time to check you kits and stuff. I don't know if gas goes bad I have 6 gas tanks for our grill and rotate them in usage. So far no problems and some tanks have sat for up to 2 years.

**23daisys** · 03-14-2006, 03:05 PM

I'm so glad you are okay and that you were prepared. I guess I need to do the same especially now that I have Simon.

**dndylfe** · 03-14-2006, 04:18 PM

My family is in central IL too, and in fact in the worst hit part. I never worried how they were doing for a second because I know they have a full pantry of food and emergency preparedness things. Although with all of the power being off, it did remind me that it's good not to rely so much on freezer storage.

It is good to be prepared.