Your camping gear will be a game changer at home
Climate change means the United kingdom will be experiencing more, and more severe winter storms. Frequently, winter storms, or related flooding, cause power outages. Some of those last for days. I’d like you to think about that for a moment – how would you cope for just 3 days without electricity? Remember, that usually means no heating, no hot water, and often also no way to cook food.
While focused on the UK, of course these points will hold equally true for any location (especially during winter) when power disruption may happen due to weather, or other causes.
Warmth to survive
We are mammals, and therefore generate our own body heat. However, we still require insulation, to prevent us from losing body heat faster than we can generate it. This ability to generate heat, more than any external source of warmth, is our primary survival mechanism, and is quite possibly – alongside mastering fire – the biggest reason humanity has survived the ice age.
Layers
Keeping warm is normally simply a matter of trapping as many pockets of air between your skin and the outside world as is reasonably possible. In simple terms, that means layering up. Multiple thin layers are far better than a single thick layer. Also remember this when selecting bedding, to help you stay warm in your sleep.
Remember, you’ll have no heating, so your home will rapidly become cold, and you’ll need to dress very warm.
Camping stove
Regardless what type of camping stove you use, having a camping stove (and enough fuel for it) is a a huge step in the right direction. It means you’ll be able to cook warm meals, and you’ll be able to make hot drinks. Both of those are a serious mood booster on a freezing, dark night.
Not all camping stoves are the same though: if yours use butane gas as fuel, you’ll rapidly discover butane becomes unreliable when cold. In cold weather, you need a propane/butane mix, or a different fuel type altogether.
Light
In winter, daylight hours are short, so you will want battery-operated lights. Obviously, batteries only last a certain amount of time, so if your lights support it, run them at the lowest level of brightness. Also, it would help if you have spare batteries that are already charged.
Generally speaking, whenever possible, avoid non-rechargeable batteries. They’re exceedingly bad for the planet, hard to recycle, and very wasteful. Once you factor in the cost of constantly buying new batteries, you’ll soon realise that investing in rechargeable batteries is a far cheaper, and better option.
If you can, get some USB-powered LED strip-lights. They’re cheap, use little power, and can be run off a power bank for many hours. Also get a head-torch for each member of your household, and ideally several rechargeable Cree T6 torches.
Here’s a little secret: most Cree T6 torches take 18650 cells – they look like a large AA cell. You can also get a power bank enclosure, that you can load up with 18650 cells. Why is this relevant? Simple: in case of a total power outage, you can insert the 18650 cells into the enclosure, then charge them up using either a bicycle with a dynamo, or a portable solar panel.
As a back-up option, get several packs of candles. Lighting a room with candle-light can be fun, and doing so can (very slightly) help raise the temperature in the room. Obviously, lit candles have open flames, so use common sense, as they do pose a fire risk.
Water
In a total power outage, the taps might continue working in your home (unless you only have those snazzy, contactless taps, which require electricity to work!) However, during a long power outage, there’s a risk that the water supply can be impacted.
Ever gone past a concrete water tower? How do you think they get the water in there? Hint: not by bucket and ladder! The pumps feeding such reservoirs won’t be working, therefore the water supply to your home will eventually stop. What will you do then?
The answer is complex. If you live near a stream, a river, or a lake, you can take water from there. However, in the UK, I can pretty much guarantee that won’t be safe to drink! So, what are your options?
Limited, but manageable, as it happens. For starters, you’ll want a water filtration system. I have a Sawyer Mini that I take cycle touring, but be aware that it doesn’t filter heavy metals, and similar, from water. If you have one of those standard filter jugs, simply pour the water already filtered by the Sawyer Mini into that, and drink that when filtered. The Sawyer Mini can filter enough water to keep you going for a long time.
Common sense, not “prepping”
As you can see, during a power outage, it will really help to be as self-sufficient as possible. That means being prepared before the event. If you already have camping gear, you’re well on your way. What’s needed is a bit of common sense, and there’s no need to start building your own nuclear bunker in the back yard, like some American “prepper”.
Common sense also dictates that there’s benefit in keeping at least some food that can last a long time, such as paste or rice. If you use milk, consider getting some powdered milk as an emergency backup, and perhaps get some tinned food, too.
And when you’re hit by a multi-day power outage, you’ll find you can cope far better, but do try and look out for your neighbours, too. More so if they’re very old, of already have health problems. After all, together, we’re stronger.