Thank God I wasn't as bad off as some people during Helene but I did lose power for 3 days. You are right about solar, I had battery powered lights, fans, etc but wound up running around trying to find stores that still had batteries in stock. You go thru batteries so fast. Afterwards I bought a power bank, solar panels, solar charging lights, etc. Hopefully we won't lose power again that long but if we do, we will be ready.
Laura from the Appalachian Mountains in NC here. I want to mention some missing points here. Houses were not just lost along rivers. Spring, creeks, culverts, underground wells all flooded up. The rivers didn’t just rise, they also flash flooded. And where the water couldn’t rise, it fell in over 1000 landslides. Also, your comment about not wanting people to know you have solar…the reason our communities have survived is because small pockets of neighbors selflessly came together offering knowledge and kindness. Here, everyone is helping. Prepping for yourself to survive alone is not what Appalachia should be teaching you. It’s the communities here that started with what skills we had (cutting down trees and debris, medical knowledge, grilling, cooking, getting water for everyone). But, less than 24 hours after the storm ended there was a long line of military helicopters flying over. And they are still here helping as much as we can. Here is what I would love for our pain and losses to actually teach folks. 1. Please focus on diversity in your preps. 2. Start with communication. On the night after the storm our fire chief look me dead in the eye and said “we are dead in the water.” Starlink and Garmin have been great for my family. 3. You may need an electric and gas chainsaw if that is a skill you want to use. But, before I could even get out with my chainsaw, my neighbors had cleared my path out without my asking. 5. Diversify food and how you plan to cook. We still don’t have potable water in my town. We were rationing water for the first two days until supplies started flowing in. So my neighbors planned cooking food that would spoil first and how those items need to be cooked. We used a neighbors blackstone one night and an egg smoker the next. What I hope you can take away from what happened to us here in these beautiful mountains is that, investing in community may be the prep we have all be overlooking and undervaluing. Thank you all for your love and support.
God Bless you and thank you for a great comment. I’m in SC but y’all are my people…I almost froze to death in the Linville Gorge Wilderness in Linville NC on 3/13/93 during the storm of the century. 5 feet of snow and 100mph wind. the good people of NC saved us. Especially the volunteer firemen. Not sure where you’re at but all of Appalachia is full of amazing people. Prayers for you and your town 🙏🙏🙏🐦🐦
Well said about the importance of community. Since my neighbors didn’t greet me, when I 1st moved in, I introduced myself to THEM & gave them my contact info & got theirs. We have been mutually helpful & all stepped up during Helene. One big lesson for me: don’t have a home close to water. Check terrain. Many thanks! Bev in Black Mtn.
I've been working the cleanup, and have donated water, food, coffee, and medical, from my prepping stocks. I live only 30 miles from the mountain region of western NC.
Fantastic that you were able to help those in need. I own my own business, I donated my 3rd quarter profits to Samaritan's Purse. This weekend I sorted thru our winter items and we are donating all our too small coats, hats, and gloves.
Watching those houses float away down the river and knowing they lost everything is an eye opener . Some things you just can't prepare for . Even if they had "stuff " stacked to the rafters, they lost it all . Many even lost their lives bugging in . Maybe less is more, and being able to walk away with what you can carry is something to consider .
I have a rolling backpack ready if I have to evacuate (I'm 75 so hope I never have to carry it) Each baggy is labeled with what it needs; cash, medicine, chargers, basic clothing, food that doesn't need cooking, some water, dog food, laptop, etc. In my car is an emergency blanket and maps. I live in hurricane country so I can prepare ahead of time unlike people who had to run from the fires in Paradise, CA or the sudden flooding & mudslides of Helene. All in all, if I faced a Helene I would grab my cell phone, cash, and my dog. anything else is icing on the cake. PS. If I don't have to evacuate then my supplies can help me and others survive for a couple weeks at a minimum.
@@virginia_the_eldersomething I kept seeing was how many people lost their animals because they couldn't hold on in the raging waters. That's why I just got all my animals backpacks and life vests, so my hands can be free. Each family member is assigned an animal to get
A note about medication, specifically in Florida (this may be true for other states): if the governor issues an executive order ahead of an emergency such as a hurricane, in the event a pharmacist receives a request for a prescription refill and the pharmacist is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency refill of up to a 72-hour supply of the prescribed medication; or a one-time emergency refill of insulin and insulin-related supplies or equipment to treat diabetes. This is directly from the FL Board of Medicine website. If you use an insulin pen, it’s good for 30 days without refrigeration. I hope this helps someone.
One thing I never see mentioned is to become physically fit. Cutting down on your food intake, especially fast food , could help you a lot. If you're depending on food as a way to cope with life or stress, you're going to go off the deep end when you can't eat like you're used to. Getting healthier will also prevent you from getting diseases where you might need meds or a bunch of other stuff you'll have to haul around during a disaster. Plus, being in shape will get you over the mountains, through the hills, and the rivers.
That's good advice our physiology will be in shock by the sudden change in diet and routine. There is also a mental impact to be considered. Spiritual health as well will keep you going when nothing makes sense.
@@SuzanneU no one thinks you'd be able to swim to safety. Being physically fit helps you in lots of different ways, including in the aftermath, as the OP explains
I honestly laugh at the people who suggest it's important to hoard precious metals. Majority of prepping should be focused on your threat model and that threat model needs to have thought put into it. Planning for a zombie outbreak and larping your way through an EMP scenario may well be fun but reality is a house fire or a flood is a much more likely scenario and like you say simply having cash to hand, to pay for a cab just to get to a friends house for the night if the telephony service drops and cards aren't working is a much more reasonable prep.
Florida resident here. I just got power after Milton. I am impressed with my solar generators. Just like many hands make light work, many Jackerys make effective work. Pre power outage, our house outlet charged them at about 60 watts and the solar panel charge at 50-55 watts which is amazing. While the one Jackery powered my mini ICECO fridge, the other was being charged by solar. 2 other solar power stations charged phones and USB lights. Also have as many USB rechargeable items as possible. One USB lamp lit up the entire kitchen and family room.
@@tranquillady1688 we used the gas generator to recharge our one solar Eco-flo. An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Kept the fridge going along with fans, phones, internet, lantern, headlights. We bought a second solar generator afterwards. Also learning to maximize the solar panels for charging them. We didn't have the best setup in place. 5 days without power.
We have two BLUETTI solar generators. They kept the refrigerators and fans running. Solar camping lanterns work at night. Three days for us. We were lucky.
We have a "get home bag" in our truck. It's actually a box with two backpacks and assorted supplies so that we could survive and walk home from the city if something happened while we were far from home. It includes water filtration. In an emergency where we had to evacuate it would also work. For me the mot important thing is a secure kennel/cage so our dogs and cats would go along. I learned that when we had to evacuate in the middle of the night due to our neighbour having a meth lab. I had nothing for my pets. If I had a proper pet kennel we could have easily stayed in a pet friendly hotel. As it was we had to sleep in our vehicle until stores opened.
We live a simple life and don't rely on outside sources so having simple ways to do what's needing done is important. We have the skills and tools to make do without electricity. Our water is free and runs without electricity. We heat and cook with wood. Our food is raised and grown on our property. We do have rechargeable solar radios, small fans, lamps, and flashlights for each of us. Those are nice to have but not necessarily needed. Christmas is coming soon enough, maybe think ahead and when someone asks what you're wanting maybe ask for some of your prep needs or a book on how to do a new skill. We've been asked how long we'd survive if something bad happened and our answer is always indefinitely because we made each decision with the long term in mind. Bless you all and take care.
Another tip, We knew the pwr would go, so the day before, we added as many water bottles to our freesers and turn everything as low temps they would go.
I learned from one couple whose husband was washed over his porch. As they ran upstairs he grabbed life Jackets as a second thought it saved his life. I’m going to get life jackets now.
I thought the same thing. we are avid boaters and during Helene I though life jackets would be good to have during a flood. I thought about our canoe also.
I’ve been thinking of life jackets for family that don’t have any. Also we can have a variety of disasters to prepare for: snowstorms, hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and fire.
In WNC here. All of these recommendations are great. Gas powered chainsaws paved the way for emergency vehicles. Be sure to have cash for gas because that's the only acceptable currency when the grid is down - and stays down. Electric chainsaws cannot do the volume of work required all day....
@barbarawarren9443, Yes, given sufficient battery capacity and power output, modern electric chainsaws can indeed perform the same amount of work as gas-powered chainsaws. Advances in battery technology have allowed electric chainsaws to close the gap in terms of power and endurance. Here are some considerations: 1. Power Output: High-quality electric chainsaws with powerful motors can match the torque and cutting speed of gas-powered chainsaws, especially when equipped with lithium-ion batteries that provide high energy density. 2. Battery Capacity: The main limitation with electric chainsaws is their dependence on battery life. To perform the same amount of work as a gas chainsaw over extended periods, you would need either large-capacity batteries or multiple charged batteries on hand for continuous operation. This allows users to swap out depleted batteries quickly and continue working. 3. Performance: For typical use cases such as light to moderate cutting (e.g., pruning branches, cutting small to medium-sized logs), electric chainsaws can perform as effectively as gas-powered models. For heavy-duty work, higher-end electric chainsaws with robust batteries can handle the load, although gas models still dominate for prolonged, high-intensity tasks without breaks due to the instant refueling with gasoline. 4. Efficiency and Maintenance: Electric chainsaws are generally more efficient and easier to maintain than gas-powered chainsaws, as they have fewer moving parts, no need for fuel mixing, and generate less noise and vibration. With enough battery power, electric chainsaws can indeed perform similarly to gas-powered chainsaws for most practical applications. For extensive and continuous use (such as professional logging), multiple high-capacity batteries or access to quick charging solutions would be essential to match the work output of gas chainsaws.
My son has always said that prepping is futile when it comes to the worst. He said you are better off learning ways to survive in the worst. That a bug out bag is all you will be able to save in most cases. All that extra food could possibly end up floating down the newly made river or burnt up in a wildfire or blown apart in a F3 tornado. Knowing where to look for food and how to figure out what's safe to eat in the wild is your best bet. Really who can prepare for a mudslide in the middle of the night or an earthquake that ends up busting up every mason jar full of food you have in your basement. It truly could be survival of the fittest someday
@@judyanderson8782 if it's a blizzard the best thing you can do is make sure you keep your roof cleaned off. Snow is very heavy n all that weight on it will very often make it collapse. Next best is to have multiple heat sources n extra meds n food stored in case you can't get to town for a few days. Northern Mainer here. You can survive a blizzard most of the time. I'm thanking God I haven't been through a flash flood. I'm not prepared for that at all
That being said, do you know how many neighbors are helping those who lost everything and they're able to _because_ they prepped? Sure, their neighbors lost all their prep.. but not everyone did. And those supplies have been _vital_ to those who did lose all their prepping.
I used to put bicycke helmets and Ski jackets on my kids during tornado warnings. They used to make fun of me but now they are parents and during the last outbreak I got sent videos from their basement and guess what those kids were wearing.
I do alternate day fasting where I eat one meal every other day to lose a little bit of weight. I do it for abut 2 weeks at a time. We all eat too much food (in the US anyway), and it's amazing what little food we actually need on a regular basis. I'm in great health (I'm 75) and I can alternate day fast for probably a month or so if needed. It's a great way to save food in an emergency, especially if you have kids, and food is scarce. It also cuts the food budget in half and requires far less kitchen clean up time. Here's a hint: If you drop most of the carbohydrates from your diet before you fast, your hunger will drop way down.
Exactly’ High protein Low carb Makes fasting so much easier. Like you said we can live off of very little food if it’s high protein. I’m 62 and started 3 years ago and haven’t been sick since.
I think it would be beneficial to pack a high quality salt, like Celtic or Real Salt, to add a few granuals to your water for minerals and electrolytes.
That was going to be my only suggestion and the verse "Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace between one another.”-Mark 9:50 That humilty can be a real aid to others even when your own pockets are empty.
I live less than an hour from the hardest hit areas of Tennessee. Several of my coworkers who do live in the areas affected by the flooding and listening to them of the destruction is mind blowing and saddening. They all know people that lost everything. I did lose power for a day but that was more of a nuisance than anything. I was able to use my solar generator battery to keep my refrigerator running. I ended up borrowing my friend's gas generator after the battery died for a few hours. I have solar panels for my generator but that requires sunlight which I did not have do to heavy cloud cover. I will be buying a gas generator once everything calms down and the people that needs them has one. I have a regular gas chainsaw but I also have a 24v chainsaw which I love trimming my apple trees with. I can also charge the battery with the solar generator if need be. As far as looking at maps on my phone, your phone will still hook up to a satellite and show you your location on a map. I have an S24, but an S9 did it to. You don't need a cell signal for that to work. However, you can't get directions this way but at least you have a map that you move on as you travel. Thank you for your video. This experience has definitely made me rethink about my prepping and what additional steps I need to take. Lastly, I do ask for prayers for this area. A large percentage of people affected did not have flood insurance and have lost everything.
You can get apps for your phone that will download maps of your area to your phone, so they are available offline when you have no connection. The combination of these apps and GPS allow you to navigate even when you have no phone service. These apps are used a lot by people who hike. Viewranger, Gaia GPS, etc. BTW if you have no signal, put your phone on airplane mode, it saves battery. BBTW the newer iPhone 14 and 15 allow you to send messages via satellite.
This is one of the BEST videos ever, just went through Helene and now Milton… my husband was asking where are you at? Street signals out, telephone pole lights out, signs down and THAT is when I was coming back from evacuating Such helpful info
Listerning to someone who lived throught it, he said that they went to bed expecting the hurricane to go left and hit two neightbouring states and it turned right in the night and hit them, so he said he would no longer really on the weather people.
Any good weather group will point out both the probabilities AND the possibilities. When weather events are further out it is imperative to continue checking in on that "CONE of probability".. AND what that cone represents. To say.. are they measuring WIND? or RAIN?, or Storm Surge? It is.. unfortunate, that some forecasters, understandably, hesitate to warn an area that MIGHT well be in danger EARLY ON.. because if that pattern shifts (as they often do) and misses that area.. then the NEXT TIME a threat arises.. people may ignore the warning. So, not only do they need to predict the weather, but also take into account people's responses as these weather patterns shift and change.
We live in NC, the hurricane at 1 point was heading for us. We live above a lake, on top of a hill. We are prepared. Last year we removed all the trees that could hit our home that the previous owner had planted. We thankfully were missed. I love trees and we have many, but if they can strike your house, it might be a good idea to remove them. Look at all the pictures of Helene and trees cutting houses in half.
I couldn't believe it, but this spring I got an evacuation alert when a wildfire broke out about 30 minutes from my house. Why was it so strange? I live within the CITY limits of Spokane, Washington. Some 40 years ago, I experienced a mobile home fire. I had to evacuate multiple animals, too. That was when I put a rule in place that a cage or carrier had to be located in every room where an animal was or might be located. That was also when I realized that I didn't know how to use a fire extinguisher. Pulling the pin is only the beginning of what you need to know. I danced around the room trying to figure out how to get it to actually spray the fire retardant. I accidentally managed to squeeze the top just right and fortunately it was facing away from me or I'd have had a face full of the stuff. The only thing I can tell you is that I don't do well when stressed to a panic! Yikes!!!
I know how you feel !! I'm out in Medical Lake, Last year's Grey Rd. Fire taught me to not have lists of stuff to take. You need to pack the "Stuff" up and just let it be until it is needed. I also learned to Actually Practice Loading your vehicle. This last one is COMPLETELY Critical... Practice, Load it out, inventory every year and then leave it be.
@@deborahlopez7147 I suggest using Family Radio Service (FRS) radios. They do not need a license. They are only good for a few miles, but we use ours around our property and we used them when we had to evacuate because we were in separate vehicles and cell phones did not work. There is a link in the description for some good simple to use radios. Just look for FRS radios if you buy locally. Even kiddy radios will work in a pinch.
I got by with two solar generator/battey packs I recommend two 1000 watt packs solar sucked I didn’t have enough panels as soon as it was overcast was slow to charge. I got my hands on a small generator I was able to charge and re freeze my deep freezer at the same time… if you have two you can power two places at the same time or if one goes down it’s not game over…
I have been looking at the Ecoflow Delta Pro 3. Also one commenter mentioned that the solar panels were a bust bc of cloud cover so having a dual fuel generator seems to be appropriate too. I am looking at the Harbor Freight Predator 5000, it can run on propane and propane lasts alot longer in storage.
Anytime I hear weather change in the area I'm in that might burn or flip my house, I start my home and book. Anyway, as you mentioned having a chainsaw to cut trees out of your path. we were out boondocking for a few days near a beautiful river and a windstorm came through overnight, as we left and halfway down the only route out a large tree blocked the road. I cut the tree in smaller parts but was still too heavy to move. I have several 2"x15' tension straps. I strapped one around the cut piece and the other to the front of my RV and drug it out of the way. Did this until all pieces were moved enough to get through. Also, a good thing to have evacuating is a come-along if one cannot afford a wench or have the right vehicle for one. As for paper maps. As you know we travel state to state across the country on a daily basis. We always use paper maps. My daughter and I plan our next adventure and map it out on paper maps. Not just road maps but trail maps for hiking in the mountains. I used to have a Garmin GPS, but it always got us lost, wanted me to turn off bridges, ravines, etc. So, I chucked it,
Vac sealing document is fine to protect against water damage but it's cheap to buy a waterproof/fireproof bag from Amazon then you have two risks covered. Fire is just as likely to be a problem. Also for your documents, get a biometric protected USB thumb drive and scan all documents to that to keep in a bug out bag.
Besides having a place to meet, as a back up decide on a relative or friend who diesnt live near you and give their phone number as a contact. Sometimes if you cant make it to a designated spot if you all call the same person to tell them where you are and coordinate your next step. Backup for backup plans.
When you said electric chain saw I think you meant battery operated chain saw. We do a lot of dry camping so we are used to not having water or power on site. It's made us learn to prep. After watching NC It made me think about how we have to prep more. We have a bug out list for all the things we need in the camper and truck before we leave. It also contains the things we have to do to the house before we leave. We also have a list on how we can improve our bug out list while we are out. Having visited a lot of that area affected I couldn't believe the damage. It's made me rethink a lot of things.
Yes I meant battery chainsaw. I noticed that after I published it. I said it a couple of times. It did make me cringe a bit. I am glad you are working on your preps after seeing what happened in NC. These events are a learning experience. As we mentioned and we have two videos on it, we learned a lot from our experience evacuating from a major wild fire. You mention dry camping. That is one of the best ways to learn what you need when off grid. I mention the fact that I love backpacking. I have learned a lot about survival backpacking solo.
My house is a cinder block house. Build with cinder block, or concrete block, or poured concrete or natural stone. Your house will not burn, or get blown down, or float away.
I saw a historic stone home that not only was washed away but the earth it was planted on was gone as well. Just do what you can and have a drawful of humility. Use it often, be proficient it is a lovely prep.
@itsno1duh Nothing is 100% risk-free. But logs float and stones sink. That is science. Humility is nice. But it is not going to protect your home. You have a better chance using your brain.
@Joe-xr3ir 80% of the United States is level flat farmland and desert. There are no landslides on level land. And there are no flash floods. Flash floods are in ravines. And a common flood is not going to wash away a concrete slab foundation. Stop making dumb statements.
we just had milton pass over us. 17 hours running house on just batteries. lights freezer fridge tv a/c then solar & gas when the storm passed. gas stove was nice. hot coffee a must lol😂 a BIG thing is a problem is lack of sleep.. no one sleeps well during grid down & storms.
I'm off-grid in Maine with no winter plowing. Always especially winter I carry EGO 18' chainsaw with extra chain, two sets gloves, sleeping bag, small refridge with food, tools, handsaw, 2k Honda generator, inverter battery. At camp I keep 100 gallons of treated gas, two generators, starlink, plenty of food. I South Florida I keep a gernerator, small fridge, plenty of food & water & gas, counter Reverse osmosis, plenty of usb-c lamps, several inverter batteries. Have your vehicle prepped if you need to get out. Hurricanes tricky because they can turn or wiggle. In class 3+ storms it might be best to get inland. I've been without power for 3-weeks so keep 2-3 weeks of food and generator gas. Keep a portable compost toilet in case no water for days or weeks.
@@NormalPrepping What people need to know is that you can cut for more hours with a gas chain saw (or any gas vs electric battery device). But you can recharge your solar if you have the right other components. So for a major issue like what is going on after these hurricanes, you really could use BOTH. That way, you could do maximum clearing when fuel was available. But at least have the option to do some work, then change batteries and recharge one while using another, then do more work, if it wasn't. Ideally, you need at least 3-4 batteries for each device because you deplete them faster than they can charge even from A/C much less solar which is likely to be slower.
@@Growmapyou can clear for the longest using a two person bow saw. Probably worth having traditional hand tools to hand to augment the power assisted stuff.
Oh a good note about the medication - I think sealing the bottle itself is one of the best ideas I've ever heard. I suspect that if you can get to a pharmacy preserving that may help the pharmacist refill it for you as well. Great idea.
How nice to see both of you being on the same page! Just beautiful! Hard work and fun together! My husband doesn't want to hear about preps. Well... doing it secretly! Just said to do it alone. Gog bless you!
I am in the same boat. My husband thinks I am completely nuts. I plan secretly, stashing stuff all around the house, learning what to do in an emergency. So far when we lost power to the house for a day, he was upset there was no water, no toilets--I pulled out some of the water supply stash and viola we had water and toilets, baby wipes for the hands. There have been little emergencies and so far so good I could cover them all. Yes, he still is adverse to anything prep.
So true the cities will turn stuff OFF for safety, I am preparing a waterproof tub with all of it, water, tarps, we actually DID need some MRE’s. Never thought I’d see that. Maybe I missed it, But REFLECTIVE stuff, reflective long raincoat, stuff for car, flares, first aid kit rope, plastic bags if your window gets damaged.. I am in South Florida, just went through Helene, I was helping others, and then BAM had to Evacuate .. I did so WELL in advance of the storm, traffic was perfect. My thing is I RETURNED too early . Roads were NOT safe , street lights down, tree limbs. No power,. Lessons learned. I thought I had done some good and prudent things but now I understand that is has to be better. My husband works in Fire rescue… when the CREW tells you they are scared and making sure their loved ones LEAVE.. good Lord I also say REFLECTIVE VESTS- light weight ones. Just tossing my thoughts out there and learning from you and others . Ty
Most people who have generators have a few days of gas but on days 4-7 everyone is lined up trying to get the last drops out of the (cash only) gas station, and what do you do when your generator is the only one still making noise on day 14+? Pro move for advanced users in wooded states is to build a wood gasifier. You can power vehicles and generators on firewood.
We did a video where we checked how far away our generator could be heard. We did it during a blackout. It is amazing how quiet the world is when there is no power.
So true about meds!!! I like to be prepared and am so frustrated because I am only allowed to get a small amount of meds at a time (and these meds are not pain meds!). There used to be exceptions for when you are about to travel, they should make exceptions for situations like storms, as well! Do not freeze your meds!! It could alter them
Central FL here. Milton made me happy to have a couple of "solar generators" (these are just large battery backup power with an inverter that can be charged from solar). My solar system was knocked out during the night, so the next morning I started getting ready to clear away the debris for my generator and then remmebred i had these two power supplies. I hooked up the c9ffe maker, electric stove, and had coffee and breakfast in 10 mins. Another lesson I learned is spares. A large limb fell on my pump house, opening the roof to the wind, at 1am the pump house had fallen over on to the well head, filters, and snapped the pipes. I had almost enough pvc pipes to fix it, but was short 6 inches, which may as well been 20ft. Lucky my neighbor had a stick I could use. I now have spare pipes, fittings, glue, adaptors, etc. Along with a cheap harbor frieght well pump if the one I have gets damaged.
Being physically impaired I must look at challenges differently. I have few farm critters so made sure I have enough hay for this season. This was difficult due to our area in a severe drought this year. Some of us cant pick up and leave. I have always kept a well stocked pantry due to childhood food insecurity. My area is of a higher elevation so if the roads wash out I will be left on hill. Mudslides occur so hopefully house 🏠 wont slide down hill. My mindset has always been preparedness but now I am looking at other things. Solar would be great but the price currently beyond my budget. I do have a lot of sun. A gas generator sounds great but lifting and storing the gas cans are beyond my capability. Your suggestions about meds is very pertinent. My Dr orders my meds 3 month supply so that works well. I get it as soon as I can to be sure I have 3 month supply.
You sound like a kind person thats a great quality, and very intelligent! I think everyone can benefit from having an emergency friend or partner to ring up just incase or have a set of walky talkies and a solar power bank. Best wishes :)
I have a small 5000 watt dual fuel inverter generator, it's a Wen DF500IX. It has wheels and can be pulled around without having to carry it. It runs on 20lb propane tanks, or larger. I like propane because it can be stored indefinitely. It's also very quiet, I can have a normal conversation while it's running without having to raise my voice, which will be good to not broadcast long distances that you have a generator. It also has electric start. I installed a larger dual fuel generator for my neighbor, it's a Westinghouse WGen7500DFc. It has a key fob so it can be started remotely. I set it up permanently in an outside lockable metal garbage can shed with a cord that runs to the house's inlet box with a mechanical interlock in the panel. I like it because it has automatic choke and shutdown when using the key fob and can power everything in the house. It's quite loud when it runs though, which is the biggest downside.
The first thing neighbors wanted, since cell was out, was to get a note to family outside the area letting them know they were fine. I used winlink to help. It took about 4 days for cell to work reliably in our area.
I'm in MN so our biggest threats are tornadoes and blizzards. What I've learned from videos like yours is: get cash in small bills ✅️, fill and get another propane tank ✅️, can water in all my empty jars ✅️, get 2 more 5gal gas cans ✅️, get solar rechargable fans ✅️, get emergency laceration closures ✅️, look into a manual clothes washer (other than grandma's antique wash board that's for decoration). I feel for all of people going through this tragedy. 💗💗
Those who are preppers and always prepare be good or bad news. Something you need to remember what would be the first thing you would grab when you run out of the house to save your family and yourself I would recommend number one. Keep all the important paperwork that proves you’re a lot your land your insurance, your identity, who you are mortgage whatever birth certificates Because the cell phone laptop will be useless. It won’t be any power all those paperwork in one place and waterproof container, that’s easy to carry food. You can add water to. It’s cold or not. It’s food something buried a garbage can far away from your house that you know where it is at least you try to remember you can bug out there, but you can identify who you are if you don’t keep paperwork and if it’s really severe, you’re Social Security number on your arm with a sharpie marker so if you do not make it out alive, they can identify who you are. It’s tragic, but as a retired nurse, I’ve seen worse things than North Carolina. I was in the midst of hurricane Katrina and that was sad too, but God bless you all. May you all consider putting the Lord first in your home because prayers do work.
The problem with solar battery packs is they have to be used on a regular basis or they will lose their ability to hold a charge. You can't just put it on a shelf and leave it there for two years and expect it to work when the storm comes.
I agree with you. That is why I use a smaller solar battery/panel to charge my set of Dewalt batteries. So, basically my garage is run off solar. Also use the battery to run a portable Frig/Freezer, which maintains freezer temps down to -4F.
Yep I have a led bulb on a timer to run down the battery by 1/2 every day. Solar to controller tops the battery back off ebb and flow type system. Charge controller are sure getting expensive
@@stevesmith5140 I live in the area affected by Helene and got by with two battery packs. Before the storm I used them a lot more than I thought I would. They are convenient even without an emergency. I used both of them with a small generator when my power was out after Helene I didn’t have to have gas like everyone else. that just got by on generator alone. I recommend two so not dependent on one of you need to charge or one breakdown. Some people I know ran the oil dry in there generator.
How do you prep for something like this !? Best thing is to work together with the people that servive .and help each other with all resources . Many lost everything .some had to leave and came back to nothing . I have watch it since day one. Thankyou for your video and thoughts too .
I am currently cleaning up after Milton. My family is from Florida and we are prepared individually. We are all doing fine with solar generator but we live in different towns. We are planning a Halloween family gathering to discuss how we are going to move forward and make sure how to proceed for the next disaster
Milton results. (Tampa) We evacuated and and stayed away for two days. Added a 2200w small generator Added 600w to the 300w solar we had. Setup more 12v low voltage indoor and outdoor lighting that is normally powered by the solar system so there is no interruption. Replaced the home network UPS with a small battery bank inverter. Dusted off the hurcane lamps and restocked lamp oil.
Thank you for sharing and it sounds as though ham radios ate a necessity. Also, water was rekeased from the dams as well. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Prayers!
Yes, I agree with the solar. We immediately ordered a solar generator and panels after seeing how hard it was for NC victims to get gas for the gas generators. Also, simple solar outdoor lights would be a good source of light that can be freely recharged everyday! Thank You for the many ideas to improve our "simple" everyday preps.
THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO! I just found you and subscribed. I am a senior and live in South Florida and was on the fringes of Hurricane Milton... just tornado warnings that did not affect our area...THANK GOD! I have been prepping since COVID and have made Bug out Bags for myself, my autistic son, as well as my daughter and son-in-law (who have made fun of my prepping and don't realize I made their bags too). I took notes on your suggestions and STILL NEED HAM RADIOS....WILL YOU PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ON GETTING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT....I'm REALLY CONFUSED and don't want to get too much or too little for our needs. THANKS AGAIN AND GOD BLESS!
We are very grateful and thankful you are getting more prepared. If you do not need to talk on radios more then a couple of miles, depending on terrain. You can go further on flat, these radio are good: Family Service Radios (no license required): amzn.to/481eQ11 We will try to get the radio video out soon. Thanks and God Bless!
I got ham radio for dummies. Studied hard, took the test at a local radio club and passed. They advised on equipment, and even programmed my hand held radio for me. Do I talk on it, no but I know my call sign. Could I pass the test now, probably not but I have my license. I am 78.
FRS is good as no license is needed but it will only be good for 1-3 miles without obstructions. You might be better off using CB since you can use mobile units and handhelds with longer antennas, which will give you more range.
I just want to point out that the towns that were whipped off the face of this earth were not on the river but were caught in the wash out from rain water running down the mountains. In stead of trying to carry 50 to 100 gallons of water with you when you bug out I would recommend that you think about having a good system to filter and clean the water that is available. You simply can not carry enough water for long term. Another suggestion I heard a lot of talk about is cash in small denominations. Nice video you have a lot of great suggestions.
Thank you! And yes, cash is a must. Interesting you mentioned water filters we just released a video on portable water filters: th-cam.com/video/5rPq7otWh5A/w-d-xo.html
I think your video is excellent. I also think we have all misread one thing here regarding. Power and batteries. That is all vehicles have internal 12 volt outlets. I like you are a ham operator here in UK and I have changed all my HT batteries for ones with type chargers on the battery or charging leads from wall socket plugs to usb. I can then use power banks and the car to charge these devices. Also if my car is serviceable but roads are inpassable I can still use the car to charge things. I can use it to charge power banks and batteries. There are many things that can be done. Two of my HT radios have battery eliminators. So they can run directly from car.
Many houses were biult in hollows... Flat areas between mountains, where there are roads along streams...many times the streams were just a few feet wide. These people did not get any notice, or notice too llate to evacuate or were caught in their vehicles during their evacuation . So terrible and terrifying. The level of destruction was not forseen because it had never happened before
I live in Northern NM and have a go bag for winter in my car. Extra socks, gloves, hat, extra boots, food, bag of dog food, flash light, matches, 2 sleeping bags, cat litter.. If I go off the road and get stuck on my own I can survive,
There’s not a lot of them but you can find stovetop water distillers that can turn dirty water into clean water if you’re close to a water source. It’s a slow process but it works. There are even stovetop fruit juicers that might be able to do the same thing.
Definitely get the solar and then some more. I have 5 pecron power stations and 2 expandable battery's with 1800 watts worth of panels. Milton had us down for a week. Powered fridge and chest freezers, computers, coffee machine, toaster oven, fans garage door etc.. Never had to use my gas/propane generator. I am up to 13kw in stored energy shooting for 20. It's a great investment. I have been powering fridge and freezers 24/7 for over a year with solar. Every time you use it you get money back.
Living in a Holler in the Mountains is a whole different set of circumstances than rural or city living. When you are between Mountains and a waterway you have to accept that a really bad rain can expose you to landslides and flooding. In a Holler there is usually only one way in and out. If that is cut you are now stuck.
We are in the same situation. That is why we evacuated from the forest fire in our area. We could see the flames on top of the mountain and we only had one way out and that was in the direction of the flames. It is great that you understand this and I assume you have planned for it.
@@NormalPrepping I have prepared for it by living in the desert. Still have a mountain range between me and a river but in the desert Mother Nature has left indications of past excess water flow in the form of arroyos. The important thing is to stay up to date on the weather predications . Extreme heat is normal for my area and after awhile of living in such an area your body will adjust to a point. Extreme cold though is a serious threat as our frost line is only 6 inches deep so freezing water lines are a real concern. Fire is also a real concern now because if the mountains catch fire again there is no fire break as people have built right up the mountains. So if the fire comes down the side of the mountain it will hit those houses and it will be like a line of dominos falling all the way to the river if the interstate doesn't act as a firebreak. I have fought a desert wildfire and it moves quick as everything that is dry just bursts into flames. Yucca plants looked like gas wells on fire . Scary sight.
This is a great video. I have been putting together a bug out bag or a bug in bag. Your video has made me think of more things. Thanks! And remember the government does not care about.
The govt did not start on Helene for min 5 days/. If I remember correctly, it was a little longer than that a couple of years ago during the night of the tornados over 5 states. They were without power for weeks too. I think the info coming out of Helene is invaluable not only to preppers but to convince people to wake up and provide for themselves.
@@jeannainnc8390 Helene showed that govt comes in to a disaster with their own agenda - not necessarily the same as yours. The mountain people are not the same as the hawaiians were during their disaster - the mountain people are fighting back and get the govt out of their way and good on them for doing it.
Wish I had a place to store gasoline! Know someone who stores some in their garage with that treatment you showed and has worked beautifully. They rotate it out (replenishing their supply during drops in the cost)and make sure they use it w/in 8mos to a year- for their vehicle and mower. They've been doing it for years and gives them peace of mind
To get the most out of the InReach, you it more than just for emergencies. I use mine for backpacking, when exploring forest road, when we take a trip. Mine gives me a sense of security that I do get get from a cell phone. Have fun and stay safe!
I’m an old lady and I’ve never ever had a Dr that would write prescriptions just so I could have them in an emergency! I hear people saying all the time to keep extra prescriptions just in case. Medicine can’t be refilled unless it’s time. What Dr does that? I worry about this very thing too. Nobody I know of in my life has a Dr that would do that
Well Gloria, MY doctor did! I told her I’m a prepper and wanted extras to stockpile. She quickly wrote prescriptions for me to take to ANOTHER pharmacy. NOTE: I don’t use medical insurance and these are non-controlled medications. Follow the lead of another commenter here and contact JASE medical. Now you know. And hey, sometimes meds fall off the counter (HINT) and roll into the heating vent. Or down the toilet. Or the dog ate them all. Or there was a Terrible Boating Accident (one of my favorites).
I miss taking my arthritis pills if I don't hurt too ba, plus my stomach pills and now I have a month supply of pills and I rotate the new with the old.
About chainsaws. I'm an old lady alone out in the boonies. I have a little 5 inch battery operated chainsaw and it rocks! I don't use it to fell trees ( except for unwanted saplings), but for storm clean-up mostly. It is unbelievable how much I can accomplish with that little booger. Even larger downed stuff with a series of v-cuts around the perimeter enough to straight cut through the middle of the cutting area. These companies that have lots of tools that use the same battery are smart. That way you're accumulating batteries and whatever tool you're using, you already have battery back-ups. Battery operated fans and all sorts of things come in very handy when power is out, and the batteries recharge fine on some solar device with just a few hundred watts. My battery is 400 watts and is 12 years old and I keep it plugged in and charging things. Don't underestimate pass through charging.
Love this! I bought one of those 5” battery chainsaws a few months ago as it seemed like “a good idea”. I better get outside and whack down some saplings🤣
I had heard about JAZE medical from other preppers. The hubby is on thyroid medication and the consequencis of not taking it on schedule is bad. So, I gave them a try and got a years worth of 3 meds he uses. It went very easy and was not expensive. Especially with the peace of mind that comes with that. Very easy people to deal with.
Prepare your evacuation vehicle ahead of time with Sleeping Bags,tent, spare clothes a good. FIX blade knife,Axe, hand saw, shovel, chain saw,gas,bar oil first aid kit, CB Radio. Fishing supplies,and bang bang, and dried food and water,flashlight, solar lights.
We are lucky that our sealer is still running considering how much we use it. Here is the Amazon affiliate link for the one we own: Vacuum Seal Machine: amzn.to/3S0omKM
I'm in Florida. You can't totally prepare for a hurricane or mass flood, but you can plan to survive. When bugging out, pretend you are leaving for good and hiking the Appalachia Trail. Take only what you absolutely need and can carry. KEEP IT LIGHT. Vehicles make it nice to grab a small chainsaw to take with them, but felled trees can be walked around. Survival isn't pretty, and knowledge is the key.
You nailed it. I have learned a lot about prepping because I am an avid backpacker. Everything I need to survive I carry on my back. Yes, "Survival isn't pretty, and knowledge is the key." Well said!
Bug out focus for risky areas of disaster & bug in focused prepping for those in less risky areas but as long as you do both a bit, %depending imo. Good info 👍
First rule the number one thing, if they say it's going to be really bad. That means it's time to get out and you must get out right Away as soon as possible.
Oil Lamps. All throughout the 8 days I was without power, my hurricane lanterns proved their worth time and time again. Everywhere I turned, honestly, the "old tech" was working when the new tech was not. We talk about chainsaws, but forget that they require a long line of manufacturing to support them. The axe and crosscut saw, though, run on breakfast and don't stop until you do. Everyone's scrambling to get propane heaters and such, but where's the talk about wood-burning stoves like Chiasson Smoke makes? They donated 75 of them to the relief effort, and it really got me thinking about how the people there have tons of wood everywhere they turn, but have to hope and beg for gas, oil, and everything else. I always keep oil lamps on hand simply because they look nice on the shelf and are better than candles. Normally, I lose power once a year in the winter when there's a good storm, so the oil lamps are there "just in case". Now, though, I'll be adding even more of them because I have no reason to not. Feuerhand is the top-of-the-line and still made in Germany when all the competition is made in chicom territory. That's worth supporting, imo, especially when the quality is so highly regarded. The Meva brand doesn't appear to be made anymore, but you can still find them on the used market for a good price, and they might for a nice entry-level lantern that you know you can trust. Everything I had running on batteries was dead from lack of use over the past year. Most were ruined from the batteries corroding. The only modern light that still functioned was my trusty Surefire that runs CR123 batteries, and I'll be sure to stockpile a couple extras just in case. Overall, I'm steering more towards Old Ways because I know they'll work. I might never face another situation like this again, but it might also happen next winter. You just never know when a tree will fall on a power line. The only really big thing I'd like to add is a whole-house generator. I've talked about it in the past, but always put it off because it's a large expense, and then this happens! The upside is that they add to the value of the house so if you ever sell... you can either take it with you, or use it to draw folks in. If you can, make sure it runs on the same gas you already have coming to the house so you have a huge supply of fuel rather than having to run to the store every day to get a new tank. And build a soundproof box around it to muffle the sound of it running. While you're shopping around, get yourself a couple Feuerhand hurricane lanterns. You can use them in the summer to ward off mosquitoes if you put citronella oil in them, so they won't collect duct and you'll be glad to have them when the power goes out again.
Wow, you just tossed me into a rabbit hole looking at Feuerhand lanterns! Thanks for your recommendation. Do you used kerosene or “lamp oil” (is that kerosene?). Do you find there is a odor or a smokiness with using these?
@@joannc147 Ha! Glad I'm not the only one traveling this wonderful rabbit hole! 😁 I just got a vintage Meva lantern in the mail today and have it burning right now just to check it out. Pretty as the day is long, but definitely a "cheap" knock-off of the Feuerhand lanterns! Maybe a good entry point for someone just wanting to learn, but I still don't think I'd recommend them unless they were in minty fresh condition simply because they can come with the hinge misaligned like mine and that makes it hard to raise the globe so you can light it. The Feuerhand are the best lanterns on the market in large part because the quality control is there. Buying "vintage" used lanterns is always hit-n-miss because you never know if all the parts will work like you want. For oil, I'm using the stuff I found at the hardware store, and it does have a smell to it. Nothing awful, but I did notice it while I was carrying my new Meva lantern around. And that smell really only gets noticeable when you're right up on the lantern where the fumes can waft into your nose. It's certainly not as noticeable as a litter box or similar. I've heard very good things about the Kleen Heat fuel. Folks complain about it being expensive, but for as little as you use any given time, I think it might be worth the cost. You can certainly use straight kerosene or diesel with the lamps. They're the same thing as the "lamp oil" you find on store shelves, just not as refined. They'll give you more smoke and odor, but if cost is a factor, maybe that's the best way to go since you'll likely only need the lantern for a few hours a night. If you have a lantern that'll be specifically used outside, like in a gazebo or porch setting, maybe fueling them with the cheaper stuff like straight kerosene would be a good idea since you have plenty of air movement. I know they also sell a citronella fuel that helps keep mosquitoes away, but I've never tried it. In general, I'm against scented fuels in the house simply because you can never know how strong they might be until it's too late. Get yourself a couple of Feuerhand lanterns and you won't be sad you did. If you can find some antique lanterns that look in good condition, give them a try. A good hurricane lantern is a joy to have, and to use.
@@threeriversforge1997 wow, great reply! Thank you for that detail. Your description on the oils is particularly of interest to me. I think, perhaps, YOU are a collector! 🤣 Enjoy your warm lighting - it sure beats the ghastly blue lights on many modern lights. Again, thank you!
@@joannc147 Thank you for your kind words. I don't collect lanterns but I do read a lot and watch a ton of videos, so it's easy to notice patterns after a while. That, and a lifetime of studying the old ways as part of my blacksmithing career, if that's what you want to call it. Collector certainly sounds nicer than 'packrat'. So I'll take it! 😁 I hope you enjoy this path you're on. There's something really special about having lanterns at the ready, knowing you're prepared to handle at least one of the inconveniences life wants to throw at you. During my 8 Days of Darkness post-Helene, having my oil lamps was the one thing that brought me a little comfort and peace. It was rather pleasant to spend the evenings reading my copy of the Ashley Book of Knots by the flickering glow of lamplight. It was like traveling back in time, and I kind of miss it.
I have a go tote in my unattached garage. It's very cold here and we don't get many natural disasters but throughout my childhood, people's houses burnt down. Usually when it's coldest because they use some extra heating sources. And I've heard of people almost freezing to death because of it. If I need to leave town quickly, I can grab that. Documents are also out there. It's not heated and there's no electricity and we don't park cars in there so 0⃣ risk of fire. Maybe if our house fire spread somehow but I'd be long gone.
That is awesome! We we originally were going to get one for our place. However we could not find someone to do the install at the time. It all has to be permitted here and I don't trust myself with electricity so we got a big Honda generator instead. Kohler is a good brand, we were looking at those. Stay safe!
I was honestly so surprised at how MANY rural farmers and homesteaders turned out to be SO dependent on fossil fuels and electricity; when the chips were down. I had always just assumed that THOSE folks would be the best off in an natural disaster or emergency, because I just naively thought they'd have everything they needed and the the city folk would be the ones struggling. I had my eyes opened by this. Rural homestead folks and urban city folks really aren't that different at all.
I agree. They are people too and feel that prepping is not necessary and if they do need help the govt will help them out. Well, now we know how that works. I hope in light of these disasters that more families get some preps done to take care of their own.
Oops! we didn't put the list in the video. We did add it to our description: MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO Emergency kits and Evacuation Plans: normalprepping.com Electric Chainsaw: amzn.to/481CNVD Extra Electric Chainsaw Battery: amzn.to/4h0viCO Hardhat with eye and ear protection: amzn.to/4eZlTcR Family Service Radios (no license required): amzn.to/481eQ11 Vacuum Seal Machine: amzn.to/3S0omKM Vacuum Seal Bags 8 inch: amzn.to/4bAr9Bp Vacuum Seal Bags 11 inch: amzn.to/3Y1RvJ8 Garmin Watch: amzn.to/3Wizpll Garmin InReach amzn.to/3Nh8gtt
The thing that i am thinking about differently is waste management. I live in town now and have has water during power outages fine. But if we have an earthquake and the main breaks, i need to have a solition for my family to manage human waste. Edit to add: we had to bug out in 2020 for the first time ever. Its a surreal experience and things can easily be missed. We now have a checklist by the doors and with our bug out bags in priority order to keep things straight. This list is in a protective sleeve and i use a dry erase marker to check things off
I liked your idea about the chainsaw, and for the one who can afford, an electric grinder could be very useful since sometimes a person or cars when bugging, might find closed gates, doors or locks, even rods and cables (try to avoid energized cables). Thank you for your ideas.
Yes, same goes for being having your home burned. Our experience was a forest fire. That is why part of prepping is knowing how to evacuate also. We had to evacuate because of a huge wildfire and since then we are putting more focus on that. We have a few videos on bugging out, including making an evacuation plan.
I keep gas tanks in vehicles filled. We live in the middle of nowhere and if evacuated, civilization is far away. You could also siphon gas out of vehicles if needed.
Never experienced natural disaster SoCal in 30+ years including the 94 Northridge earthquake, but after Texas and Florida situation made me rethink it. Got 2 Tesla Power WALL, solar, dual fuel generator and EV as back up of a backup. 10+ 55 gallon container of water among other things
I have a complete off-grid solar system with panels that sit on the ground that I can move around to follow the sun, or I can bring them indoors. But if you use your lights at night, people will know that you have power. I keep my house lights off and turn on my cell phone flashlight at night.
I would like you to get on the air right away and not have to wait for me to do a video on it. I recommend watching this video to show you how to program your Baofeng using CHIRP: th-cam.com/video/7XQNmWS4A9o/w-d-xo.html Just program what you need, for instance if you only use FRS radio then do a search for those frequencies and same goes for GMRS and above do that. I have videos on what those acronym's mean in my playlist. A pro tip: make sure you push the cable hard when you plug it into the radio. It should click. Thanks and good luck!
Just pulled through Helene looking back be prepared for multiple problems.. like a chain reaction or snowball effect.. and for weather events don’t listen to news about weather events.. they told us the storm was going to be west of us. We had already been soaked with rain and they even lowered all the dams ahead of the storm… we was told it was going to hit Georgia Atlanta metro area… when we woke up in was on top of us… I got by with power banks like my Anker solix 1000 and my BLUETTI power bank I recommend having two 1000 watt power banks and a small generator they allow flexibility and if one goes down or one needs to recharge your not totally down. And recharge time is not so bad. and you can save gas in your generator…everyone was grabbing the gas and power outage will close the majority of gas stations… freeze water bottles in a deep freezer ahead of storm you can swap them in a cooler as refrigerator… don’t waste your time trying to maintain your refrigerator a deep freezer with ice bags and frozen bottles of water is way easier to swap and maintain than a refrigerator… I would freeze my deep freezer using my battery doxes and charge at the same time.
My house has spring water piped in that is tested- no chlorine or fluoride added . 44 years loose power and still have water . Need to find out about water before you buy your house .
Stash some cash! When the power goes down totally, your ATM won't work when you trek to the nearest store or gas station. Many preppers don't realize just how interconnected and fragile our digital civilization now is.
I personally like to use the portable power stations and generator combo. I just use the generator when charging the power station and then swap all power back over to the power station after 100% charged. It saves a lot of gas. If you have a big enough power station you just need the generator a few hours every second or third day for a few hours. Plus you can charge the power stations with solar.
Our main weakness was clean water. However, water filtration has not been a major option especially in the beginning. The water is polluted with chemicals that I’m pretty sure these filters won’t remove. The Jackery Solar Generator was a great help. It did keep my freezer cold by cycling it on and off.
Always carry some cash plus a little Gold&Silver. I started out by keeping a common date/condition Liberty Half Eagle ($5 gold piece) and a common date/condition Silver dollar in secure section in my wallet. I've used the gold piece once and silver piece many times. I do leather working and make my own wallets with a small pouch that will hold a standard coin flip. The gold piece I have now is a Columbian $5 gold piece and the silver is now a generic silver round. A Troy Ounce of silver will buy a tank of gas and a ~1/4 oz of gold will buy a few nights at a nice hotel, yet they take up very little space.
Paper maps are a good idea. I also have OnX maps and download maps for areas im going to, so i dont have to rely on service to know where i am and where im going.
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Thank God I wasn't as bad off as some people during Helene but I did lose power for 3 days. You are right about solar, I had battery powered lights, fans, etc but wound up running around trying to find stores that still had batteries in stock. You go thru batteries so fast. Afterwards I bought a power bank, solar panels, solar charging lights, etc. Hopefully we won't lose power again that long but if we do, we will be ready.
Generator and solar panels complete the trio.
Laura from the Appalachian Mountains in NC here. I want to mention some missing points here. Houses were not just lost along rivers. Spring, creeks, culverts, underground wells all flooded up. The rivers didn’t just rise, they also flash flooded. And where the water couldn’t rise, it fell in over 1000 landslides. Also, your comment about not wanting people to know you have solar…the reason our communities have survived is because small
pockets of neighbors selflessly came together offering knowledge and kindness.
Here, everyone is helping. Prepping for yourself to survive alone is not what Appalachia should be teaching you. It’s the communities here that started with what skills we had (cutting down trees and debris, medical knowledge, grilling, cooking, getting water for everyone). But, less than 24 hours after the storm ended there was a long line of military helicopters flying over. And they are still here helping as much as we can.
Here is what I would love for our pain and losses to actually teach folks. 1. Please focus on diversity in your preps. 2. Start with communication. On the night after the storm our fire chief look me dead in the eye and said “we are dead in the water.” Starlink and Garmin have been great for my family. 3. You may need an electric and gas chainsaw if that is a skill you want to use. But, before I could even get out with my chainsaw, my neighbors had cleared my path out without my asking. 5. Diversify food and how you plan to cook. We still don’t have potable water in my town. We were rationing water for the first two days until supplies started flowing in. So my neighbors planned cooking food that would spoil first and how those items need to be cooked. We used a neighbors blackstone one night and an egg smoker the next.
What I hope you can take away from what happened to us here in these beautiful mountains is that, investing in community may be the prep we have all be overlooking and undervaluing.
Thank you all for your love and support.
Excellent advice! Thank you!
God love you, for this well phrased truth. Thank you.
Well said. Individuals survive, communities thrive. "Preps" should always take your community into account.
God Bless you and thank you for a great comment. I’m in SC but y’all are my people…I almost froze to death in the Linville Gorge Wilderness in Linville NC on 3/13/93 during the storm of the century. 5 feet of snow and 100mph wind. the good people of NC saved us. Especially the volunteer firemen. Not sure where you’re at but all of Appalachia is full of amazing people. Prayers for you and your town 🙏🙏🙏🐦🐦
Well said about the importance of community. Since my neighbors didn’t greet me, when I 1st moved in, I introduced myself to THEM & gave them my contact info & got theirs. We have been mutually helpful & all stepped up during Helene. One big lesson for me: don’t have a home close to water. Check terrain. Many thanks! Bev in Black Mtn.
I've been working the cleanup, and have donated water, food, coffee, and medical, from my prepping stocks. I live only 30 miles from the mountain region of western NC.
Fantastic that you were able to help those in need. I own my own business, I donated my 3rd quarter profits to Samaritan's Purse. This weekend I sorted thru our winter items and we are donating all our too small coats, hats, and gloves.
Bless giving hearts
Watching those houses float away down the river and knowing they lost everything is an eye opener . Some things you just can't prepare for . Even if they had "stuff " stacked to the rafters, they lost it all . Many even lost their lives bugging in . Maybe less is more, and being able to walk away with what you can carry is something to consider .
I had the same thoughts. I realize now different situations call for different tactics
That thought has crossed my mind.
The recent events have had me seriously solidify it.
I have a rolling backpack ready if I have to evacuate (I'm 75 so hope I never have to carry it) Each baggy is labeled with what it needs; cash, medicine, chargers, basic clothing, food that doesn't need cooking, some water, dog food, laptop, etc. In my car is an emergency blanket and maps. I live in hurricane country so I can prepare ahead of time unlike people who had to run from the fires in Paradise, CA or the sudden flooding & mudslides of Helene. All in all, if I faced a Helene I would grab my cell phone, cash, and my dog. anything else is icing on the cake. PS. If I don't have to evacuate then my supplies can help me and others survive for a couple weeks at a minimum.
@@virginia_the_eldersomething I kept seeing was how many people lost their animals because they couldn't hold on in the raging waters. That's why I just got all my animals backpacks and life vests, so my hands can be free. Each family member is assigned an animal to get
Even knowing they lost everything, this was a historic storm and we are omniscient. I would still prep to the rafters. The first prep is LOCATION.
A note about medication, specifically in Florida (this may be true for other states): if the governor issues an executive order ahead of an emergency such as a hurricane, in the event a pharmacist receives a request for a prescription refill and the pharmacist is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency refill of up to a 72-hour supply of the prescribed medication; or a one-time emergency refill of insulin and insulin-related supplies or equipment to treat diabetes. This is directly from the FL Board of Medicine website. If you use an insulin pen, it’s good for 30 days without refrigeration. I hope this helps someone.
One thing I never see mentioned is to become physically fit. Cutting down on your food intake, especially fast food , could help you a lot. If you're depending on food as a way to cope with life or stress, you're going to go off the deep end when you can't eat like you're used to. Getting healthier will also prevent you from getting diseases where you might need meds or a bunch of other stuff you'll have to haul around during a disaster. Plus, being in shape will get you over the mountains, through the hills, and the rivers.
Absolutely. The amount of people who's lives were lost because their muscles gave out..
That's good advice our physiology will be in shock by the sudden change in diet and routine. There is also a mental impact to be considered. Spiritual health as well will keep you going when nothing makes sense.
You've never faced a flood, have you?
@@SuzanneU no one thinks you'd be able to swim to safety. Being physically fit helps you in lots of different ways, including in the aftermath, as the OP explains
Mind and Boris part of the plan for those who don’t know.
My friend’s brother as affected. He was out of power for 10 days. He still has no water. He says it is important to have cash on hand.
Sorry about your brothers friend. Thanks for the good advice.
That's why the govt is trying to go cashless to increase control. Don't believe me?
Yes . Floridian here affected ..
Yes. I’m in the mountains of NC. Cash was important in the first could of weeks.
I honestly laugh at the people who suggest it's important to hoard precious metals. Majority of prepping should be focused on your threat model and that threat model needs to have thought put into it.
Planning for a zombie outbreak and larping your way through an EMP scenario may well be fun but reality is a house fire or a flood is a much more likely scenario and like you say simply having cash to hand, to pay for a cab just to get to a friends house for the night if the telephony service drops and cards aren't working is a much more reasonable prep.
Florida resident here. I just got power after Milton. I am impressed with my solar generators. Just like many hands make light work, many Jackerys make effective work. Pre power outage, our house outlet charged them at about 60 watts and the solar panel charge at 50-55 watts which is amazing. While the one Jackery powered my mini ICECO fridge, the other was being charged by solar. 2 other solar power stations charged phones and USB lights. Also have as many USB rechargeable items as possible. One USB lamp lit up the entire kitchen and family room.
Excellent! We are glad you are safe and your preps worked! Thanks for the great information.
@@tranquillady1688 we used the gas generator to recharge our one solar Eco-flo. An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Kept the fridge going along with fans, phones, internet, lantern, headlights. We bought a second solar generator afterwards. Also learning to maximize the solar panels for charging them. We didn't have the best setup in place. 5 days without power.
So I take it your house didn't get blown away by a tornado nor washed away by the floods
We have two BLUETTI solar generators. They kept the refrigerators and fans running. Solar camping lanterns work at night. Three days for us. We were lucky.
Florida here too, it’s been so scary and has really made me think about what I need to do
We have a "get home bag" in our truck. It's actually a box with two backpacks and assorted supplies so that we could survive and walk home from the city if something happened while we were far from home. It includes water filtration. In an emergency where we had to evacuate it would also work. For me the mot important thing is a secure kennel/cage so our dogs and cats would go along. I learned that when we had to evacuate in the middle of the night due to our neighbour having a meth lab. I had nothing for my pets. If I had a proper pet kennel we could have easily stayed in a pet friendly hotel. As it was we had to sleep in our vehicle until stores opened.
@@justinburch Great point. We need to prep for our furry friends too!
When I didn’t work from home I had the same thing.
We live a simple life and don't rely on outside sources so having simple ways to do what's needing done is important. We have the skills and tools to make do without electricity. Our water is free and runs without electricity. We heat and cook with wood. Our food is raised and grown on our property. We do have rechargeable solar radios, small fans, lamps, and flashlights for each of us. Those are nice to have but not necessarily needed. Christmas is coming soon enough, maybe think ahead and when someone asks what you're wanting maybe ask for some of your prep needs or a book on how to do a new skill. We've been asked how long we'd survive if something bad happened and our answer is always indefinitely because we made each decision with the long term in mind. Bless you all and take care.
Another tip, We knew the pwr would go, so the day before, we added as many water bottles to our freesers and turn everything as low temps they would go.
I learned from one couple whose husband was washed over his porch. As they ran upstairs he grabbed life Jackets as a second thought it saved his life. I’m going to get life jackets now.
And whistles. Might not help everyone but if it save 1% it’s simple and effective.
@@lesliecattsmall and cheap. It's irresponsible not to have one ✌️
I thought the same thing. we are avid boaters and during Helene I though life jackets would be good to have during a flood. I thought about our canoe also.
@@jeannainnc8390 ya how many people saved their neighbors in their kayaks
I’ve been thinking of life jackets for family that don’t have any. Also we can have a variety of disasters to prepare for: snowstorms, hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and fire.
In WNC here. All of these recommendations are great. Gas powered chainsaws paved the way for emergency vehicles. Be sure to have cash for gas because that's the only acceptable currency when the grid is down - and stays down. Electric chainsaws cannot do the volume of work required all day....
@barbarawarren9443,
Yes, given sufficient battery capacity and power output, modern electric chainsaws can indeed perform the same amount of work as gas-powered chainsaws. Advances in battery technology have allowed electric chainsaws to close the gap in terms of power and endurance. Here are some considerations:
1. Power Output: High-quality electric chainsaws with powerful motors can match the torque and cutting speed of gas-powered chainsaws, especially when equipped with lithium-ion batteries that provide high energy density.
2. Battery Capacity: The main limitation with electric chainsaws is their dependence on battery life. To perform the same amount of work as a gas chainsaw over extended periods, you would need either large-capacity batteries or multiple charged batteries on hand for continuous operation. This allows users to swap out depleted batteries quickly and continue working.
3. Performance: For typical use cases such as light to moderate cutting (e.g., pruning branches, cutting small to medium-sized logs), electric chainsaws can perform as effectively as gas-powered models. For heavy-duty work, higher-end electric chainsaws with robust batteries can handle the load, although gas models still dominate for prolonged, high-intensity tasks without breaks due to the instant refueling with gasoline.
4. Efficiency and Maintenance: Electric chainsaws are generally more efficient and easier to maintain than gas-powered chainsaws, as they have fewer moving parts, no need for fuel mixing, and generate less noise and vibration.
With enough battery power, electric chainsaws can indeed perform similarly to gas-powered chainsaws for most practical applications. For extensive and continuous use (such as professional logging), multiple high-capacity batteries or access to quick charging solutions would be essential to match the work output of gas chainsaws.
My son has always said that prepping is futile when it comes to the worst. He said you are better off learning ways to survive in the worst. That a bug out bag is all you will be able to save in most cases. All that extra food could possibly end up floating down the newly made river or burnt up in a wildfire or blown apart in a F3 tornado. Knowing where to look for food and how to figure out what's safe to eat in the wild is your best bet. Really who can prepare for a mudslide in the middle of the night or an earthquake that ends up busting up every mason jar full of food you have in your basement. It truly could be survival of the fittest someday
That is why I don't buy into an Either / Or situation.. If you truly want to survive.. with as little suffering as possible.. cover ALL basis.
Good point, but if it's winter there's not much you can eat in the wild. Trust in God.
@@judyanderson8782 if it's a blizzard the best thing you can do is make sure you keep your roof cleaned off. Snow is very heavy n all that weight on it will very often make it collapse. Next best is to have multiple heat sources n extra meds n food stored in case you can't get to town for a few days. Northern Mainer here. You can survive a blizzard most of the time. I'm thanking God I haven't been through a flash flood. I'm not prepared for that at all
That being said, do you know how many neighbors are helping those who lost everything and they're able to _because_ they prepped? Sure, their neighbors lost all their prep.. but not everyone did. And those supplies have been _vital_ to those who did lose all their prepping.
@@ACAB.forcutie I hear you
Life vests are not just for boaters... especially in a flooding situation.
Exactly they should have them for the animals too
I used to put bicycke helmets and Ski jackets on my kids during tornado warnings. They used to make fun of me but now they are parents and during the last outbreak I got sent videos from their basement and guess what those kids were wearing.
I do alternate day fasting where I eat one meal every other day to lose a little bit of weight. I do it for abut 2 weeks at a time. We all eat too much food (in the US anyway), and it's amazing what little food we actually need on a regular basis. I'm in great health (I'm 75) and I can alternate day fast for probably a month or so if needed. It's a great way to save food in an emergency, especially if you have kids, and food is scarce. It also cuts the food budget in half and requires far less kitchen clean up time. Here's a hint: If you drop most of the carbohydrates from your diet before you fast, your hunger will drop way down.
Awesome! My husband needs to do this. Thanks for sharing:)
Exactly’
High protein
Low carb
Makes fasting so much easier.
Like you said we can live off of very little food if it’s high protein.
I’m 62 and started 3 years ago and haven’t been sick since.
Your most powerful asset is your community. Take care of yourself, take care of your neighbors.
I think it would be beneficial to pack a high quality salt, like Celtic or Real Salt, to add a few granuals to your water for minerals and electrolytes.
That was going to be my only suggestion and the verse "Have salt in yourselves, and keep peace between one another.”-Mark 9:50 That humilty can be a real aid to others even when your own pockets are empty.
I live less than an hour from the hardest hit areas of Tennessee. Several of my coworkers who do live in the areas affected by the flooding and listening to them of the destruction is mind blowing and saddening. They all know people that lost everything. I did lose power for a day but that was more of a nuisance than anything. I was able to use my solar generator battery to keep my refrigerator running. I ended up borrowing my friend's gas generator after the battery died for a few hours. I have solar panels for my generator but that requires sunlight which I did not have do to heavy cloud cover. I will be buying a gas generator once everything calms down and the people that needs them has one. I have a regular gas chainsaw but I also have a 24v chainsaw which I love trimming my apple trees with. I can also charge the battery with the solar generator if need be. As far as looking at maps on my phone, your phone will still hook up to a satellite and show you your location on a map. I have an S24, but an S9 did it to. You don't need a cell signal for that to work. However, you can't get directions this way but at least you have a map that you move on as you travel. Thank you for your video. This experience has definitely made me rethink about my prepping and what additional steps I need to take. Lastly, I do ask for prayers for this area. A large percentage of people affected did not have flood insurance and have lost everything.
You can get apps for your phone that will download maps of your area to your phone, so they are available offline when you have no connection. The combination of these apps and GPS allow you to navigate even when you have no phone service. These apps are used a lot by people who hike. Viewranger, Gaia GPS, etc. BTW if you have no signal, put your phone on airplane mode, it saves battery. BBTW the newer iPhone 14 and 15 allow you to send messages via satellite.
This is one of the BEST videos ever, just went through Helene and now Milton… my husband was asking where are you at? Street signals out, telephone pole lights out, signs down and THAT is when I was coming back from evacuating
Such helpful info
Listerning to someone who lived throught it, he said that they went to bed expecting the hurricane to go left and hit two neightbouring states and it turned right in the night and hit them, so he said he would no longer really on the weather people.
Any good weather group will point out both the probabilities AND the possibilities.
When weather events are further out it is imperative to continue checking in on that "CONE of probability".. AND what that cone represents. To say.. are they measuring WIND? or RAIN?, or Storm Surge?
It is.. unfortunate, that some forecasters, understandably, hesitate to warn an area that MIGHT well be in danger EARLY ON.. because if that pattern shifts (as they often do) and misses that area.. then the NEXT TIME a threat arises.. people may ignore the warning.
So, not only do they need to predict the weather, but also take into account people's responses as these weather patterns shift and change.
I was listening to Ryan Hall that night, and he was warning people in that area that it could be bad.
We live in NC, the hurricane at 1 point was heading for us. We live above a lake, on top of a hill. We are prepared. Last year we removed all the trees that could hit our home that the previous owner had planted. We thankfully were missed. I love trees and we have many, but if they can strike your house, it might be a good idea to remove them. Look at all the pictures of Helene and trees cutting houses in half.
I couldn't believe it, but this spring I got an evacuation alert when a wildfire broke out about 30 minutes from my house. Why was it so strange? I live within the CITY limits of Spokane, Washington.
Some 40 years ago, I experienced a mobile home fire. I had to evacuate multiple animals, too. That was when I put a rule in place that a cage or carrier had to be located in every room where an animal was or might be located. That was also when I realized that I didn't know how to use a fire extinguisher. Pulling the pin is only the beginning of what you need to know. I danced around the room trying to figure out how to get it to actually spray the fire retardant. I accidentally managed to squeeze the top just right and fortunately it was facing away from me or I'd have had a face full of the stuff. The only thing I can tell you is that I don't do well when stressed to a panic! Yikes!!!
That is what happened here. 1000's of people lost their homes.
I know how you feel !! I'm out in Medical Lake, Last year's Grey Rd. Fire taught me to not have lists of stuff to take. You need to pack the "Stuff" up and just let it be until it is needed. I also learned to Actually Practice Loading your vehicle. This last one is COMPLETELY Critical... Practice, Load it out, inventory every year and then leave it be.
@@danam.8709it's called bug out bag
More information please on that radio you call your wife
@@deborahlopez7147 I suggest using Family Radio Service (FRS) radios. They do not need a license. They are only good for a few miles, but we use ours around our property and we used them when we had to evacuate because we were in separate vehicles and cell phones did not work. There is a link in the description for some good simple to use radios. Just look for FRS radios if you buy locally. Even kiddy radios will work in a pinch.
I have been looking at solar generator, battery packs, etc. 8 days no power, lesson learned.
I got by with two solar generator/battey packs I recommend two 1000 watt packs solar sucked I didn’t have enough panels as soon as it was overcast was slow to charge. I got my hands on a small generator I was able to charge and re freeze my deep freezer at the same time… if you have two you can power two places at the same time or if one goes down it’s not game over…
I have been looking at the Ecoflow Delta Pro 3. Also one commenter mentioned that the solar panels were a bust bc of cloud cover so having a dual fuel generator seems to be appropriate too. I am looking at the Harbor Freight Predator 5000, it can run on propane and propane lasts alot longer in storage.
Anytime I hear weather change in the area I'm in that might burn or flip my house, I start my home and book. Anyway, as you mentioned having a chainsaw to cut trees out of your path. we were out boondocking for a few days near a beautiful river and a windstorm came through overnight, as we left and halfway down the only route out a large tree blocked the road. I cut the tree in smaller parts but was still too heavy to move. I have several 2"x15' tension straps. I strapped one around the cut piece and the other to the front of my RV and drug it out of the way. Did this until all pieces were moved enough to get through.
Also, a good thing to have evacuating is a come-along if one cannot afford a wench or have the right vehicle for one. As for paper maps. As you know we travel state to state across the country on a daily basis. We always use paper maps. My daughter and I plan our next adventure and map it out on paper maps. Not just road maps but trail maps for hiking in the mountains. I used to have a Garmin GPS, but it always got us lost, wanted me to turn off bridges, ravines, etc. So, I chucked it,
Vac sealing document is fine to protect against water damage but it's cheap to buy a waterproof/fireproof bag from Amazon then you have two risks covered. Fire is just as likely to be a problem. Also for your documents, get a biometric protected USB thumb drive and scan all documents to that to keep in a bug out bag.
That is great advice!
Good idea
Yes, having a fireproof bag did me no good when I went into a flooded ditch during a freak Texas thunderstorm. Lost all my documents.
@@maryolson411 so maybe the way to go is to vacuum seal inside of a fireproof bag
Great idea!
My husband got me a dewalt chainsaw last year for my Birthday. I love it. Battery powered.
Awesome!
Besides having a place to meet, as a back up decide on a relative or friend who diesnt live near you and give their phone number as a contact. Sometimes if you cant make it to a designated spot if you all call the same person to tell them where you are and coordinate your next step. Backup for backup plans.
That is a very good idea! Thanks!
When you said electric chain saw I think you meant battery operated chain saw. We do a lot of dry camping so we are used to not having water or power on site. It's made us learn to prep. After watching NC It made me think about how we have to prep more. We have a bug out list for all the things we need in the camper and truck before we leave. It also contains the things we have to do to the house before we leave. We also have a list on how we can improve our bug out list while we are out. Having visited a lot of that area affected I couldn't believe the damage. It's made me rethink a lot of things.
Yes I meant battery chainsaw. I noticed that after I published it. I said it a couple of times. It did make me cringe a bit. I am glad you are working on your preps after seeing what happened in NC. These events are a learning experience. As we mentioned and we have two videos on it, we learned a lot from our experience evacuating from a major wild fire. You mention dry camping. That is one of the best ways to learn what you need when off grid. I mention the fact that I love backpacking. I have learned a lot about survival backpacking solo.
We camp a lot too. I did the same thing and revisited my campout and house lists.
My house is a cinder block house.
Build with cinder block, or concrete block, or poured concrete or natural stone. Your house will not burn, or get blown down, or float away.
I love this comment. My house could be broken into with a can opener….sigh.
I saw a historic stone home that not only was washed away but the earth it was planted on was gone as well. Just do what you can and have a drawful of humility. Use it often, be proficient it is a lovely prep.
@itsno1duh Nothing is 100% risk-free. But logs float and stones sink. That is science.
Humility is nice. But it is not going to protect your home. You have a better chance using your brain.
You want to bet? In a landslide or major flash flood, concrete cinder block homes are going just as quickly as any other home.
@Joe-xr3ir 80% of the United States is level flat farmland and desert. There are no landslides on level land. And there are no flash floods. Flash floods are in ravines. And a common flood is not going to wash away a concrete slab foundation. Stop making dumb statements.
we just had milton pass over us. 17 hours running house on just batteries. lights freezer fridge tv a/c then solar & gas when the storm passed. gas stove was nice. hot coffee a must lol😂
a BIG thing is a problem is lack of sleep.. no one sleeps well during grid down & storms.
I'm off-grid in Maine with no winter plowing.
Always especially winter I carry EGO 18' chainsaw with extra chain, two sets gloves, sleeping bag, small refridge with food, tools, handsaw, 2k Honda generator, inverter battery.
At camp I keep 100 gallons of treated gas, two generators, starlink, plenty of food.
I South Florida I keep a gernerator, small fridge, plenty of food & water & gas, counter Reverse osmosis, plenty of usb-c lamps, several inverter batteries. Have your vehicle prepped if you need to get out. Hurricanes tricky because they can turn or wiggle. In class 3+ storms it might be best to get inland. I've been without power for 3-weeks so keep 2-3 weeks of food and generator gas. Keep a portable compost toilet in case no water for days or weeks.
Portable compost toilet, what a good idea. It certainly would cut down on the water requirements.
I have both gas and electric chainsaws. I carry electric/battery in the truck no fumes or gas storage issues. Great video
Thanks!
@@NormalPrepping What people need to know is that you can cut for more hours with a gas chain saw (or any gas vs electric battery device). But you can recharge your solar if you have the right other components. So for a major issue like what is going on after these hurricanes, you really could use BOTH. That way, you could do maximum clearing when fuel was available. But at least have the option to do some work, then change batteries and recharge one while using another, then do more work, if it wasn't. Ideally, you need at least 3-4 batteries for each device because you deplete them faster than they can charge even from A/C much less solar which is likely to be slower.
@@Growmap Excellent advice! Thank you!
@@Growmapyou can clear for the longest using a two person bow saw. Probably worth having traditional hand tools to hand to augment the power assisted stuff.
@@lmaoroflcopter Yes, that is always a good idea. I suspect there aren't many people around who have a two person bow saw.
Oh a good note about the medication - I think sealing the bottle itself is one of the best ideas I've ever heard. I suspect that if you can get to a pharmacy preserving that may help the pharmacist refill it for you as well. Great idea.
Thanks!
How nice to see both of you being on the same page! Just beautiful!
Hard work and fun together!
My husband doesn't want to hear about preps.
Well... doing it secretly!
Just said to do it alone.
Gog bless you!
GOD bless you!
He will thank you someday. It's going to get rough every where
I am in the same boat. My husband thinks I am completely nuts. I plan secretly, stashing stuff all around the house, learning what to do in an emergency. So far when we lost power to the house for a day, he was upset there was no water, no toilets--I pulled out some of the water supply stash and viola we had water and toilets, baby wipes for the hands. There have been little emergencies and so far so good I could cover them all. Yes, he still is adverse to anything prep.
@olgaguer6443. Your husband’s best prep was to marry YOU! ❤
So true the cities will turn stuff OFF for safety, I am preparing a waterproof tub with all of it, water, tarps, we actually DID need some MRE’s. Never thought I’d see that.
Maybe I missed it, But REFLECTIVE stuff, reflective long raincoat, stuff for car, flares, first aid kit rope, plastic bags if your window gets damaged.. I am in South Florida, just went through Helene, I was helping others, and then BAM had to Evacuate ..
I did so WELL in advance of the storm, traffic was perfect.
My thing is I RETURNED too early . Roads were NOT safe , street lights down, tree limbs. No power,. Lessons learned. I thought I had done some good and prudent things but now I understand that is has to be better. My husband works in Fire rescue… when the CREW tells you they are scared and making sure their loved ones LEAVE.. good Lord
I also say REFLECTIVE VESTS- light weight ones. Just tossing my thoughts out there and learning from you and others . Ty
GREAT tip on reflective items, thank you. A simple reflective vest takes up little room and minimal weight. Flares! Dang, why don’t I have these too?
Most people who have generators have a few days of gas but on days 4-7 everyone is lined up trying to get the last drops out of the (cash only) gas station, and what do you do when your generator is the only one still making noise on day 14+? Pro move for advanced users in wooded states is to build a wood gasifier. You can power vehicles and generators on firewood.
We did a video where we checked how far away our generator could be heard. We did it during a blackout. It is amazing how quiet the world is when there is no power.
hurricane survivor here (Mitch 1998) Great ideas. Solar wasn't mainstream back then but now it should be part of the preps
Thanks!
Never really took "bugging out" seriously. I do now.
Bugging out can happen to everyone. I think this year it will be bug out bags for the fam.
Practical advice. Thank you!
So true about meds!!! I like to be prepared and am so frustrated because I am only allowed to get a small amount of meds at a time (and these meds are not pain meds!). There used to be exceptions for when you are about to travel, they should make exceptions for situations like storms, as well!
Do not freeze your meds!! It could alter them
Really good video. Helpful commenters too!
Central FL here. Milton made me happy to have a couple of "solar generators" (these are just large battery backup power with an inverter that can be charged from solar). My solar system was knocked out during the night, so the next morning I started getting ready to clear away the debris for my generator and then remmebred i had these two power supplies. I hooked up the c9ffe maker, electric stove, and had coffee and breakfast in 10 mins. Another lesson I learned is spares. A large limb fell on my pump house, opening the roof to the wind, at 1am the pump house had fallen over on to the well head, filters, and snapped the pipes. I had almost enough pvc pipes to fix it, but was short 6 inches, which may as well been 20ft. Lucky my neighbor had a stick I could use. I now have spare pipes, fittings, glue, adaptors, etc. Along with a cheap harbor frieght well pump if the one I have gets damaged.
Brilliant!
Being physically impaired I must look at challenges differently. I have few farm critters so made sure I have enough hay for this season. This was difficult due to our area in a severe drought this year. Some of us cant pick up and leave. I have always kept a well stocked pantry due to childhood food insecurity. My area is of a higher elevation so if the roads wash out I will be left on hill. Mudslides occur so hopefully house 🏠 wont slide down hill. My mindset has always been preparedness but now I am looking at other things. Solar would be great but the price currently beyond my budget. I do have a lot of sun. A gas generator sounds great but lifting and storing the gas cans are beyond my capability.
Your suggestions about meds is very pertinent. My Dr orders my meds 3 month supply so that works well. I get it as soon as I can to be sure I have 3 month supply.
Yes, everything seems expensive. Just do the best you can. If you are doing something, you are doing more than most.
There are generators that run on propane just like a gas grill. That might be an easier option for you
@@TruthBeToldUSofA thanks for the info. I will check into that!
You sound like a kind person thats a great quality, and very intelligent! I think everyone can benefit from having an emergency friend or partner to ring up just incase or have a set of walky talkies and a solar power bank. Best wishes :)
I have a small 5000 watt dual fuel inverter generator, it's a Wen DF500IX. It has wheels and can be pulled around without having to carry it. It runs on 20lb propane tanks, or larger. I like propane because it can be stored indefinitely. It's also very quiet, I can have a normal conversation while it's running without having to raise my voice, which will be good to not broadcast long distances that you have a generator. It also has electric start.
I installed a larger dual fuel generator for my neighbor, it's a Westinghouse WGen7500DFc. It has a key fob so it can be started remotely. I set it up permanently in an outside lockable metal garbage can shed with a cord that runs to the house's inlet box with a mechanical interlock in the panel. I like it because it has automatic choke and shutdown when using the key fob and can power everything in the house. It's quite loud when it runs though, which is the biggest downside.
There's a fire resistant bag you can get from Ha rbor Freight for important papers. Head lamps free up your hands.
The first thing neighbors wanted, since cell was out, was to get a note to family outside the area letting them know they were fine. I used winlink to help. It took about 4 days for cell to work reliably in our area.
This has always been a concern of mine as well. Would you mind sharing, please? What is winlink? Thank you
I'm in MN so our biggest threats are tornadoes and blizzards. What I've learned from videos like yours is: get cash in small bills ✅️, fill and get another propane tank ✅️, can water in all my empty jars ✅️, get 2 more 5gal gas cans ✅️, get solar rechargable fans ✅️, get emergency laceration closures ✅️, look into a manual clothes washer (other than grandma's antique wash board that's for decoration). I feel for all of people going through this tragedy. 💗💗
Those who are preppers and always prepare be good or bad news. Something you need to remember what would be the first thing you would grab when you run out of the house to save your family and yourself I would recommend number one. Keep all the important paperwork that proves you’re a lot your land your insurance, your identity, who you are mortgage whatever birth certificates Because the cell phone laptop will be useless. It won’t be any power all those paperwork in one place and waterproof container, that’s easy to carry food. You can add water to. It’s cold or not. It’s food something buried a garbage can far away from your house that you know where it is at least you try to remember you can bug out there, but you can identify who you are if you don’t keep paperwork and if it’s really severe, you’re Social Security number on your arm with a sharpie marker so if you do not make it out alive, they can identify who you are. It’s tragic, but as a retired nurse, I’ve seen worse things than North Carolina. I was in the midst of hurricane Katrina and that was sad too, but God bless you all. May you all consider putting the Lord first in your home because prayers do work.
The problem with solar battery packs is they have to be used on a regular basis or they will lose their ability to hold a charge. You can't just put it on a shelf and leave it there for two years and expect it to work when the storm comes.
I agree with you. That is why I use a smaller solar battery/panel to charge my set of Dewalt batteries. So, basically my garage is run off solar. Also use the battery to run a portable Frig/Freezer, which maintains freezer temps down to -4F.
That's less of a problem with Lithium batteries.
Yep I have a led bulb on a timer to run down the battery by 1/2 every day. Solar to controller tops the battery back off ebb and flow type system. Charge controller are sure getting expensive
@@stevesmith5140 I live in the area affected by Helene and got by with two battery packs. Before the storm I used them a lot more than I thought I would. They are convenient even without an emergency. I used both of them with a small generator when my power was out after Helene I didn’t have to have gas like everyone else. that just got by on generator alone. I recommend two so not dependent on one of you need to charge or one breakdown. Some people I know ran the oil dry in there generator.
How do you prep for something like this !?
Best thing is to work together with the people that servive .and help each other with all resources .
Many lost everything .some had to leave and came back to nothing .
I have watch it since day one.
Thankyou for your video and thoughts too .
Our medicines are in a bright yellow Pelican waterproof case.
I am currently cleaning up after Milton. My family is from Florida and we are prepared individually. We are all doing fine with solar generator but we live in different towns. We are planning a Halloween family gathering to discuss how we are going to move forward and make sure how to proceed for the next disaster
Milton results. (Tampa)
We evacuated and and stayed away for two days.
Added a 2200w small generator
Added 600w to the 300w solar we had.
Setup more 12v low voltage indoor and outdoor lighting that is normally powered by the solar system so there is no interruption.
Replaced the home network UPS with a small battery bank inverter.
Dusted off the hurcane lamps and restocked lamp oil.
Thank you for sharing and it sounds as though ham radios ate a necessity. Also, water was rekeased from the dams as well. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Prayers!
Yes, I agree with the solar. We immediately ordered a solar generator and panels after seeing how hard it was for NC victims to get gas for the gas generators. Also, simple solar outdoor lights would be a good source of light that can be freely recharged everyday! Thank You for the many ideas to improve our "simple" everyday preps.
Some kind of camping port a potty might be useful. They do not use water -- just bags.
THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO! I just found you and subscribed. I am a senior and live in South Florida and was on the fringes of Hurricane Milton... just tornado warnings that did not affect our area...THANK GOD! I have been prepping since COVID and have made Bug out Bags for myself, my autistic son, as well as my daughter and son-in-law (who have made fun of my prepping and don't realize I made their bags too). I took notes on your suggestions and STILL NEED HAM RADIOS....WILL YOU PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ON GETTING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT....I'm REALLY CONFUSED and don't want to get too much or too little for our needs. THANKS AGAIN AND GOD BLESS!
We are very grateful and thankful you are getting more prepared. If you do not need to talk on radios more then a couple of miles, depending on terrain. You can go further on flat, these radio are good: Family Service Radios (no license required): amzn.to/481eQ11
We will try to get the radio video out soon. Thanks and God Bless!
I got ham radio for dummies. Studied hard, took the test at a local radio club and passed. They advised on equipment, and even programmed my hand held radio for me. Do I talk on it, no but I know my call sign. Could I pass the test now, probably not but I have my license. I am 78.
@@judimardula8685you’re fine. Your license is good for 10 years, and you don’t need to take another test if you renew it before it expires.
FRS is good as no license is needed but it will only be good for 1-3 miles without obstructions. You might be better off using CB since you can use mobile units and handhelds with longer antennas, which will give you more range.
I just want to point out that the towns that were whipped off the face of this earth were not on the river but were caught in the wash out from rain water running down the mountains. In stead of trying to carry 50 to 100 gallons of water with you when you bug out I would recommend that you think about having a good system to filter and clean the water that is available. You simply can not carry enough water for long term. Another suggestion I heard a lot of talk about is cash in small denominations. Nice video you have a lot of great suggestions.
Thank you! And yes, cash is a must. Interesting you mentioned water filters we just released a video on portable water filters: th-cam.com/video/5rPq7otWh5A/w-d-xo.html
I think your video is excellent. I also think we have all misread one thing here regarding. Power and batteries. That is all vehicles have internal 12 volt outlets.
I like you are a ham operator here in UK and I have changed all my HT batteries for ones with type chargers on the battery or charging leads from wall socket plugs to usb. I can then use power banks and the car to charge these devices.
Also if my car is serviceable but roads are inpassable I can still use the car to charge things. I can use it to charge power banks and batteries. There are many things that can be done. Two of my HT radios have battery eliminators. So they can run directly from car.
That is a great suggestion.
Many houses were biult in hollows... Flat areas between mountains, where there are roads along streams...many times the streams were just a few feet wide. These people did not get any notice, or notice too llate to evacuate or were caught in their vehicles during their evacuation . So terrible and terrifying. The level of destruction was not forseen because it had never happened before
It is very sad. We were jolted by the images. It has opened they eyes of a lot of people how bad it can get.
I live in Northern NM and have a go bag for winter in my car. Extra socks, gloves, hat, extra boots, food, bag of dog food, flash light, matches, 2 sleeping bags, cat litter.. If I go off the road and get stuck on my own I can survive,
There’s not a lot of them but you can find stovetop water distillers that can turn dirty water into clean water if you’re close to a water source. It’s a slow process but it works. There are even stovetop fruit juicers that might be able to do the same thing.
Definitely get the solar and then some more. I have 5 pecron power stations and 2 expandable battery's with 1800 watts worth of panels. Milton had us down for a week. Powered fridge and chest freezers, computers, coffee machine, toaster oven, fans garage door etc.. Never had to use my gas/propane generator. I am up to 13kw in stored energy shooting for 20. It's a great investment. I have been powering fridge and freezers 24/7 for over a year with solar. Every time you use it you get money back.
Living in a Holler in the Mountains is a whole different set of circumstances than rural or city living. When you are between Mountains and a waterway you have to accept that a really bad rain can expose you to landslides and flooding. In a Holler there is usually only one way in and out. If that is cut you are now stuck.
We are in the same situation. That is why we evacuated from the forest fire in our area. We could see the flames on top of the mountain and we only had one way out and that was in the direction of the flames. It is great that you understand this and I assume you have planned for it.
@@NormalPrepping I have prepared for it by living in the desert. Still have a mountain range between me and a river but in the desert Mother Nature has left indications of past excess water flow in the form of arroyos. The important thing is to stay up to date on the weather predications . Extreme heat is normal for my area and after awhile of living in such an area your body will adjust to a point. Extreme cold though is a serious threat as our frost line is only 6 inches deep so freezing water lines are a real concern. Fire is also a real concern now because if the mountains catch fire again there is no fire break as people have built right up the mountains. So if the fire comes down the side of the mountain it will hit those houses and it will be like a line of dominos falling all the way to the river if the interstate doesn't act as a firebreak. I have fought a desert wildfire and it moves quick as everything that is dry just bursts into flames. Yucca plants looked like gas wells on fire . Scary sight.
Wouldn't a life raft be a good idea in this case?
This is a great video. I have been putting together a bug out bag or a bug in bag. Your video has made me think of more things. Thanks! And remember the government does not care about.
The govt did not start on Helene for min 5 days/. If I remember correctly, it was a little longer than that a couple of years ago during the night of the tornados over 5 states. They were without power for weeks too. I think the info coming out of Helene is invaluable not only to preppers but to convince people to wake up and provide for themselves.
@@jeannainnc8390 Helene showed that govt comes in to a disaster with their own agenda - not necessarily the same as yours. The mountain people are not the same as the hawaiians were during their disaster - the mountain people are fighting back and get the govt out of their way and good on them for doing it.
Wish I had a place to store gasoline! Know someone who stores some in their garage with that treatment you showed and has worked beautifully. They rotate it out (replenishing their supply during drops in the cost)and make sure they use it w/in 8mos to a year- for their vehicle and mower. They've been doing it for years and gives them peace of mind
Thanks for all of the info we have hurricanes here so we might need to leave at some point. I will buy one of the Garmin InReach mini.
To get the most out of the InReach, you it more than just for emergencies. I use mine for backpacking, when exploring forest road, when we take a trip. Mine gives me a sense of security that I do get get from a cell phone. Have fun and stay safe!
I’m an old lady and I’ve never ever had a Dr that would write prescriptions just so I could have them in an emergency! I hear people saying all the time to keep extra prescriptions just in case. Medicine can’t be refilled unless it’s time. What Dr does that? I worry about this very thing too. Nobody I know of in my life has a Dr that would do that
Ask your Doctor next time. It is worth a try.
Well Gloria, MY doctor did! I told her I’m a prepper and wanted extras to stockpile. She quickly wrote prescriptions for me to take to ANOTHER pharmacy. NOTE: I don’t use medical insurance and these are non-controlled medications. Follow the lead of another commenter here and contact JASE medical. Now you know. And hey, sometimes meds fall off the counter (HINT) and roll into the heating vent. Or down the toilet. Or the dog ate them all. Or there was a Terrible Boating Accident (one of my favorites).
I miss taking my arthritis pills if I don't hurt too ba, plus my stomach pills and now I have a month supply of pills and I rotate the new with the old.
I was really shocked that more youtubers didn't have solar.
About chainsaws. I'm an old lady alone out in the boonies. I have a little 5 inch battery operated chainsaw and it rocks! I don't use it to fell trees ( except for unwanted saplings), but for storm clean-up mostly. It is unbelievable how much I can accomplish with that little booger. Even larger downed stuff with a series of v-cuts around the perimeter enough to straight cut through the middle of the cutting area.
These companies that have lots of tools that use the same battery are smart. That way you're accumulating batteries and whatever tool you're using, you already have battery back-ups.
Battery operated fans and all sorts of things come in very handy when power is out, and the batteries recharge fine on some solar device with just a few hundred watts. My battery is 400 watts and is 12 years old and I keep it plugged in and charging things.
Don't underestimate pass through charging.
Battery banks normally come with multiple ways to charge and include the chargers with the device. So you aren't stuck with just solar charging.
Love this! I bought one of those 5” battery chainsaws a few months ago as it seemed like “a good idea”. I better get outside and whack down some saplings🤣
I had heard about JAZE medical from other preppers. The hubby is on thyroid medication and the consequencis of not taking it on schedule is bad. So, I gave them a try and got a years worth of 3 meds he uses. It went very easy and was not expensive. Especially with the peace of mind that comes with that. Very easy people to deal with.
Well done!
Prepare your evacuation vehicle ahead of time with Sleeping Bags,tent, spare clothes a good. FIX blade knife,Axe, hand saw, shovel, chain saw,gas,bar oil first aid kit, CB Radio. Fishing supplies,and bang bang, and dried food and water,flashlight, solar lights.
Great great idea with the important papers! And my vacuum sealer died. Need to get another
We are lucky that our sealer is still running considering how much we use it. Here is the Amazon affiliate link for the one we own: Vacuum Seal Machine: amzn.to/3S0omKM
I'm in Florida. You can't totally prepare for a hurricane or mass flood, but you can plan to survive. When bugging out, pretend you are leaving for good and hiking the Appalachia Trail. Take only what you absolutely need and can carry. KEEP IT LIGHT. Vehicles make it nice to grab a small chainsaw to take with them, but felled trees can be walked around. Survival isn't pretty, and knowledge is the key.
You nailed it. I have learned a lot about prepping because I am an avid backpacker. Everything I need to survive I carry on my back. Yes, "Survival isn't pretty, and knowledge is the key." Well said!
We have a gas chain saw, but we just invested in a battery chainsaw. It works well on Smaller jobs.
Bug out focus for risky areas of disaster & bug in focused prepping for those in less risky areas but as long as you do both a bit, %depending imo. Good info 👍
A hurricane is also a rain event, so there's no sun to charge your panels. Best advice is to have a variety of alternative energy sources.
Excellent Point! Same goes in areas with harsh winters.
First rule the number one thing, if they say it's going to be really bad. That means it's time to get out and you must get out right Away as soon as possible.
Oil Lamps. All throughout the 8 days I was without power, my hurricane lanterns proved their worth time and time again. Everywhere I turned, honestly, the "old tech" was working when the new tech was not. We talk about chainsaws, but forget that they require a long line of manufacturing to support them. The axe and crosscut saw, though, run on breakfast and don't stop until you do. Everyone's scrambling to get propane heaters and such, but where's the talk about wood-burning stoves like Chiasson Smoke makes? They donated 75 of them to the relief effort, and it really got me thinking about how the people there have tons of wood everywhere they turn, but have to hope and beg for gas, oil, and everything else.
I always keep oil lamps on hand simply because they look nice on the shelf and are better than candles. Normally, I lose power once a year in the winter when there's a good storm, so the oil lamps are there "just in case". Now, though, I'll be adding even more of them because I have no reason to not. Feuerhand is the top-of-the-line and still made in Germany when all the competition is made in chicom territory. That's worth supporting, imo, especially when the quality is so highly regarded. The Meva brand doesn't appear to be made anymore, but you can still find them on the used market for a good price, and they might for a nice entry-level lantern that you know you can trust.
Everything I had running on batteries was dead from lack of use over the past year. Most were ruined from the batteries corroding. The only modern light that still functioned was my trusty Surefire that runs CR123 batteries, and I'll be sure to stockpile a couple extras just in case.
Overall, I'm steering more towards Old Ways because I know they'll work. I might never face another situation like this again, but it might also happen next winter. You just never know when a tree will fall on a power line.
The only really big thing I'd like to add is a whole-house generator. I've talked about it in the past, but always put it off because it's a large expense, and then this happens! The upside is that they add to the value of the house so if you ever sell... you can either take it with you, or use it to draw folks in. If you can, make sure it runs on the same gas you already have coming to the house so you have a huge supply of fuel rather than having to run to the store every day to get a new tank. And build a soundproof box around it to muffle the sound of it running.
While you're shopping around, get yourself a couple Feuerhand hurricane lanterns. You can use them in the summer to ward off mosquitoes if you put citronella oil in them, so they won't collect duct and you'll be glad to have them when the power goes out again.
Excellent advice! The old ways work great.
Wow, you just tossed me into a rabbit hole looking at Feuerhand lanterns! Thanks for your recommendation. Do you used kerosene or “lamp oil” (is that kerosene?). Do you find there is a odor or a smokiness with using these?
@@joannc147 Ha! Glad I'm not the only one traveling this wonderful rabbit hole! 😁
I just got a vintage Meva lantern in the mail today and have it burning right now just to check it out. Pretty as the day is long, but definitely a "cheap" knock-off of the Feuerhand lanterns! Maybe a good entry point for someone just wanting to learn, but I still don't think I'd recommend them unless they were in minty fresh condition simply because they can come with the hinge misaligned like mine and that makes it hard to raise the globe so you can light it.
The Feuerhand are the best lanterns on the market in large part because the quality control is there. Buying "vintage" used lanterns is always hit-n-miss because you never know if all the parts will work like you want.
For oil, I'm using the stuff I found at the hardware store, and it does have a smell to it. Nothing awful, but I did notice it while I was carrying my new Meva lantern around. And that smell really only gets noticeable when you're right up on the lantern where the fumes can waft into your nose. It's certainly not as noticeable as a litter box or similar.
I've heard very good things about the Kleen Heat fuel. Folks complain about it being expensive, but for as little as you use any given time, I think it might be worth the cost.
You can certainly use straight kerosene or diesel with the lamps. They're the same thing as the "lamp oil" you find on store shelves, just not as refined. They'll give you more smoke and odor, but if cost is a factor, maybe that's the best way to go since you'll likely only need the lantern for a few hours a night. If you have a lantern that'll be specifically used outside, like in a gazebo or porch setting, maybe fueling them with the cheaper stuff like straight kerosene would be a good idea since you have plenty of air movement. I know they also sell a citronella fuel that helps keep mosquitoes away, but I've never tried it. In general, I'm against scented fuels in the house simply because you can never know how strong they might be until it's too late.
Get yourself a couple of Feuerhand lanterns and you won't be sad you did. If you can find some antique lanterns that look in good condition, give them a try. A good hurricane lantern is a joy to have, and to use.
@@threeriversforge1997 wow, great reply! Thank you for that detail. Your description on the oils is particularly of interest to me. I think, perhaps, YOU are a collector! 🤣 Enjoy your warm lighting - it sure beats the ghastly blue lights on many modern lights. Again, thank you!
@@joannc147 Thank you for your kind words. I don't collect lanterns but I do read a lot and watch a ton of videos, so it's easy to notice patterns after a while. That, and a lifetime of studying the old ways as part of my blacksmithing career, if that's what you want to call it.
Collector certainly sounds nicer than 'packrat'. So I'll take it! 😁
I hope you enjoy this path you're on. There's something really special about having lanterns at the ready, knowing you're prepared to handle at least one of the inconveniences life wants to throw at you. During my 8 Days of Darkness post-Helene, having my oil lamps was the one thing that brought me a little comfort and peace. It was rather pleasant to spend the evenings reading my copy of the Ashley Book of Knots by the flickering glow of lamplight. It was like traveling back in time, and I kind of miss it.
I have a go tote in my unattached garage. It's very cold here and we don't get many natural disasters but throughout my childhood, people's houses burnt down. Usually when it's coldest because they use some extra heating sources. And I've heard of people almost freezing to death because of it. If I need to leave town quickly, I can grab that. Documents are also out there. It's not heated and there's no electricity and we don't park cars in there so 0⃣ risk of fire. Maybe if our house fire spread somehow but I'd be long gone.
Installed Kohler whole house standby generator in Texas.
That is awesome! We we originally were going to get one for our place. However we could not find someone to do the install at the time. It all has to be permitted here and I don't trust myself with electricity so we got a big Honda generator instead. Kohler is a good brand, we were looking at those. Stay safe!
Given how ERCOT is that is a smart move,
I was honestly so surprised at how MANY rural farmers and homesteaders turned out to be SO dependent on fossil fuels and electricity; when the chips were down. I had always just assumed that THOSE folks would be the best off in an natural disaster or emergency, because I just naively thought they'd have everything they needed and the the city folk would be the ones struggling. I had my eyes opened by this. Rural homestead folks and urban city folks really aren't that different at all.
I agree. They are people too and feel that prepping is not necessary and if they do need help the govt will help them out. Well, now we know how that works. I hope in light of these disasters that more families get some preps done to take care of their own.
i hope you make a list for the viewers.. tnx..
Oops! we didn't put the list in the video. We did add it to our description:
MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
Emergency kits and Evacuation Plans: normalprepping.com
Electric Chainsaw: amzn.to/481CNVD
Extra Electric Chainsaw Battery: amzn.to/4h0viCO
Hardhat with eye and ear protection: amzn.to/4eZlTcR
Family Service Radios (no license required): amzn.to/481eQ11
Vacuum Seal Machine: amzn.to/3S0omKM
Vacuum Seal Bags 8 inch: amzn.to/4bAr9Bp
Vacuum Seal Bags 11 inch: amzn.to/3Y1RvJ8
Garmin Watch: amzn.to/3Wizpll
Garmin InReach amzn.to/3Nh8gtt
The thing that i am thinking about differently is waste management. I live in town now and have has water during power outages fine. But if we have an earthquake and the main breaks, i need to have a solition for my family to manage human waste.
Edit to add: we had to bug out in 2020 for the first time ever. Its a surreal experience and things can easily be missed. We now have a checklist by the doors and with our bug out bags in priority order to keep things straight. This list is in a protective sleeve and i use a dry erase marker to check things off
We also had to bug out in 2020. We also have have an evacuation list that we used and have improved on because of our experience. That is crazy. Wow.
I liked your idea about the chainsaw, and for the one who can afford, an electric grinder could be very useful since sometimes a person or cars when bugging, might find closed gates, doors or locks, even rods and cables (try to avoid energized cables). Thank you for your ideas.
Great point! We never thought about having a grinder! Even just a set of bolt cutters would be a good start. Thanks!
You can have all kinds of supplies stored in your house or shed but if they are completely washed away no amount of prepping can prepare you for that!
Yes, same goes for being having your home burned. Our experience was a forest fire. That is why part of prepping is knowing how to evacuate also. We had to evacuate because of a huge wildfire and since then we are putting more focus on that. We have a few videos on bugging out, including making an evacuation plan.
I keep gas tanks in vehicles filled. We live in the middle of nowhere and if evacuated, civilization is far away. You could also siphon gas out of vehicles if needed.
Never experienced natural disaster SoCal in 30+ years including the 94 Northridge earthquake, but after Texas and Florida situation made me rethink it. Got 2 Tesla Power WALL, solar, dual fuel generator and EV as back up of a backup. 10+ 55 gallon container of water among other things
Right I wrote a list, said same thing I need an old fashioned MAP
I have a complete off-grid solar system with panels that sit on the ground that I can move around to follow the sun, or I can bring them indoors.
But if you use your lights at night, people will know that you have power. I keep my house lights off and turn on my cell phone flashlight at night.
I bought a baofeng ham radio now but I don't know what to do with it. I would love to see a a video on it. Glad to find your Channel.
I would like you to get on the air right away and not have to wait for me to do a video on it. I recommend watching this video to show you how to program your Baofeng using CHIRP: th-cam.com/video/7XQNmWS4A9o/w-d-xo.html Just program what you need, for instance if you only use FRS radio then do a search for those frequencies and same goes for GMRS and above do that. I have videos on what those acronym's mean in my playlist. A pro tip: make sure you push the cable hard when you plug it into the radio. It should click. Thanks and good luck!
Just pulled through Helene looking back be prepared for multiple problems.. like a chain reaction or snowball effect.. and for weather events don’t listen to news about weather events.. they told us the storm was going to be west of us. We had already been soaked with rain and they even lowered all the dams ahead of the storm… we was told it was going to hit Georgia Atlanta metro area… when we woke up in was on top of us… I got by with power banks like my Anker solix 1000 and my BLUETTI power bank I recommend having two 1000 watt power banks and a small generator they allow flexibility and if one goes down or one needs to recharge your not totally down. And recharge time is not so bad. and you can save gas in your generator…everyone was grabbing the gas and power outage will close the majority of gas stations… freeze water bottles in a deep freezer ahead of storm you can swap them in a cooler as refrigerator… don’t waste your time trying to maintain your refrigerator a deep freezer with ice bags and frozen bottles of water is way easier to swap and maintain than a refrigerator… I would freeze my deep freezer using my battery doxes and charge at the same time.
Great advice! The information on how you keep water bottles in the freezer is very useful. Thanks, We are glad you made it through safely.
Georgia (Atlanta) got less damage than a regular winter storm. No power outages. Then it intensifies as it goes North? Very strange.
My house has spring water piped in that is tested- no chlorine or fluoride added . 44 years loose power and still have water . Need to find out about water before you buy your house .
Stash some cash! When the power goes down totally, your ATM won't work when you trek to the nearest store or gas station. Many preppers don't realize just how interconnected and fragile our digital civilization now is.
Excellent, excellent advice.
Thank You!
Refrigeratored meds. Get a very small refrig (4cans). Uses less power.
Or a ice machine and good coolers.
I personally like to use the portable power stations and generator combo. I just use the generator when charging the power station and then swap all power back over to the power station after 100% charged. It saves a lot of gas. If you have a big enough power station you just need the generator a few hours every second or third day for a few hours. Plus you can charge the power stations with solar.
Our main weakness was clean water. However, water filtration has not been a major option especially in the beginning. The water is polluted with chemicals that I’m pretty sure these filters won’t remove. The Jackery Solar Generator was a great help. It did keep my freezer cold by cycling it on and off.
@@SparksMakesFire You are correct. These filters do not protect against chemicals.
Always carry some cash plus a little Gold&Silver.
I started out by keeping a common date/condition Liberty Half Eagle ($5 gold piece) and a common date/condition Silver dollar in secure section in my wallet. I've used the gold piece once and silver piece many times. I do leather working and make my own wallets with a small pouch that will hold a standard coin flip. The gold piece I have now is a Columbian $5 gold piece and the silver is now a generic silver round. A Troy Ounce of silver will buy a tank of gas and a ~1/4 oz of gold will buy a few nights at a nice hotel, yet they take up very little space.
Good advice
Paper maps are a good idea. I also have OnX maps and download maps for areas im going to, so i dont have to rely on service to know where i am and where im going.
Yes, I also have OnX. It is a great!
Even if you THINK it might get bad, fuel up and water up and have a PLAN!