Gal-Gone-Camping

Hello Friends!

Spring is finally here!  I thought I’d go ahead and write this post about preparedness. Winter may be over, but tornado season is in full swing in a big section of the US. If it’s a weather related event or any other disaster, you need to be prepared as much as possible…whether you’re on the road, on the trail, or at home in a sticks-n-bricks.  I did a video on this a couple months ago, but it wasn’t as detailed as here in the blog.  See video here: https://youtu.be/zNqEn0qBg9w 

HEAT

If you heat totally with electric, what do you do when it goes out? You must have at least one alternate source of heat: Propane/kerosene heaters, wood/coal fireplace/stove, pellet stove, etc.  Even if you heat with natural gas, have these other options on hand in case something goes wrong with a gas line.

COMMUNICATION

During severe storms, cell towers may be down for a while and your cell phone won’t be usable. It’s a good idea to have a way to receive information and send help messages.  A crank radio is great to have on hand for weather and news updates.  Of course land line phones could be out during severe weather as well, but you may want to think about a land line phone if you don’t already have one. They could possibly be working when cell is not, especially if electric is out.

Something I plan to get at some point is a personal locator device such as the SPOT or other global satellite tracker. I have the Emergency 911 Help Necklace, available from QVC/HSN (no subscription fee!) see video here https://youtu.be/r1QklEHGQ_4   Old fashion walkie talkies could come in handy for family members or groups if you have to separate. Locator Apps are a good idea to let people know your travel status and for safety/security as well.  Some good ones are: Life360, Glympse, and iSharing.

FOOD & COOKING

Be sure to have at least a month’s supply of non perishable foods in stock such as store bought or home canned food, freeze dried meals, dehydrated meat/fruits/vegetables, (Get a hydrator and make your own!), and an alternate way to cook or heat food such as a butane or propane stove, gas/charcoal grill, or camp stove.

A solar oven may be an option as well as a 12 volt stove such as the Road Pro or Hot Logic. If you have a wood burning stove or fireplace, you can cook on those as well. Of course you can always cook over an open flame in an outdoor fireplace or campfire!

WATER

We can live longer without food than we can water, so it is imperative to have a fresh water supply or ways to purify water that is questionable. It’s a good practice to grab extra bottled or jugs of water and store for future use. The 5 gal jugs available at Walmart, grocery stores, etc., are great, especially when you add a manual or USB pump for convenience (available at Amazon).

If you’re in a situation where you do not have access to fresh water, or if the water may be questionable, you must purify it. You can use water purification tablets, mini filters, or a few drops of bleach. I’ve seen fantastic reviews of the Berkey Water Filter, something I hope to get at some point. Of course you can always just boil the water if you don’t have any of the above.

You can collect rain water and melt snow, but again, it should still be purified.  Now, I have drank  from a mountain stream that is rushing over rocks…in a higher elevation, where there’s no civilization above it. Many have a difference of opinion about this, but if it comes to water or no water, you will have to.

There used to be a natural spring in the hills around my grandparents property we would drink out of and fill our canteens when hiking. That brings me to my next point….if you own property you should have a well dug, even if you have city water.  You never know when there could be an issue with city water or it would become contaminated for an extended period of time.

LIGHTING

This is not a huge issue really because there are so many inexpensive lighting products on the market, and because the old fashion items are still awesome! Following is a list of lighting options:

SOLAR— I love solar! I love the idea of using nature’s resources for as many as our needs as possible.  Great solar items include Luci-Lights, lanterns, string lights, garden stake lights, stick on lights and more!

USB— Nearly every powered product these days come with a USB option. There are flashlights, lanterns, neck lights, table top and clip on lamps, etc.

BATTERTY–Of course battery operated lighting options are still great–flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, etc.  Always keep a supply of fresh batteries in your survival kit; also candles, oil lamps, small tiki torches, etc.

REFRIGERATION

A portable 12 volt fridge is a great option to have if you have a power station.  I’ve been researching these for some time, and just purchased one! See video here: https://youtu.be/YoCZ8mSaSlM  Be sure to subscribe to the Gal Gone Camping YouTube channel to see product reviews and more!

Coolers–Always keep a large size cooler on hand so you can throw some ice on perishables. In the winter you can pack snow around it when electric is out (if you have snow!)

An old fashion dirt or block cellar is good to keep items cool, plus you can use it for a storm shelter!

An ancient method of cooling is to place food in terra cotta pots and cover with cold, wet towels, set in the most shaded, cool area possible

A cooler placed in a cold stream or creek will keep food cold too, but you must have it protected so that animals can’t get in it.

POWER–If you haven’t already, you must get some kind of alternate power source. For home use, a generator is good because you more than likely have space for a larger unit.  The downfall to these is they require gasoline….which is another issue; fuel.  (See below)

Fuel–Just as you would with water, keep extra fuel on hand–gasoline, propane, kerosene, propane, etc….whatever you need to keep these items ready to use.  Extras gasoline is smart to have for your vehicle too.  It’s scary to see that “No Gas” sign at the pumps when there is a crisis–just as it was last year with the ice storm.

A portable power station is great because they can be used at home or on the road. Most can be charged up with lightweight solar panels which many companies offer in addition to the power units.  I love my EcoFlow River Max 600!  I use it in my van, camper, and at home.  Later, I plan to get a larger model to go along with this one.

Compact power banks are awesome for the trail, on the road, or at home.  I have the Halo Bolt which comes with jumper cables so you can charge up your vehicle battery too!  It’s that powerful, yet fits in your backpack or suitcase. See video here: https://www.facebook.com/CatrinaVargo66/videos/944359746038199

That’s it for now folks. I hope you all are well and enjoying this beautiful spring weather.  I’m trying to set myself a schedule for consistent posts on the blog, so I’ll be publishing another one soon. Lots of fun, adventure, and great information coming up, so be sure to subscribe here and to the Gal Gone Camping YouTube channel.  Follow along on Facebook as well.  I would love for you to join me on my journey.

Until next time, remember…DON’T WAIT TO LIVE!

See ya down the road!

Catrina