Emergency stockpile

[Nishu]

I want to get an emergency stockpile going winter. I've never really had one before, so you guys need to help me out.

Here's what I have:

Fireplace, good for heat but probably not very useful for cooking.
Gas Grill.
Electric stove (do gas stoves even work during a power outage? I wouldn't know.)
Gas water heater.

Would any of these be useful in the event of a power outage?

I figure I need a stockpile for a week, at minimum, for me, two kids and one baby. (She's fed frugally, so I don't need formula, bottles, etc. )

Where do you think I should start?

[justpeachy92]

Yes gas stoves work in power outages. Is your fireplace woodburning or gas logs. If it is woodburning and if you have or invest in some cast iron you could cook in the fireplace. Search for recipes that give instructions cooking in an open fire outdoors. As for stockpiling food for emergency use I keep on hand canned foods that don't really need heated if heating the food is an issue.

[Greebo]

A fireplace can be very useful for cooking if you have cast iron cookware.

[joyofsix]

. As for stockpiling food for emergency use I keep on hand canned foods that don't really need heated if heating the food is an issue.

I do that too. I keep canned goods, dry milk, granola and other things we could eat with no cooking if necessary. We do have a fireplace and wood if I had to use it but if it's only a day or two we can go without cooking. I make sure we each have a sleeping bag and warm hats in case of no heat. I keep a stocked first aid kit. We also have lanterns for light. Somehow stumbling around in the cold, icy dark is even worse than no heat.

[PAVallygrl]

I have a stock pile, sleeping bags, camper stove, Kero heaters, lanterns, batteries, water etc etc. My neighbors joke around and ask what I am preparing for. I have a feeling I'll be getting the last laugh should we be without power for a while this winter.

[Russ]

Batteries
Candles
battery operated radio
Camp cook stove like a coleman
flashlights
hand operated can opener
water

[Nishu]

Thanks guys. Is there a set amount of water I should plan on having for each person?

I have a wood fireplace, but I can't imagine actually cooking on it. It's so small. I also haven't used a wood fireplace since I left home, and that one was one of the closed up ones, you know the fat little black ones with the twisty things in front to adjust how much air gets in? :p

Is there a trick to it? How much wood do you think I should get, say, per 24 hour day of planned use?

[madhen]

I use a wood stove, which is a bit more efficient than a fireplace. You'll need enough wood to keep the heat going all day, if you are in a place that is cold enough to need heat, but you will also have to figure out if you can close off any rooms, to confine the heat to one area. How much wood you need really depends on what types of wood you get. Softwoods burn more quickly than hardwoods.

I have a number of propane-powered items, and a stockpile of small propane tanks.

A generator, if you can afford one, is the way to go for power.

Batteries!! Especially if you have battery powered radios, flashlights, etc. I thought I was all set during the last power outage, only to find myself short on C cell batteries. Also, TEST your stuff. I have one radio that has a battery back-up, and I found out the hard way that the battery back-up didn't work. Wasn't the battery, it was the radio.

Water, water, water. You use more than you realize.

[joyofsix]

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A generator, if you can afford one, is the way to go for power.

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Water, water, water. You use more than you realize.

I forgot to mention that we do have a generator. Our intent would be just to keep the sump pump running. It seems the power always goes out when it's pouring of course. In which case water wouldn't be a problem, LOL. (Actually I do store water in milk jugs. Dh truly thinks I'm nuts.)

[Momof3girls]

Just a few small things to add:
needle and thread
first aid kit
bleach in case you have to disinfect water or for cleaning