Part 1 of this series can be found HERE. The reason why I started this series can be
found HERE.
Part 2 is all about non- electric emergency lighting...
When the power is disrupted in an emergency situation the
lights go out as well. If the power
interruption happens in the evening or at night, we are literally left in the
dark with no warning. No one likes
stumbling around in the dark looking for a flashlight or a candle to light so
part of our basic one-month preparedness pantry is to have our non-electric
light sources available and ready for use.
Here are some options:
Flashlight. This is probably the first thing we all reach
for when the lights go out so we need to know where we can find one ASAP. Pick a location in your house and keep one
there at all times when not in use, that
way you will know where to go immediately when it’s needed. Here's an option for a solar powered flashlight too!
Oil lamps. (make sure you have
oil for your lamps as well) We keep our
oil lamps displayed as part of our home décor so that they will be ready to
light when needed. We keep oil for our
lamps in a safe place that is easily accessible to us.
Battery operated lamps/lanterns (make sure you have batteries) Our battery operated lantern is stored on a
shelf where all we need to do is reach and get it. We also have a central location for all our
batteries. We know right where to go
when batteries are needed and don’t have to spend time searching for them. If power has already been lost, you don’t
want to be searching around in the dark for batteries so pick one location and
keep all your batteries together.
Head lamps. I can’t say enough
good about head lamps. During our days
without power during Hurricane Matthew I used a head lamp quite a bit. It went with me where ever I went and left my
hands free. You can adjust the light up
or down on the ones we have as well as the brightness or dimness. It sure was handy when doing handwork or
reading and of course when up and walking around.
Emergency candles. Emergency candles
are different from regular candles.
Emergency candles are meant to burn longer and put out a bit more
light. Make sure you have a safe way to
burn them. If they are single stand-alone
candles make sure you put them in a container that will not allow them to fall
over. You don’t want to have to worry
about your house catching on fire while providing light for your home.
Solar powered landscaping lights. If
you have solar powered landscaping lights in your yard, bring them in and use
them as a light source. The next morning take them back outside to let them recharge. It’s not a huge
amount of light but it is better than nothing.
Fragrance candles can be used but they
don’t give off as much light and you need to be aware of anyone in your
household who might have allergies to the fragrance.
Store these items somewhere in your house so that you can
get to them easily when needed, maybe a tub or tote labeled emergency lighting
would work. If you're storing oil lamps make sure they are empty of any oil. The goal is to know where
your emergency lighting supplies are and be able to get to them as soon as possible when needed.
One more thing … store enough for a month! You’ll be surprised how much you'll use
and while no one anticipates being without power for an entire month, having what
you think is a month’s supply will ensure that you actually do have enough to
get through several days without being left completely in the dark!
Being prepared with non-electric emergency lighting means
the difference between sitting in the dark and as one person put it, ‘looking
at the four walls and doing nothing’ and being able to function.
Patsi
Sharing 42 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building
A Working Pantry
My second blog: From This Heart of Mine
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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