I recently had a fun and interesting conversation with several members of my St. John’s family. It was focused on the obtaining of survival gear, and what each of us currently owned, and the things we were looking forward to adding to our hoards. For the most part, we don’t expect to have to use our gear to survive a large-scale epidemic or breakdown of society, but it is a hobby that can be both fun and useful.

Our conversation turned into events more mundane, and we wondered what we would need in order to keep our families safe and somewhat comfortable during an event that is not without precedent here in Michigan: a large, destructive winter storm. What if there were an ice storm such as was experienced in 1976, where there was a lot of destruction of trees and power lines, and interruptions to essential services? Could we stay in our homes? Would we be prepared to fend for ourselves? And, as Christians, would we have enough to perhaps share with our neighbors or our church family?

In light of this most recent winter storm and insanely cold temps, it behooves us to look around ourselves and consider if we are as prepared as we might be to weather an awesome display of the power of God in the natural world. Here are some things that your family might consider storing against the possibility of a rainy day…or something more powerful.

Freeze dried or canned foods: Make sure you get a variety of options, not just 25 cans of chili or peaches! You will want to change it up in order to make sure your nutritional needs are being met, not to mention that the same thing over and over gets boring. Select your favorite foods, as much as possible. It will help keep your spirits up. And don’t forget the sweets! A little chocolate pudding can go a long way toward turning a bad day around. And your pets will need food, as well, so remember to keep an extra bag or extra cans of their food handy.
Consider: Stocking a few extra cans to share.

Water: In the winter, it may be possible to melt snow for washing, but unless you have a purification system on hand, you will want bottled water for drinking and cooking. You should plan on 3 gallons per person, per day. This will cover not only your drinking water, but also provide water for cooking and sanitation. Don’t forget, you need water for pets, too!
Consider: An extra 3 gallons of water for someone in need.

Light: It’s rare to see oil or kerosene lamps kept on hand in homes these days, but these old fashioned and decorative devices can be a real boon when the lights go out. Keep a gallon of lamp oil on hand a roll of spare wicking, plus one or two oil lamps, and you can have light in the darkness. There are also emergency glow sticks that can provide hours of light and that store easily in a small space. Having a pack of these can make going outdoors in the dark a lot more safe. And don’t forget flashlights! Rather than the standard models that rely on having fresh batteries, think about investing in a hand crank LED flashlight.
Consider: Keeping a spare, filled oil lamp to loan to a neighbor, or an extra flashlight.

Heat: Some people are fortunate enough to have wood fireplaces in their homes, and still others may heat with wood, but for those of us who rely on electricity to spark their furnace, the loss of power in winter can mean that staying in our homes is impossible. If you have the storage space, a kerosene-burning heater and a small stockpile of stabilized kerosene may mean that you can remain in your home. Additionally, emergency mylar blankets can be used to reflect heat back into a room from a window, doorway or a wall. Having a few packs of these small, easily stored items around might make it easier to heat an area. They can also be used at night – tuck a mylar blanket between you and your regular blanket to keep body heat in.
For those of you who do have a wood fireplace or other wood-burning option, make sure your wood supply is protected from the weather. Wet wood is no one’s friend. Keep your pile covered with a tarp and near to your home, so you don’t have to carry a heavy load over treacherous terrain.
Consider: Keeping a few extra mylar blankets around to hand out, and having extra wood on hand to share.

Cooking: Gas stoves and ovens will work without electricity, so many of us will be fortunate to still be able to cook, even when the power is out. However, if your appliances are electric, you need to have other options. Sterno cans are useful, so having a few on hand will allow you to feed your family. If you have a fireplace, make sure you have at least a cast iron pot or dutch oven! Cooking over the fire is a great way to prepare food, but you need to use the proper cookware.
Consider: Keeping extra Sterno cans for your neighbors. Sterno can also act as a tool to heat a small space.

Power: We will want to keep some contact with the outside world in an emergency. Traditional landlines work without power (as long as you have a corded phone, and the telephone lines are up), but many of us rely on our cell phones or tablets to communicate and receive news. However, keeping these items charged is impossible without a power source. There are a few options here. Vendors offer small solar cells that will charge a smartphone or tablet. Some even hold a charge like a battery, so you can charge the solar device and keep the energy stored for later. Or, a more multi-functional option is a hand crank weather radio. Most now offer a port to hook up your phone or tablet to charge by cranking. They also have a built in flashlight and, of course, the weather radio.
Consider: Inviting your neighbors in for a “charging party”. You can take turns cranking the radio to charge everyone’s devices, and trade news while you are waiting.

Spiritual Food: In times of trouble and danger, it is easy to focus only on our physical well-being and put the spiritual off until a more convenient time, but when we are in danger, we need to be reminded often that God is at our side and is ready to guide us through our troubles. If you find yourself in an emergency situation, regular prayer times and Bible readings with your family can help keep you focused and mentally strong.
Consider: Inviting your neighbors in for a prayer meeting and a Bible reading.

Survival tactics: Besides having your supplies on hand, adopting some different behaviors during an emergency can help you come through successfully. Doing the following things will help conserve your resources and keep your family safe:

  • Move into a single room. Keeping everyone sleeping in their own bedrooms is not efficient. It is easier to keep one room relatively warm than to heat two or three bedrooms. It is also easier to keep track of all family members if the family is not scattered through the house.
  • Keep watch. This is good for protection from possible outside threats, as well as more mundane threats from within. While the power is out, you will have a lot more open flames in your home than usual. It’s wise to have an adult awake at all times to make sure that heaters, lamps, or fires are staying within their safe limits. Institute a watch rotation. Older teenagers can also take a watch.
  • Ration. Do not rely on news reports or estimates of when services will be restored. Eat and drink enough for health, but do not waste or overindulge because you think the crisis is almost past. Conserve your fuel and lighting; go to bed soon after darkness and stay in bed until it is full light, unless you have to get up to do work in your home.

Consider: If there are several small families around, you may want to join forces in order to share the load. Many hands make light work, and having four or more adults to share the responsibility of vigilance can ensure that everyone is well-rested.

Special Concerns:

  • If you are on important medications, consider asking your doctor if it would be wise to keep extra on hand in case there is an interruption to supply or you cannot get to the pharmacy.
  • Parents of small children: Keeping a supply of formula on hand, even if you are not formula-feeding, or some jarred baby food, is a good idea. Also remember to have extra diapers and wipes around – running out during an emergency would make things difficult.

These are just a few ideas that you can implement in order to buy a little safety and peace of mind for yourself, your family, and your friends as we head into one of our more treacherous seasons. Leave your own additions in the comments!