While you would think this would be just a little inconvenience the whole town went nuts. (I actually thought it was fun and convinced my girls that this was our adventure!) There was only one store in town that had backup generators and could fully operate. (Thank goodness it was a gas station.)
It was strange to see how affected some people were by being without electric for only one day.
In the end everyone survived and by 11pm Saturday night the power company had managed to get everyone’s electric back on. But what if this was more than a day, what if it lasted a month? Would I still think it was fun? Probably not.
In personal finance we always talk about being prepared for life’s little emergencies with the coveted emergency fund. And while you should have a nice cash buffer for protection I realized it’s also important to have be prepared for other inconveniences – like the loss of electricity.
Here are some things to include in an emergency kit.
Flash Lights and Candles
One of the most important things you’re going to need in the event of a power loss is a source of light. (Especially if you have young children who are terrified of the dark!)
Flash lights with a good supply of batteries are a must have. But in the event a power outage happens for more than just a few nights (Hello, huge ice storm!) you’re going to need a second form of light. This is where candles and a lighter come in.
Non Perishable Food
The next thing you’re going to need is nonperishable food. I always keep a pretty good stock of canned food. If you don’t this is something you might want to consider adding to your grocery list.
You’ll also need a hand operated can opener.
Water
Having extra bottles or jugs of water on hand is always smart. Especially if your power goes out in the cold winter months and your water pipes freeze and bust.
Extra Blankets
No power can equal no heat. If you were to lose your heating source in the winter you’re going to need to be able to keep warm.
Cash
My entire town except for one store was completely wiped out Saturday. This store was the only one who had backup generators large enough to keep everything running.
There were two more stores that opened up their doors without electric. That means they could only accept cash. Having a little cash on hand is smart in the event you’re not able to swipe your credit card.
Putting Together an Emergency Kit
With today’s modern conveniences it’s hard to think that having a power outage would even happen. But it does. Power stations catch on fire, we get ice storms, snow storms, tornadoes, and all of these can wipe out power for a long time.
Here’s a recap of things that are good to have on hand:
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Candles
- A Lighter
- Non-Perishable Food
- A Hand Operated Can Opener
- Extra Blankets
- Water
- Cash
You don’t realize just how much you take electricity for granted until it’s gone. It’s smart to have an emergency kit on hand just in case.
What else should be added to the list?