Prepping…

The “snowpocalypse” … “snowmageddon”…

The Texas winter storm of 2021.

Who can forget it!

If one thing our modern times have shown us, it’s how reliant we are on the government and others for our own comfort and survival.

Right now is a such a good time to evaluate our personal circumstances, and take inventory of our family’s needs.

Some things we can help and control… some things we can’t. But for what we CAN control, having all our ducks in a row offers some peace and security, as far as we are able to establish it… And all the rest? That is in the Lord’s hands.

I’ll share a few things below that helped us in our family’s experiences – especially during the 2021 snow storm. But also in our preparations we aim to do before every winter arrives.

I like to write down what was lacking the last time we had to hunker down at home for a few days (or a couple of weeks!), and take notes on what we can do differently the next time to improve the situation.

I keep a folder with “preparedness” lists that I add to as we discover a need, and then work towards fulfilling those things listed in a timely manner before the next similar situation arrives.

It’s definitely better to keep up than to play catch up… And I totally have a prepper’s heart, so I personally like to keep up!

It’s also helpful to learn to see the warning signs ahead of time, to get a jump on things. For example, during Covid, it all began with toilet paper…

Remember?

The minute some stores were running low or out, we took that as our cue to stock up and grab a little extra. (But not just on toilet paper.) As things were quickly progressing, we immediately hit Costco for the BIG shopping trip, and learned it was only a matter of days after we did, that the shelves went almost empty.

We were just in time. We had food stocked up, and the livestock needs taken care of.

But others, weren’t so lucky. It was such a sad state of affairs… watching helplessly as others I knew were stuck at home – cold and hungry.

So the minute a warning shot is fired (like the pandemic), act on it immediately! Otherwise, work towards getting stocked up for winter, starting in the summer.

The weather forecasts usually give us all enough time to get loaded up on food and other supplies. So stay up on the forecasts. Although, I personally don’t wait for the bad weather to get too close before fully stocking up on our needs.

Before icy weather season arrives, we make sure the pantry is well-stocked, and all our farm animals and pets have plenty of food and fresh hay bales stored away. Extra heater bulbs for the chicken coop… Faucet covers on outdoor hose faucets… Space heaters working… Etc.

We keep extra gas and diesel containers filled and handy, and have a couple of propane heaters. (Learn about carbon monoxide and be careful though!)

We do have an old-fashioned wood burning stove we can use outdoors in a power outage. And indoors we have a wood burning fireplace we can cook in. We also have varying cast iron cookware for both. (You can invest in a “jet-boil” or something similar if you don’t have a fireplace to cook in.)

We have storm lamps and extra lamp fluid on hand. We have flashlights and extra batteries on hand. We have toilet paper.

Some of these things can take time to build up… For bigger things like firewood, that should be collected throughout the year. Surprisingly, it takes a LOT of firewood to keep a daily fire going. So if it’s a one to two week freeze (with rolling power shortages or outages to boot), consider how much firewood you’ll need. Keep a collection of that amount in rotation each year. And keep plenty of long handled LIGHTERS. Don’t forget fire starter sticks!

Additionally, we keep extra emergency drinking water in five gallon glass carboys. And in more hazardous times (like ice-storms, or situations like the beginning of Covid and all the uncertainty surrounding that), we try to keep our vehicle tanks full, and our phones fully charged. We also have solar phone chargers and radios, just in case.

Before an ice storm hits, we fill up a bathtub for extra emergency water, and turn all our faucets to dripping.

Thrift stores… They are my love affair. We own more thrift blankets and snow gear (and books and records and trinkets – but another story).

The proper winter attire can literally save your life! I see boo-koos of ski wear at thrift stores all year long. (More often in the winter, of course). Take advantage of the cheapness of them, and load up on used ski gear. I bought ahead sizes too. Bibs and coats for my kiddos to grow into. Don’t forget snow boots and water resistant gloves! Winter clothing is as important as water in freezing temps with little to no power. Ski wear also gives the kiddos the chance to go outside and actually have some safe fun in the snow! (Or ice)

TWO WEEKS WORTH OF FOOD AND WATER… should be kept at home, at all times. Pantry foods, and pre-made ‘freeze and dump’ meals are super handy. So are crockpots – if electricity is still on.

Don’t forget meds, vitamins and supplements. I always have a batch of “Fire Cider” made and on hand, in case a bug comes into our home. (Ain’t for the faint of heart, but that stuff’ll cure ya!!!)

Also, keep paper plates and disposable dish-ware on hand to avoid dirty dishes piling up.

Boredom Busters… Crossword puzzles, coloring books, and board games for the kids in power outages. Plus quick snacks!

Ideally, saving up for a home generator is a tremendous investment. This is one of the biggest and best things – worth it if you can! And maintain it monthly to ensure it’s ready to go at all times. There are companies that will do this for you. Smaller generators are good to have too… Any generator is definitely a good goal to work towards.

Maybe now you could collect a few books on prepping/survival/homesteading. You don’t need to have a “homestead” to learn many of the skills, or do many of the things taught in the homestead resources. There are many links online, like ‘Backwoods Home’… I love their magazines. And also ‘Countryside’ and their magazines. I’m a hard-copy person, over digital. I just don’t trust relying on digital information, as it’s too easily censored, changed, or deleted. I prefer to collect physical books and magazines.

Just keep in mind, for every convenience we’ve gained in these modern times, there are skills being lost, skills such as survival and self-reliance… Skills critical to finding more independence from outside sources.

We gotta go back to some of the older ways of life, to truly be better off.

For our family, we live in a constant state of preparedness. And not just for ourselves, but for others too… We are always willing to help anyone in need when we can. So if you have a need, please reach out to me without hesitation.

As for that last icy go-round, I hope many folks pulled through that winter madness stronger and better off, armed with the know-how for next time! These situations teach us so much. Stay on it!

Start with a list of your family’s daily needs, and work towards fulfilling them by stocking up in advance. Food, clothing, medicinals, household items, etc.

And start NOW. Always be planning and “prepping” ahead of time. It’s good to keep certain things well-stocked year round… Especially your family’s needs and essentials, just in case.

There is immense pride in building up some security in your own home… Knowing you’re okay, knowing your kids are okay, and knowing you’ll all BE okay!

Anyways… these are just some of our tips, some of which we can personally attest to as imperative, and that we highly recommend…

Stay ready!!