By Halcyon

Prepping: Winter is Coming: Home, Car and Wilderness Prep

I’ll be honest, I did get a chuckle coming up with the title. But I figured, “How perfect!” I know there are some die-hard Game of Thrones fans out there who will get the reference. Heck, unless you are living under a rock, most people understand the reference even if they haven’t seen the series or read the books!

I am hoping this will help some of you prepare for winter. The information that follows is stuff everyone should know, for the most part. It’s not difficult to implement and it continues in the vein of my previous thoughts, in that prepping is not just about having some thousand square foot storage unit with hundreds of supplies. Prepping is all about being prepared, and a little forethought might save you the terror of being stranded somewhere on a cold winter night without proper supplies.

Here we go!

Home and Kitchen Checklist

These are some items which I think are very important for anyone who lives in a cold weather climate, where there is the potential for severe winter storms that might cause power outages in freezing temperatures. I grew up in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, and weathered some pretty frightening storms. One particular storm I recall was in a cabin in Monticello where we only had the fireplace.

You can adapt this for your family as you like, but here are the basics:

* Flashlight
* Batteries
* Battery operated radio/crank
* First aid kit
* Extra Blankets
* Basic toiletries
* Seven-day supply of medications
* Copies of personal documents [in a weather proof safe if possible]
* Space heater [please take care and do not leave it on overnight, or have a watch during the night to make sure it is safe]
* Backup power generator
* Three-day of nonperishable food [per person]
* Three-day supply of water [per person – you can stock up and keep jugs of water in the garage or cellar. It’s okay if they freeze because you can warm them up.]
* Non-electric can opener
* Matches
* Cooler filled with ice
* Pet food & supplies
* Baby food and supplies
* Solar charger for phone

Auto Emergency Kit

It amazes me how few people actually have some kind of emergency kit in their vehicle. I recall the look on my daughter’s face when we bought out the Rubbermaid container to assemble her kit, though it was a little different given the area we live in is more prone to monsoon rains rather than snow storm. Still, the idea is the same, so here are some of the essentials:

* Rubbermaid container or large duffle bag
* Flashlight
* Batteries
* Water bottles
* G.O.R.P./Snack bars
* Flares or Glow stick
* Whistle
* Cat litter [traction/slippy situations]
* First aid kit
* Booster cables/Cordless jump starter
* Compass
* Tool kit
* Ice scraper
* Folding shovel
* Insta-hand warmers
* Heavy duty trash bag

Stuff for Kids

If you have wee ones in diapers, make sure to have those stashed. The same goes for pull-ups and wipes.

Medications: Inhaler, allergies, and fever reducers. Stash them in the container, but be certain they can handle cold temperatures.

Toss in a few colors and crayons in case they kids get bored.

One more thing: Make sure to schedule a reminder to check all your supplies around December 31st. This includes ensuring your batteries are still good, as well as reviewing anything that might have expired.

Wilderness Survival

Okay, this sounds more daunting than it really is. It’s not like you are going to be Bear Grylls or some of the other crazy survivalists out there, but here are a few tips just in case shit hits the fan.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is making sure you have dry footwear. If there is any possiblity of being stranded or stuck and having to trudge through wet snow or even heavy winter rains, this is important.

* Back pack with an extra pair of boots (winter/water proof)
* Three pairs of socks sealed in a ziplock bag
* Foot powder – sprinkle feet to keep dry
* Carry a poncho (military issue if you can) and five bungee cords to construct a makeshift shelter. You will need four corners, grommets and bungees stretched to four trees, and the hood tied off and bungeed to an overhanging branch.
* Any rations or trail mix type of food – make sure you protect it from moisture and damage

There you go! I hope some of this information will help you out and keep you safe over the long winter. It just takes a few moments to be prepared and save you from panicking during an emergency. Good luck!