Chris, I work in emergency management and not only preach preparedness but am an avid practitioner of what I preach. I absolutely love that you share information like this with people as it is so very important for preparedness. It is the kind of stuff that can really make a difference in some serious situations, and I don't think the preparedness community, especially "preppers" spend enough of their time addressing information like this. I don't mean to knock anyone's channel, but I do find it a bit frustrating the amount of time so many "prepper" channels dedicate to airing political positions rather than providing helpful information like this. So, thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work!
I knew of a lady in charge of Portland Oregon’s emergency preparedness system some years ago. I finally asked through a friend how prepared is she? Wow ya she had basically nothing at her house 😮WTF. I was basically told I had more supplies in my car than she had in the whole house.
@@Glocktard Hate to admit it, but it is sadly true that some of the worst prepared actually work in emergency management. I bet if you walked around my office area, you would be lucky to find one or maybe two who actually have a personal Go Kit ready to grab and go and probably the same with their car kits. That is why I stated that I actually practice what I preach.
I grew up in New England in the 1950s and 1960s. Dad always had a good stockpile of firewood for the winter. When we had bad storms and the power went out, he built fires in the two fireplaces. He also had a WWII surplus generator that could run the furnace for a couple of hours at a time. We had an old dutch oven that was used in the fireplace to cook. We got by. There was an ice storm in the early 1970s. Dad had to go out with the generator and run it for a few hours for each of the neighbors. Our neighborhood came out of it okay. Many other people let their plumbing systems freeze. This burst their pipes and when the power came back their walls flooded. Many people ended up losing their houses because they couldn't afford to fix them. Learn how to drain your plumbing and water heater. Good Luck, Rick
Same area, but a bit later. After bad winter storms my father was up on the roof shoveling snow off. The neighborhood laughed at him, until the first roof caved in. Dackers know how to handle winter old school style!
@@KamenDesantis There's usually one guy that understands and the rest that are clueless. Be glad that you learned from a man who understood reality. My old man taught me a lot that has paid off through out my life. I've had to shovel off part of my roof a couple of times. It is dangerous because the bottom layer is usually ice. In the early 1980s there were some really heavy snow storms in my area. Many people had bought steel buildings from a southern company. They collapsed because the company had only used a 10 pound per square foot(PSF) snow load instead of the 30 PSF required by our building codes. I built my roof to withstand 140 mph wind loads which also gave me 40 PSF snow load. Be Prepared. Good Luck, Rick
My dad was a teenager during the depression and served in WW2, so I grew up in a home that was very much into preparing for hard times and I learned early that I needed to be ready for anything that New England had to give us. I may not have a years worth of preps but have the knowledge, tools and supplies needed to carry on. Just don't have much of a support group that understands what may be coming.
@@cherylcook1942 if only all parents knew this stuff! Teacher are to busy with what? They are not teaching financial things or anything important except how to become indoctrinated. They follow the schools agenda or they are fired. Maybe not all but most teachers have the power to change the next generation. In today's world both parents are slaving away at their 9-5 everyday. Just facts about life! Get to work teachers!
This could be part of science or health class. I’ve learned so many things then went home and taught my parents. Why not? It could mean the difference between life and death.
I've started mounting those small one-click stick-on lights inside my kitchen cabinets and storage closet. They help when you're looking for that tiny nutmeg jar in a dark corner in normal times. If mounted on the inside of the doors, you can swing the doors open during a blackout and ~voila~ light your entire kitchen. Use rechargeable batteries, of course.
If u can afford, get LED video lights shaped like a smartphone 📱. Most have built-in 🔋, have adjustable brightness and tint. Get blogging light stands (as opposed to full sized photography light stands) to use with the lights and u'll be amased how gd they do illuminating a room, especially if placed high on TV console, sideboards, kitchen counter tops, tables, etc.
I have these stick on lights that I bought at Dollar General ($1.25 each) in my bathroom vanities and closet's. They are LED, run on AAA batteries and come in handy if power goes out or myself and kids need to find some items. They light up the area tremendously. A cheap way of illumination for normal life and emergencies..
I have discovered that the LED fairy lights that are USB cable only draw about 7 watts of power. I have 100 light strand that I can literally string from my bedroom all the way through my house down the hallway to the living room with plenty of light to move around. I have even run it off one of my phone charger power Banks. They put off more light than you would think and the smaller the space obviously the more condensed the lighting would be.
One thing I think would be a good topic is one I rarely see covered for preppers in winter preps: layering your clothes. You want to have layers so as you are working outside stacking firewood or clearing snow or whatever you don’t overheat and sweat. If you sweat while working then when you cool off your sweat can freeze and speed up hypothermia. The US Army has a layering system that’s a useful guide, or talk to year round backpackers. Layers are huge.
The type of material in those layers is important also, remember that your safest bets in the winter are wool or specially made cold weather technical fabrics. Cotton is awesome in the warm/hot seasons, but due to its water absorbing characteristics it is a "no-no" in cold, wet weather. (just look up "cotton kills" for the technical explanation). If you don't have the right fabrics in your wardrobe, don't panic. I've been checking our local thrift stores and after Labor Day they have changed out their racks and have winter clothing available. Check the labels for fabric content. For the layer nearest your skin, check the athletic section and look for winter running gear as an affordable base layer option. Don't forget your feet. As a child I have awesome memories of sledding with the family, but we couldn't afford proper boots (and didn't really know about thrifting) and my feet were always wet and really cold by the time we went back in the house. Once again, if money is a problem check the thrift stores, for your kids ask around for hand me downs (be sure to offer your families outgrown clothes/shoes - you'd be surprised the network you can develop for hand me downs buying/selling/ trading). With thrifted or hand me down winter footwear you will want to take appropriate cleaning / disinfecting measures before wearing (lots of info on how to do this on the internet). Sorry for the long comment, but my only negative memories of childhood were being too cold, just want to make sure that no one has to needlessly go through that.
@@grangran632 thank you for this. I just recently moved to a state that can, and does, have extreme winter weather. I'm rushing now to find appropriate clothing. New environment for me. Trying to learn a quickly as possible as to what I need vs not need.
Tip from the previously homeless: regular plastic grocery bags stuffed under a jacket make for a good weatherproofing/ wind resistant insulating layer for warmth.
The buddy heater is great for inside. Last winter we have two that ran for 3 days and we’re just fine with no ventilation issues. We now have a propane heater with a 100 gallon tank that heats 75% of the house . Great video thanks Chris
A set of silk longjohns under the wool is a nice touch. You'll be warm and the silk wicks away moisture from your skin. I lived aboard a sailboat for three years and this is how I dressed in the winter.
I lived through the energy grid breakdown in Texas, and the most important things I had: Mr. Buddy Heater, propane, my Coleman camp stove and oven, my lanterns, a sleeping bag, and food that was easy and quick to heat. I had just about everything you spoke about. The thermos is a great idea and I used mine as well.
@Stacye White, can you say what kind/brand of sleeping bag you have? Did it keep you warm in those temps for that all those days? I see SO MANY cheap ones on Amazon that I'm not even interested in buying from there. THANKS
@@RetireAbroadInvesting If its warmth and value for money your after go for army surplus winter sleeping bags, I think in the US they use a "modular sleep system"
I have 92 meals of food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked like peanut butter and nutritious chips and Shredded Wheat because it has a lot of nutrition and can be eaten without milk
Great vid❗ I'm in Texas and went through FreezeMageddon thinking I was ready and it almost took me out. No power for 3 1/2 days. No water for 5. Infrastructure down including cell towers for an extended time. No lighting of any kind for many miles. After the first night roads were impassable due to heavy layers of ice sheets which made first responders not available for hours. They couldn't keep up and most people couldn't contact them anyway because the cell towers were down. I've been preparing ever since but the key takeaways I learned: 1. In a total grid down you're on your own. 2. Keep your vehicles gassed up in the winter. That heater may be your only saving grace. Remember even the gas station pumps don't work because the grid is down. There's no electricity even if you could drive there. 3. Have something under you to insulate whatever you're sitting on. If you're in a vehicle the cold comes up through the floorboard and through the seat and sucks the heat out of you. If you're in your house have layers underneath you on the floor or wherever you are. 4. After days of 0°F everything in your house including the food in your pantry will freeze. Anything you don't want to freeze put it in an ice chest and throw some hand warmers inside. It will keep them at room temperature and keep them from freezing. 5. Buy a box of heavy plastic kitchen bags to use for your toilet. Remember the toilet won't work. You can open the bags put them in the toilet do whatever business is needed tie them off and put them somewhere away from your house to dispose of later. I could go on but I'll stop there.
@@kelly_kelly_kelly8575 It really works. I've found the Hot Hands brand works the best. I buy them by the case. They make body warmers that are about twice the size but the hand warmers get hotter. They have toe warmers that stick to the bottom of your socks. They are amazing to keep your feet warm. One thing to remember on the ice chest. When you open the hot hands which are vacuum sealed oxygen activates them. Give it a few minutes to activate before you throw it in the ice chest and then about every 3 hours open the ice chest and let some fresh air in because it will have used up the oxygen in the ice chest and stop working if you don't.
I live in Montreal, Canada and am familiar with cold weather, this is a good list. I would add a large mirror to reflect sunlight that would otherwise miss your window or patio door to improve passive solar heating and lighting. Heavy wool blankets and hand/foot warmers are a good idea, I also have a dozen chemlights available.
2:08 My buddy who's a fireman told me to have a fire extinguisher in each room of the house. I can't count how many times he told me "If they only had a fire extinguisher quickly on hand, their house wouldn't have burned so badly." He said it's the first crucial seconds of a fire that determines if your fire stays localized or is going to rapidly spread. Good video 👍
I was told by a fire inspector that there should be a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home and to have fire/smoke alarms in pretty every room.
If you have a walk in closet go to harbor freight and get some moving blanket to line the walls. Make a sleeping pallet ,Pile in with the kids and a dog you will be sweating in -10 degrees got us through a week long ice storm power outage
Thanks, Chris! You are one of the last preppers sticking to the topic. Too many are in the the prediction camp. Thank you for, for at least for the most part, teaching us how to prepare.
I was in texas during the storm. We were pretty much confined to the 1 room most of the time to stay warm. Also i never hear people mention it but we used sterno cans to cook. No electricity required and gets hot enough to warm food up.
Sterno was my original cooking prep, and I still have a lot of it around. It is under-rated in the prep community and gets some bad press by the "how fast can I boil 2C of water" crowd but maybe I'm just not in that much of a hurry. Truthfully, its perfectly adequate for heating up food. In fact, I have a small percolator that I use to make coffee on a sterno stand. I also figure that if a neighbor/friend etc doesn't have any outage cooking method, giving them a small sterno setup would be easier than having them fiddle with an extra camp stove and bottle.
A restaurant supply store (open to the public) in my area sells 12 packs of chafing dish heaters that are basically similar to the large cans of sterno for a very reasonable price. It’s also a great place to purchase basic food items in large quantities. Found it on Google maps.
I bought a set up last year. I ordered alot of the cans, then found out I can reuse the cans with denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. One person suggested using Diatomaceous Earth ( which I use daily) in the empty can then pour high %isopropyl alcohol. It lasts awhile longer and heats up well. Haven't tried, but I have everything for it
In Northern England. Very damp and cold in winter. We have wool filled duvets. I grew up using electric blankets or rubber hot water bottles. Nothing compares to my wool filled duvet. I’ve used to over two winters and it’s been wonderful. It’s expensive but so worth it. We had a power out last winter and it was fantastic.
@@kricketkitty already filled. The company I bought from is called Baavet. Obviously they are UK based (Wales, I think). You could look them up to see what they sell and then see if there’s an equivalent with you
@@Dee-xo1ch yes they are. The website had a factory “seconds”/“imperfect” section. We got them from that section. It was a bit cheaper and obviously no import fee because we are in UK. Genuinely surprised at how worth it they are.
Also if you are managing to heat your kitchen, even a little bit, and you still have water, keep your under sink cupboards open and turn your faucets on to drip, or if extremely cold, even a small stream. This has kept our pipes from freezing countless times. We know people who fail to do this and they have cracked pipes every year when it gets to -30F to -40F.
Plastic bags, especially bread bags wrapped around your feet when wearing shoes is a great way to keep your feet warm in cold conditions, and dry if your shoes/boots aren't waterproof
Awesome video. Thank you! Last year we were hit with a $700 electricity bill for 1 month! It was my families first winter in our new home. We had no time to prep for winter. This year, we have invested heavily into our winter gear such as a solar generator, gas gen, pop up tent, heating blankets, battery charger, cold medicine etc. Hopefully this year is better. ☺️
I have two of those hand-crank radios in my laundry room. They have small solar panels, so they stay by the window there to keep charged, and they have both flashlights and USB chargers. I agree with keeping some LED lights, BUT those tea lights are still a good idea. You should have more than you think you need. It is very frustrating to always use a flashlight in an extended grid down scenario (which I've lived a few times, both because of SHTF situations and because of having an off-grid property). Candles win every time in that situation. They provide nice ambient light and warmth, and they don't ruin your night vision like flashlights do. They're easy to set down where you're working with your hands or reading (things you're going to want to do to preserve the life of your cell battery), and if you need more you light more. When it's time for bed you gradually snuff them out as you get ready, until you're down to only one. I think this makes it much easier to get to sleep than staring at a bright, blue-white flash light beam for hours first.
@@selenadansfield1305 Hand cranking is not easy for older folks. Have to crank for a long time for just a few minutes of light. I have one so know from experience.
@@dalegaa4094 that's why it also has a removable (double AA"s I think), a port to plug into the wall socket AND a solar panel! (ie: no intention of cranking it unless there's no sun, no electric and no batteries available).
One trick for lighting is those solar powered garden lights that folks put near pathways etc. Some are spiked, for putting in your lawn, which is less suitable but, but some are designed for walls or to be placed loosely. These kinds are portable, meaning you can put them out in the day and have light at night. The ones I have last around 10 hours or so. Useful trick and serves a dual purpose of lighting your garden during normal times and serves as an emergency light source. You'll want other methods, but it's one worth baring in mind.
This is a good idea for when you go on vacation, too. Put them near enough to a window they recharge with the light from it but not so close people can tell what is giving off the light. I always worry about electrical fires when I have to leave the house for a long time and have the lights on timers. This would solve that problem!
I like the idea but found them very hard to get this past summer. Got 4 spiked ones eventually only to find they must have been very old ones with flat batteries. I wonder if it is possible/worth exchanging those batteries?
This one hit home hard. I have all my preps ready for winter. Want to say thank you Chris. People have a lot more security for there future because of the time you take to help them through your channel. Keep up the good work. Thanks again from Northern Ireland.
let me say a good video a few thoughts because you asked if anyone had any......sooo first thing mindset! one should think about and be aware of the mental component to all this. being ok with being in an unsafe situation needs to be understood. your standard of safety will be different in survival situation, you will most likely not be warm, well fed, rested, calm, sure of what to do next or what may come up next. Play what if while everything is normal, law enforcement does this as a way to precondition their mind to unseen stressful events. Also i suggest a "dry run" this can be done by simply turning off the electricity and or gas to your house{you should know how to do this anyway if there is a disaster related problem} for the evening or overnight or for a weekend and see how things go with the items you have on hand. See what works and what does not. Make adjustments and plans as you see the need. And if it goes off the rails you can just turn on the power and realize you failed and reset....just like the computer games....lol And now you will have a taste of what it could be like and be better prepared. wow this got long, sorry for the rambling.
Great advice! In the era of rising costs, heating your body and not the house is always a good idea (no need to wait for an emergency!) Some reptile heating pads use only 7 watts and can keep you toasty warm! If you sit with reflective blankets and wear a hat, warm foot ware, and gloves inside then you can turn the heat down to 55 F (14 C) and still be warm. I've been heating myself for years but visitors complain that my house is too cold! Also, the toilet seat is COLD but I take pride in my low heating bills!
As a child I remember my dad only used the heater for only a short time in morning when everyone was awake. Then he shut heater off after about a hour because house was warm enough. We did not use heater at night cause in Southern California it rarely ever got to freezing temps . During summer he ran air conditioning only during the hottest part of day and we used fans to keep it comfortable. Then at night before we all went to sleep he shut off cooler. As adult I follow some of these saving methods.
Thank you very much for this information, as always, it's great. Once upon a time, my mom told me. People would get bricks to use for heat. Just. A regular red brick. If you have a fireplace, take the brick(s) and put them inside , close to the fire, heat them up. Wrap the hot brick in a towel and place in your bed. Run it around the sheets to warm them up and then place the bricks at the foot of the bed. This is for your feet, because if your feet are cold, you are cold . She said everyone used these, even her parents. We've always kept some clean bricks available, and actually used them once, while camping. It was great to have your feet warm, and your body would warm also.
I have an important piece to add in for the Mr. Heater setup. If you are using bulk propane (refillable tanks) then you need a propane filter. The small prefilled tanks are a much cleaner source of propane where as the bulk propane is not as clean. Working for an Ace Hardware store I couldn't tell you how many times a customer came in with their Mr. Heater not working shortly after switching to bulk propane. Also, if you use a bulk propane tank for your appliance designed for the small tanks turn the propane on slowly. A lot of these appliances have a pressure regulator that will trip if a large tank is applied and opened too quickly. It will reset once disconnected but that was another source of frustration for a lot of people.
I have two hooks on the ceiling over my bed. I run a paracord across them, and mylar or blanket across them for a mini bed tent. Back to hanging a couple plants when the emergency is over.
I have the light bulb that work like regular bulb but in a power outage they can be removed from the light socket and screwed into the provided hangers then work like a regular light with the stored power in the bulb itself. Then they are portable and last for hours. Also in long outages glow sticks are cheap and easy to store.
Yes, the temp rating on a sleeping bag tells you that you'll most likely live at that temperature. That doesn't mean you'll be comfortable. And on the pads, it's not about comfort. It's about insulating you from the ground. Important to know. I am a distance hiker. I always carry the mylar blankets. But they should not be a planned source of warmth. Emergency only, and when you can get to a place where you can warm up. They trap the moisture you're body is giving off. If you stay in them for a time, you'll get wet, and if it's cold out, that can cause another emergency. Use with extreme caution. Always remember with a propane heater, they'll give off moisture. That can end up being a problem. For water, buying jugs can be out of some people's buget. We have 2 litre bottles from soft drinks. Washed filled, and stored in the dark, water won't go bad. Neither will the bottle. And ... you already bought it. Minimum one per day per person. Easy math. Good job. I could survive on what you shared.
Great video, Kris! Planning to share it around. I think I'm 19 for 20 of the items you covered. One suggestion for a future related video: how best to dress for sleeping inside a sleeping bag...too often people put on so much clothing that they prevent body heat from reaching and warming the sleeping bag itself - so no coccooning benefit and bag becomes very cold and unhelpful. A watch cap/beanie/toque 🇨🇦 for everyone to wear - at least at night - will help a lot with staying warm, as well. Toiletting wasn't covered and would be an important additional winter video topic. Cheers!
toiletting that isnt a word but I wish it was? Toiletries is a word... But you think if I saved my poo, I could use it for fuel to cook my bread like Ezekiel was told to do
I'm glad you brought up the heating pad. I have a back-up battery bank and just using a heating pad on low can make the sleeping area a lot more bareable without draining a lot of electrcity from the bank.
Great video Chris. We try to have some heat and eat meals made of leftovers in individual sealed plastic bags in our freezer. We can drop these in a small amount of heated water and have both the warm/hot water as well as warm food with one use of fuel. You for all your work! God Bless and “stay safe” Sir
This is an awesome list! I get a lot of practice where I live (WV) due to frequent power outages (fourteen times so far this year!) and the one thing I don't hear prepping channels talk about enough is bathing. After our last outage that lasted over 4 days, I decided to purchase a couple of "solar" showers. They are much better than heating up pots of water or bathing in buckets!
This video reminds me of when I first started watching your vidoes. You were reviewing camping equipment/total collapse equipment. I was looking for an over the fire percolator. Years later and I still enjoy watching you
Thank you so much Kris for your calm, no nonsense approach. We appreciate the knowledge you share and started prepping with many of these items you have listed in the past year. Some of our family are just waking up to the shenanigans going on globally and are trying to play the catch up game....better late than never!
I’ve always taken new candles & put in the freezer for a couple of days. Remove, make sure they’re dry, & store. I was told by my elderly aunt that the candles lasted longer. I’ve always done it this way so not sure how true it is but my candles always seem to last longer.
A Nalgene bottle inside an old boot sock is the best hot water bottle combination I’ve used! It will take boiling water for years and is large enough to keep a bed or sleeping bag warm all night long! I have used a 2 liter soda bottle, but the water can’t be boiling or the bottle will fail! Two liters of very hot water inside an old boot sock will heat a bed for longer than I’ve ever managed to sleep in one night!
@ SHEEP DOG, I HEAR PEOPLE MENTION USE "HOT WATER BOTTLES" AS WELL TO KEEP WARM AT NITE, PUTTING THEM IN OR AT THE FOOT OF THE BED (UNDER THE COVERS OF COURSE)
@@sheilab329 I should have also mentioned that a hot water bottle is a very safe heating system to sleep while it’s operating! I refuse to sleep with heaters, lamps, lanterns , candles etc. burning as that has caused lots of mischief in the past! Nothing like being nice and warm and knowing there’s no chance of CO poisoning or fire while you’re recharging! Proper rest during a disaster is vital to you thinking through/working through the problems you will face!
We had so many kids we couldn’t have afforded so many hot water bottles so my Mom would put boiling water in quart Mason jars put in a boot sock at the foot of all our beds. Worked a treat
@@henrysmom1742 Anything that will take hot water will work! A 2 liter soda bottle will fail with boiling water, but can be used for months with just very hot water!
I find a roll of 'Bubble Wrap' is great to wrap yourself in as the small air pockets heat up very quickly from your body heat and they maintain temperature better than a blanket or sheet. Also very cheap and also re-usable multiple times. I line a sleeping bag with some 'til it gets too warm!!
When it’s freezing temps those things only warm the part of your body directly in contact with them. Supposedly hunters like them but they sure didn’t help much in my experience simply trying to stay warm during a power outage. I’d suggest not relying too heavily on hand warmers of any kind for any real effective body warming. Better to invest in merino wool underlayers, a soft wool neck gaiter, and a warm lined hat. Also good thick wool socks.
You showed an excellent sleeping pad during the video. It is really important that you don't sleep on a pad that has air chambers or an air mattress. That air can cool down and make you cold while you're sleeping.
The orange cords are usually only 15Amp and the yellow are usually 20Amp. Check the rating that’s printed on the cord. 12 gauge is higher capacity than 14 gauge.
Living in the Frozen Tundra of northern Wisconsin my biggest fear is losing power in Jan where the avg high temp is 20 deg. I have most of the things you recommend and more. But one thing you didn't mention are hand warmers. Safe, easy to use and will last several hours. Plus they come in multiple sizes and you can get clothing with pockets to hold the warmers in so they stay close to your body. Keep your kidneys warm and it helps to keep your blood warm.
@@Nunya9876 If the house is going to be cold (below freezing) drain all your pipes through the water heater or the lowest point in your plumbing. If you have to leave and don't have time turn a water faucet on so that a steady dribble comes out. This will keep the water moving in the pipes as long as there is water pressure to the house. Also don't forget the traps under the sinks or tub. I always dump some anti freeze down the drain to keep the trap from freezing. Regular auto anti freeze will work but there is a product for a camper that may be cheaper.
Suggestion on thermal clothing. Fishing joggers are usually double layered fleece and a far warmer than denim even in doors. As it is nearing end of season for fishing they are likely to be cheaper. Also a good temporary fix is a 2nd pair of curtains to layer the windows as you would with personal clothing. I had to do this when I had a flat with poor heating for two winters. You need to wipe the moisture off the windows daily to prevent damp spores. External or internal shtturs would also be good. For those who are good at carpentry a layer of insulation between 1/2 and 1 inch thick would make a difference.
Lived through that 1998 Ice Storm in Montreal, Canada for 8 days, no power & -20'F at night. 1st thing I bought after that was a "Multi-fuel" 1-burner Hiking stove!! $$$$ but worth it! I had used my coleman 2-burner and coleman lantern in my apt kitchen next to window [cracked open] and a window cracked open at other side of apt (cross-ventilation)!!
Good stuff, Kris! I think I have all those areas covered fairly well. But since our wood stove is in the living room, (the largest room in our little house) that's where we will be congregating when the power goes out. I'm harvesting carrots and parsnips today from my VegePod raised garden! I sent you an email about it the other day, and included a link. I *LOVE* this thing! Stay well!
Great advice. A few tips from a Canadian. Let your taps drip to keep the water flowing if you cannot drain your system. Drain your toilets or put some antifreeze in them. Drain your hot water tanks as well. I keep snowshoes, snowmobile suit, a small sled Etc. In case there's a snowstorm and I have to leave and go and pick up whatever. Best lantern I've ever found is the Rayovac indestructible Lantern. It's waterproof and very shock resistant. 3D batteries and it will last Almost one month on low power. UST makes a great portable, sorta pocket size, Lantern which is what I carry with me in my bag.
One valuable item my husband left behind for me when he passed away from his service continued disability was his officers wool U.S. Navy peacoat. It's long and warm.
This is a great video, and I am happy to say that I have most of these items already, sometimes including the same brand like the Eton radio. Like I always tell people, preparedness is the antidote to fear and anxiety. I once came home to a notice on my door a water main had ruptured and to not use my water until it could be repaired. I went inside, opened a jug of water that I had stored, and poured myself a glass.
"Weatherseal" tape to use with plastic sheeting works good, and it does not leave adhesive residue when removed. Also, put ubber backed throw rugs on linoleum/vinyl floors, to insulate against cold coming up through those floors. (for concrete floors perhaps put a piece of carpet down).
This was the perfect time for this video. Here in Norcal, the chill is just starting to feel in the air. Things are still a few weeks off from uncomfortable or desperate if the power goes out heatwise. Beginning of October, time to find these items in the garage. Figure out which room is going to be the bug-in -for-heat room and store items there so that we are ready and can focus energy elsewhere if blackout comes. Thanks for the organized motivating video.
Right on time!! Please pay attention folks… your lives may depend on it. Be able to pass this knowledge on to others in your day to day casual conversation. Hopefully they will remember what you said and even better yet…prepared when you told them about these helpful hints. Good luck guys. Be kind when you can.
Great advice. I appreciate the practical approach and not the world is ending approach...because that gets people to admit defeat and not prepare at all.
Dollar General has area rugs for ten dollars. 2 fit perfect under a two man tent in the kitchen or living room. I use clay pots, bricks, and candles to keep my pipes from freezing. I don't have a lot of money so make due. Plastic the windows, close off the room, I usually leave a gap. I am in. I have oil lamps which also put off heat.
As always, thanks Kris! Started reviewing my cold weather preps and was looking for any holes, and you released this! Perfect timing for checking and topping things off! Thank you to you and your team for looking out for us!
Hi Chris Thanks for all that you do - I've prepped for years but there are millions out there who are oblivious so l hope your videos are being shared. Even if it's not a shtf event, we're seeing scenarios like TX, and hurricane damage, wild fires etc so we all need to lay in emergency kits in cars, at work, at home. 2 suggestions: 1) I've been seeing channels showing how to make "crisco candles" lately. While it's okay if that's all you can afford, PLEASE don't make them in the shortening can as some people are showing in videos ! It's cardboard lined with foil so it will catch fire. You can make them in Mason jars, coffee mugs etc. and keep them in a heavy pan/on a plate. 2 suggestions: 2) l have a propane fireplace as well as a wood burning one - if you do too it's a primary source of heat & you can cook on them but please, before you need it make sure the flue works and that the chimney is clear of bird/ squirrel nests etc. Be well 🦋
Lots of great info. I live in Florida on the gulf coast. Every time a hurricane hits anywhere in Fl, my power is out for 3 to 7 days (I'm on the end of the power grid, so not enough houses to prioritize for the electric company). I have the Midland version of the radio you showed. 12 hours at medium volume only discharges the battery halfway. Midland has spare batteries available. I've used one of the Mr. Buddy heaters indoors for about eight years. It's never set off my CO detector; however, if you use it with rechargeable tanks, use the propane filter sold by the Mr. Buddy company. You can find them for $10 to $12. I use the filter for two to three years. The little green non-refillable cylinders are filtered propane. The propane in refillable tanks may not be filtered. It could clog up the heater's ports/jets/etc. I've had tank-top heaters clog up after about four tanks of propane. I've been told you don't need the filters on a camp stove. I don't know for sure as I've never tired it. For lighting, I use Ryobi lights and rechargeable batteries. The lights are inexpensive. The batteries were inexpensive when I bought them, but not so much now. No complaints about Ryobi's lights, batteries, and chargers. No complaints about Ryobi inverters for the batteries, either. Again, great video. Very useful information.
Last Winter I bought an Original Comfy... the thicker one. Then during a very cold snow storm we had a 24 hour power outage. I put warm clothes on and then the Comfy over it all. Not only did I stay very warm but was also very comfortable!
take 2 liter plastic pop bottles and put hot (not boiling) water in them then put them in a thick sock and throw them under your blanket at night. I used to use two, one near my feet and one near my torso and I would be toasty warm all night right until morning... The socks are essential. First to slow down the heat dissipation so they last until morning and more importantly, so that you don't burn yourself in your sleep in they lean against you directly.
Last Christmas I got 2 of my 4 grown kids and their families tents and sleeping bags. The other 2 already had them. The tents are mainly good for inside. They all got the 3 candle UCO candleier. I'm getting 2 little Mr buddies this month for my youngest and i. We both live in small apartments. Il give my bigger one to another daughter who has a bigger house. I've been collecting propane canisters every month for us. Everyone has co detectors. My oldest has a fireplace and my son and his family can go stay there. They live 3 hours away. I also gave my youngest a fire extinguisher last year. Im getting myself an extra one this month. Eight years ago i lost my apartment when the little girl across the hall lit a candle. Not going through that again. My kids are stubborn and I'm a worry wort lol.
Hi Chris , think about what needs to be done if , you need to winterize your home ! From draining your pipes also your water heater , furnace, toilets, add RV antifreeze to your traps, washing machine and remove to components of your toilet tank ,,which holds water.
Last winter my heat pump went out. It took 16 days to get the parts necessary for the repair. During those 16 days I went through 2 winter ice / snow storms with essentially no heat. The lowest temperature in my house was 45 degrees Fahrenheit. No pipes froze. Survival is doable
Thank you for this video! I liked the summary and that the pictures are about the tools and we can see you talk instead of other pictures that distracts me. Just my opinion, God bless you to you and everyone!
just made hardtack from your video a long time ago. turned out great! after it cooled, I put it back in the oven at 175F for a couple more hours just to make sure completely dry. and I used your suggestion in 50/50 water/vodka.
@@debbiecurtis4021 search for the video title ...he or his friend mentions it helps it dry out even more or faster or something ...and since I had vodka, I figured I might as well =)
1) Carbon monoxide sensor alarm: amzn.to/3dZeEYr
2) Fire extinguisher: amzn.to/3BXOoWh
3) Painter plastic sheeting (amzn.to/3Sx3nNZ) + duct tape (amzn.to/3yt0w0L)
4) Sleeping bags (amzn.to/3LXD4hj), quilts, wool blankets + ground pad (amzn.to/3rkQeLX)
5) Electric blanket (amzn.to/3dTDJUH) or heating pad (amzn.to/3SMsVXe
6) Emergency foil blankets: amzn.to/3rkygcx
7) Hot water bottles (amzn.to/3CnnNTZ) and thermos (amzn.to/3fy39r7)
8) Small tent (enough for your family, nothing more)
9) Winter clothes (layered)
10) Mr. Heater Buddy (amzn.to/3SN98He)
11) Small propane tanks + large tanks + hose for Mr. Heater (amzn.to/3UUCnte)
12) Led headlamps (amzn.to/3CwXGu5), lanterns (amzn.to/3Sx3QzJ), flashlights (amzn.to/3BXxQxF)
13) Tea candles: amzn.to/3BW2p72
14) UCO lantern: amzn.to/3E6Xqmp
15) Propane lantern (amzn.to/3StECSK)
16) Camping stove (amzn.to/3RpaeYr)
17) Food (freeze-dried: amzn.to/3y6fv07) + MRE (amzn.to/3dQknjm)
18) Stored water (amzn.to/3Eb1qCv)
19) Emergency radio (amzn.to/3E8abNJ)
20) Small solar panel for charging electronics (cityprepping.tv/3e2PfwX plus budget option: amzn.to/3EfP3Fv) + battery (amzn.to/3rphmJK)
21) Solar generator (ruclips.net/p/PL5TAN1zJMd0crhjAq5GZU_FrzZr-LdgjO)
22) Dual Fuel Generator: amzn.to/3Rm7kUd
23) Heavy Duty extension cords with a splitter on the end (amzn.to/3SOpjUH)
24) Faucet cover: amzn.to/3y57pVF
God bless you 🙂
My Sunday morning shopping list. Thanks!
Winters not so tough. Think ahead to next summer. Prepping for the heat without ac is brutal. That’s the video to make.
#20 link mia.
Baby wipes are great for keeping clean when water is scarce.
Chris, I work in emergency management and not only preach preparedness but am an avid practitioner of what I preach. I absolutely love that you share information like this with people as it is so very important for preparedness. It is the kind of stuff that can really make a difference in some serious situations, and I don't think the preparedness community, especially "preppers" spend enough of their time addressing information like this. I don't mean to knock anyone's channel, but I do find it a bit frustrating the amount of time so many "prepper" channels dedicate to airing political positions rather than providing helpful information like this. So, thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work!
I agree 100 percent
I knew of a lady in charge of Portland Oregon’s emergency preparedness system some years ago. I finally asked through a friend how prepared is she? Wow ya she had basically nothing at her house 😮WTF.
I was basically told I had more supplies in my car than she had in the whole house.
@@Glocktard Hate to admit it, but it is sadly true that some of the worst prepared actually work in emergency management. I bet if you walked around my office area, you would be lucky to find one or maybe two who actually have a personal Go Kit ready to grab and go and probably the same with their car kits. That is why I stated that I actually practice what I preach.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@@Glocktard for safety's sake do not go around advertising. Unless u want hordes of unprepared to come knocking on your door.
I grew up in New England in the 1950s and 1960s. Dad always had a good stockpile of firewood for the winter. When we had bad storms and the power went out, he built fires in the two fireplaces. He also had a WWII surplus generator that could run the furnace for a couple of hours at a time. We had an old dutch oven that was used in the fireplace to cook. We got by. There was an ice storm in the early 1970s. Dad had to go out with the generator and run it for a few hours for each of the neighbors. Our neighborhood came out of it okay. Many other people let their plumbing systems freeze. This burst their pipes and when the power came back their walls flooded. Many people ended up losing their houses because they couldn't afford to fix them. Learn how to drain your plumbing and water heater. Good Luck, Rick
Same area, but a bit later. After bad winter storms my father was up on the roof shoveling snow off. The neighborhood laughed at him, until the first roof caved in. Dackers know how to handle winter old school style!
@@KamenDesantis There's usually one guy that understands and the rest that are clueless. Be glad that you learned from a man who understood reality. My old man taught me a lot that has paid off through out my life.
I've had to shovel off part of my roof a couple of times. It is dangerous because the bottom layer is usually ice. In the early 1980s there were some really heavy snow storms in my area. Many people had bought steel buildings from a southern company. They collapsed because the company had only used a 10 pound per square foot(PSF) snow load instead of the 30 PSF required by our building codes. I built my roof to withstand 140 mph wind loads which also gave me 40 PSF snow load. Be Prepared. Good Luck, Rick
My dad was a teenager during the depression and served in WW2, so I grew up in a home that was very much into preparing for hard times and I learned early that I needed to be ready for anything that New England had to give us. I may not have a years worth of preps but have the knowledge, tools and supplies needed to carry on. Just don't have much of a support group that understands what may be coming.
The smart ones have already had the bad experience of what can go wrong. If you don't know you can't understand until it's to late.
@@cha2117 Nah, there's always young people who are new to an area and haven't heard the warnings.
This stuff needs to be taught in schools, kids might teach their parents something! Winter is coming and this info saves lives!
This needs to be taught by parents. Teachers don't have time for this.
Winter is coming in more ways than one I fear .lol
@@cherylcook1942 if only all parents knew this stuff! Teacher are to busy with what? They are not teaching financial things or anything important except how to become indoctrinated. They follow the schools agenda or they are fired. Maybe not all but most teachers have the power to change the next generation. In today's world both parents are slaving away at their 9-5 everyday. Just facts about life! Get to work teachers!
This could be part of science or health class. I’ve learned so many things then went home and taught my parents. Why not? It could mean the difference between life and death.
@@cherylcook1942 Nah this is definitely something that should be talked about. Always that one negative Betty 😂
I've started mounting those small one-click stick-on lights inside my kitchen cabinets and storage closet. They help when you're looking for that tiny nutmeg jar in a dark corner in normal times. If mounted on the inside of the doors, you can swing the doors open during a blackout and ~voila~ light your entire kitchen. Use rechargeable batteries, of course.
I tried doing that several times and they stay stuck.
Excellent idea
Thank you
If u can afford, get LED video lights shaped like a smartphone 📱. Most have built-in 🔋, have adjustable brightness and tint.
Get blogging light stands (as opposed to full sized photography light stands) to use with the lights and u'll be amased how gd they do illuminating a room, especially if placed high on TV console, sideboards, kitchen counter tops, tables, etc.
Thanks! That is such a good idea (mounting them inside the doors).
I have these stick on lights that I bought at Dollar General ($1.25 each) in my bathroom vanities and closet's. They are LED, run on AAA batteries and come in handy if power goes out or myself and kids need to find some items. They light up the area tremendously. A cheap way of illumination for normal life and emergencies..
I have discovered that the LED fairy lights that are USB cable only draw about 7 watts of power. I have 100 light strand that I can literally string from my bedroom all the way through my house down the hallway to the living room with plenty of light to move around. I have even run it off one of my phone charger power Banks. They put off more light than you would think and the smaller the space obviously the more condensed the lighting would be.
One thing I think would be a good topic is one I rarely see covered for preppers in winter preps: layering your clothes. You want to have layers so as you are working outside stacking firewood or clearing snow or whatever you don’t overheat and sweat. If you sweat while working then when you cool off your sweat can freeze and speed up hypothermia. The US Army has a layering system that’s a useful guide, or talk to year round backpackers. Layers are huge.
Haha. That's me in general. I look like a hobo, wearing my whole closet.
@@cherylcook1942 haha...me too
The type of material in those layers is important also, remember that your safest bets in the winter are wool or specially made cold weather technical fabrics. Cotton is awesome in the warm/hot seasons, but due to its water absorbing characteristics it is a "no-no" in cold, wet weather. (just look up "cotton kills" for the technical explanation). If you don't have the right fabrics in your wardrobe, don't panic. I've been checking our local thrift stores and after Labor Day they have changed out their racks and have winter clothing available. Check the labels for fabric content. For the layer nearest your skin, check the athletic section and look for winter running gear as an affordable base layer option. Don't forget your feet. As a child I have awesome memories of sledding with the family, but we couldn't afford proper boots (and didn't really know about thrifting) and my feet were always wet and really cold by the time we went back in the house. Once again, if money is a problem check the thrift stores, for your kids ask around for hand me downs (be sure to offer your families outgrown clothes/shoes - you'd be surprised the network you can develop for hand me downs buying/selling/ trading). With thrifted or hand me down winter footwear you will want to take appropriate cleaning / disinfecting measures before wearing (lots of info on how to do this on the internet). Sorry for the long comment, but my only negative memories of childhood were being too cold, just want to make sure that no one has to needlessly go through that.
@@grangran632 I appreciate your post.
@@grangran632 thank you for this. I just recently moved to a state that can, and does, have extreme winter weather. I'm rushing now to find appropriate clothing. New environment for me. Trying to learn a quickly as possible as to what I need vs not need.
We have purchased a CB. Truckers know everything, and your neighbors can contact each other
A wood burning stove solves all problems. Every home should have one.
Tip from the previously homeless: regular plastic grocery bags stuffed under a jacket make for a good weatherproofing/ wind resistant insulating layer for warmth.
Newspapers inside coat also acts as insulation. Tho the plastic would stop rain soaking thro clothes.
Also for insulating shoes and boots@sjchan3199
@sjchan3199Since newspapers have become less common we can turn to plastic grocery bags
For even more comfort, put the small tent on top of your bed for better warmth than the floor and ease of getting into.
LOVE THAT!
The buddy heater is great for inside. Last winter we have two that ran for 3 days and we’re just fine with no ventilation issues. We now have a propane heater with a 100 gallon tank that heats 75% of the house . Great video thanks Chris
Wool is the one fiber that will still keep you warm when it is wet, so a wool sweater and wool socks are a must-have up here in New England.
A set of silk longjohns under the wool is a nice touch. You'll be warm and the silk wicks away moisture from your skin. I lived aboard a sailboat for three years and this is how I dressed in the winter.
and wool gloves. I'm ordering some tomorrow. Synthetics don't help much when it's very cold.
AGREE,The other materials can have their place BUT nothing beats a thick wool blanket, perhaps 2..
@@dalegaa4094 where are you getting your wool?
Polarfleece will also keep you warm when wet.
When my electricity went out, I slept in a -15 down bag with a down blanket thrown over it.
I lived through the energy grid breakdown in Texas, and the most important things I had: Mr. Buddy Heater, propane, my Coleman camp stove and oven, my lanterns, a sleeping bag, and food that was easy and quick to heat. I had just about everything you spoke about. The thermos is a great idea and I used mine as well.
Instant coffee!
@Stacye White, can you say what kind/brand of sleeping bag you have? Did it keep you warm in those temps for that all those days? I see SO MANY cheap ones on Amazon that I'm not even interested in buying from there. THANKS
@@RetireAbroadInvesting If its warmth and value for money your after go for army surplus winter sleeping bags, I think in the US they use a "modular sleep system"
@@troopygino where to purchase?
I have 92 meals of food that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked like peanut butter and nutritious chips and Shredded Wheat because it has a lot of nutrition and can be eaten without milk
Great vid❗ I'm in Texas and went through FreezeMageddon thinking I was ready and it almost took me out. No power for 3 1/2 days. No water for 5. Infrastructure down including cell towers for an extended time. No lighting of any kind for many miles. After the first night roads were impassable due to heavy layers of ice sheets which made first responders not available for hours. They couldn't keep up and most people couldn't contact them anyway because the cell towers were down.
I've been preparing ever since but the key takeaways I learned:
1. In a total grid down you're on your own.
2. Keep your vehicles gassed up in the winter. That heater may be your only saving grace. Remember even the gas station pumps don't work because the grid is down. There's no electricity even if you could drive there.
3. Have something under you to insulate whatever you're sitting on. If you're in a vehicle the cold comes up through the floorboard and through the seat and sucks the heat out of you. If you're in your house have layers underneath you on the floor or wherever you are.
4. After days of 0°F everything in your house including the food in your pantry will freeze. Anything you don't want to freeze put it in an ice chest and throw some hand warmers inside. It will keep them at room temperature and keep them from freezing.
5. Buy a box of heavy plastic kitchen bags to use for your toilet. Remember the toilet won't work. You can open the bags put them in the toilet do whatever business is needed tie them off and put them somewhere away from your house to dispose of later.
I could go on but I'll stop there.
I have a camping luggable loo. It might be easier to transport the stuff
Great suggestions, haven't heard of hand warmers in a cooler to keep foods from freezing, thank you for sharing.
@@kelly_kelly_kelly8575 It really works. I've found the Hot Hands brand works the best. I buy them by the case. They make body warmers that are about twice the size but the hand warmers get hotter. They have toe warmers that stick to the bottom of your socks. They are amazing to keep your feet warm.
One thing to remember on the ice chest. When you open the hot hands which are vacuum sealed oxygen activates them. Give it a few minutes to activate before you throw it in the ice chest and then about every 3 hours open the ice chest and let some fresh air in because it will have used up the oxygen in the ice chest and stop working if you don't.
@int4d you can slide a penny between the lid and container or a toothpick for a small gap.
Thankkkk you !! Great info !! 👍
I live in Montreal, Canada and am familiar with cold weather, this is a good list.
I would add a large mirror to reflect sunlight that would otherwise miss your window or patio door to improve passive solar heating and lighting.
Heavy wool blankets and hand/foot warmers are a good idea, I also have a dozen chemlights available.
Maybe photography reflectors too? They won't break or shatter. 😎
Hey, thats cool. Never thought of that. Anyway, i have a mirror which actually isn't a mirror. A door mirror is actually plastic coated thing.👍🙄
I missed out sunshade for vehicles. It's identical in concept to photographic reflectors, but cheaper!
Great ideas on passive solar. I have a sunroom!
🎯
2:08 My buddy who's a fireman told me to have a fire extinguisher in each room of the house. I can't count how many times he told me "If they only had a fire extinguisher quickly on hand, their house wouldn't have burned so badly."
He said it's the first crucial seconds of a fire that determines if your fire stays localized or is going to rapidly spread.
Good video 👍
And ... learn how to use it Before you need it.
I was told by a fire inspector that there should be a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home and to have fire/smoke alarms in pretty every room.
@@lifewithbobbie Exactly 👍
If you have a walk in closet go to harbor freight and get some moving blanket to line the walls. Make a sleeping pallet ,Pile in with the kids and a dog you will be sweating in -10 degrees got us through a week long ice storm power outage
Great idea...thx!!!
My small tent fits over my King size bed nicely!!
One trick that I use for the hot water bottle is putting a sock on it instead of a towel because the towel will unwrap if you toss and turn at night.
Thank you!
If the power is out where do you get hot water?
@@SkyKid-ue1dh same place you cook your food on. Propane stove.
Morning y’all
Morning! 👋
Bama J
Morning!
Good morning!
Thanks, Chris! You are one of the last preppers sticking to the topic. Too many are in the the prediction camp. Thank you for, for at least for the most part, teaching us how to prepare.
I was in texas during the storm. We were pretty much confined to the 1 room most of the time to stay warm. Also i never hear people mention it but we used sterno cans to cook. No electricity required and gets hot enough to warm food up.
Sterno was my original cooking prep, and I still have a lot of it around. It is under-rated in the prep community and gets some bad press by the "how fast can I boil 2C of water" crowd but maybe I'm just not in that much of a hurry. Truthfully, its perfectly adequate for heating up food. In fact, I have a small percolator that I use to make coffee on a sterno stand. I also figure that if a neighbor/friend etc doesn't have any outage cooking method, giving them a small sterno setup would be easier than having them fiddle with an extra camp stove and bottle.
A restaurant supply store (open to the public) in my area sells 12 packs of chafing dish heaters that are basically similar to the large cans of sterno for a very reasonable price. It’s also a great place to purchase basic food items in large quantities. Found it on Google maps.
I bought a set up last year. I ordered alot of the cans, then found out I can reuse the cans with denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. One person suggested using Diatomaceous Earth ( which I use daily) in the empty can then pour high %isopropyl alcohol. It lasts awhile longer and heats up well.
Haven't tried, but I have everything for it
@@dessebasey2750 ... why add the "Di. Earth" to it ?? 🤔
In Northern England. Very damp and cold in winter. We have wool filled duvets. I grew up using electric blankets or rubber hot water bottles. Nothing compares to my wool filled duvet. I’ve used to over two winters and it’s been wonderful. It’s expensive but so worth it. We had a power out last winter and it was fantastic.
You buy them already filled or fill with wool yourself?
@@kricketkitty already filled. The company I bought from is called Baavet. Obviously they are UK based (Wales, I think). You could look them up to see what they sell and then see if there’s an equivalent with you
@@josephinecronin1195 Thank you.
Just checked Baavet. Those are expensive
@@Dee-xo1ch yes they are. The website had a factory “seconds”/“imperfect” section. We got them from that section. It was a bit cheaper and obviously no import fee because we are in UK. Genuinely surprised at how worth it they are.
Also if you are managing to heat your kitchen, even a little bit, and you still have water, keep your under sink cupboards open and turn your faucets on to drip, or if extremely cold, even a small stream. This has kept our pipes from freezing countless times. We know people who fail to do this and they have cracked pipes every year when it gets to -30F to -40F.
Also wrap your pipes in towels if needed. I told my son this in Austin last winter and his pipes opened up
Yes! Also I remember my parents wrapping the pipes in kitchen with old cloths t shirts. To keep them 'warm'..
Plastic bags, especially bread bags wrapped around your feet when wearing shoes is a great way to keep your feet warm in cold conditions, and dry if your shoes/boots aren't waterproof
Awesome video. Thank you! Last year we were hit with a $700 electricity bill for 1 month! It was my families first winter in our new home. We had no time to prep for winter. This year, we have invested heavily into our winter gear such as a solar generator, gas gen, pop up tent, heating blankets, battery charger, cold medicine etc. Hopefully this year is better. ☺️
I recommend a single burner butane stove. Some are safe to use indoors. Easy to set up and use.
I have a cute teapot that uses a tealight to keep my tea hot in the winter. Also can be used for instant soup.
I have two of those hand-crank radios in my laundry room. They have small solar panels, so they stay by the window there to keep charged, and they have both flashlights and USB chargers.
I agree with keeping some LED lights, BUT those tea lights are still a good idea. You should have more than you think you need.
It is very frustrating to always use a flashlight in an extended grid down scenario (which I've lived a few times, both because of SHTF situations and because of having an off-grid property). Candles win every time in that situation. They provide nice ambient light and warmth, and they don't ruin your night vision like flashlights do. They're easy to set down where you're working with your hands or reading (things you're going to want to do to preserve the life of your cell battery), and if you need more you light more. When it's time for bed you gradually snuff them out as you get ready, until you're down to only one. I think this makes it much easier to get to sleep than staring at a bright, blue-white flash light beam for hours first.
I have enough hand crank flashlights for every level of my house including the laundry room.
@@selenadansfield1305 Hand cranking is not easy for older folks. Have to crank for a long time for just a few minutes of light. I have one so know from experience.
@@dalegaa4094 agreed. That's why I liked these ones that can get energy from multiple sources. The crank is the absolute last resort.
@@dalegaa4094 that's why it also has a removable (double AA"s I think), a port to plug into the wall socket AND a solar panel! (ie: no intention of cranking it unless there's no sun, no electric and no batteries available).
@@prairieprepper I'll check it out. Thanks
One trick for lighting is those solar powered garden lights that folks put near pathways etc.
Some are spiked, for putting in your lawn, which is less suitable but, but some are designed for walls or to be placed loosely.
These kinds are portable, meaning you can put them out in the day and have light at night.
The ones I have last around 10 hours or so.
Useful trick and serves a dual purpose of lighting your garden during normal times and serves as an emergency light source.
You'll want other methods, but it's one worth baring in mind.
This is a good idea for when you go on vacation, too. Put them near enough to a window they recharge with the light from it but not so close people can tell what is giving off the light.
I always worry about electrical fires when I have to leave the house for a long time and have the lights on timers. This would solve that problem!
I put mine into flower vases in the house during a power outage we had (the ones with spikes).
I like the idea but found them very hard to get this past summer. Got 4 spiked ones eventually only to find they must have been very old ones with flat batteries. I wonder if it is possible/worth exchanging those batteries?
@@bmedve3427 Alaska Granny shows how to do it on her RUclips channel.
We used them after the hurricane here last year. No power for 10 days. Used those every evening.
This one hit home hard. I have all my preps ready for winter.
Want to say thank you Chris. People have a lot more security for there future because of the time you take to help them through your channel.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks again from Northern Ireland.
let me say a good video a few thoughts because you asked if anyone had any......sooo first thing mindset! one should think about and be aware of the mental component to all this. being ok with being in an unsafe situation needs to be understood. your standard of safety will be different in survival situation, you will most likely not be warm, well fed, rested, calm, sure of what to do next or what may come up next. Play what if while everything is normal, law enforcement does this as a way to precondition their mind to unseen stressful events. Also i suggest a "dry run" this can be done by simply turning off the electricity and or gas to your house{you should know how to do this anyway if there is a disaster related problem} for the evening or overnight or for a weekend and see how things go with the items you have on hand. See what works and what does not. Make adjustments and plans as you see the need. And if it goes off the rails you can just turn on the power and realize you failed and reset....just like the computer games....lol And now you will have a taste of what it could be like and be better prepared. wow this got long, sorry for the rambling.
Great list. If you're using a heated blanket make sure the one you get is rated to be slept on. Versus laid on top. Not all are . Great channel !
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Great advice! In the era of rising costs, heating your body and not the house is always a good idea (no need to wait for an emergency!) Some reptile heating pads use only 7 watts and can keep you toasty warm! If you sit with reflective blankets and wear a hat, warm foot ware, and gloves inside then you can turn the heat down to 55 F (14 C) and still be warm. I've been heating myself for years but visitors complain that my house is too cold! Also, the toilet seat is COLD but I take pride in my low heating bills!
A fluffy toilet seat cover is a must!
As a child I remember my dad only used the heater for only a short time in morning when everyone was awake. Then he shut heater off after about a hour because house was warm enough. We did not use heater at night cause in Southern California it rarely ever got to freezing temps . During summer he ran air conditioning only during the hottest part of day and we used fans to keep it comfortable. Then at night before we all went to sleep he shut off cooler. As adult I follow some of these saving methods.
I sleep with my dog. Keeps me toasty warm.
Thank you very much for this information, as always, it's great.
Once upon a time, my mom told me. People would get bricks to use for heat. Just. A regular red brick. If you have a fireplace, take the brick(s) and put them inside , close to the fire, heat them up. Wrap the hot brick in a towel and place in your bed. Run it around the sheets to warm them up and then place the bricks at the foot of the bed. This is for your feet, because if your feet are cold, you are cold . She said everyone used these, even her parents. We've always kept some clean bricks available, and actually used them once, while camping. It was great to have your feet warm, and your body would warm also.
A very cold, dark winter is coming here in Europe. Keep prepping guys! 👍 🙏 ✝️
Praying for all of you
I have an important piece to add in for the Mr. Heater setup. If you are using bulk propane (refillable tanks) then you need a propane filter. The small prefilled tanks are a much cleaner source of propane where as the bulk propane is not as clean. Working for an Ace Hardware store I couldn't tell you how many times a customer came in with their Mr. Heater not working shortly after switching to bulk propane.
Also, if you use a bulk propane tank for your appliance designed for the small tanks turn the propane on slowly. A lot of these appliances have a pressure regulator that will trip if a large tank is applied and opened too quickly. It will reset once disconnected but that was another source of frustration for a lot of people.
I have two hooks on the ceiling over my bed. I run a paracord across them, and mylar or blanket across them for a mini bed tent. Back to hanging a couple plants when the emergency is over.
I have the light bulb that work like regular bulb but in a power outage they can be removed from the light socket and screwed into the provided hangers then work like a regular light with the stored power in the bulb itself. Then they are portable and last for hours. Also in long outages glow sticks are cheap and easy to store.
Yes, the temp rating on a sleeping bag tells you that you'll most likely live at that temperature. That doesn't mean you'll be comfortable. And on the pads, it's not about comfort. It's about insulating you from the ground. Important to know.
I am a distance hiker. I always carry the mylar blankets. But they should not be a planned source of warmth. Emergency only, and when you can get to a place where you can warm up. They trap the moisture you're body is giving off. If you stay in them for a time, you'll get wet, and if it's cold out, that can cause another emergency. Use with extreme caution.
Always remember with a propane heater, they'll give off moisture. That can end up being a problem.
For water, buying jugs can be out of some people's buget. We have 2 litre bottles from soft drinks. Washed filled, and stored in the dark, water won't go bad. Neither will the bottle. And ... you already bought it. Minimum one per day per person. Easy math.
Good job. I could survive on what you shared.
Great video, Kris! Planning to share it around.
I think I'm 19 for 20 of the items you covered.
One suggestion for a future related video: how best to dress for sleeping inside a sleeping bag...too often people put on so much clothing that they prevent body heat from reaching and warming the sleeping bag itself - so no coccooning benefit and bag becomes very cold and unhelpful.
A watch cap/beanie/toque 🇨🇦 for everyone to wear - at least at night - will help a lot with staying warm, as well.
Toiletting wasn't covered and would be an important additional winter video topic.
Cheers!
toiletting that isnt a word but I wish it was? Toiletries is a word... But you think if I saved my poo, I could use it for fuel to cook my bread like Ezekiel was told to do
@@voidremoved only if high in Fibre and well dried. Maybe opt for camel dung instead. 🤭
I'm glad you brought up the heating pad. I have a back-up battery bank and just using a heating pad on low can make the sleeping area a lot more bareable without draining a lot of electrcity from the bank.
Just bought a new fire extinguisher this weekend! Only 17$ at Aldi. Great prep to have
Great video Chris. We try to have some heat and eat meals made of leftovers in individual sealed plastic bags in our freezer. We can drop these in a small amount of heated water and have both the warm/hot water as well as warm food with one use of fuel.
You for all your work! God Bless and “stay safe” Sir
We bought an insulated ice fishing tent and a plush thick air mattress to setup in the spare bedroom for an emergency. It's a squeeze, but it will do.
This is an awesome list! I get a lot of practice where I live (WV) due to frequent power outages (fourteen times so far this year!) and the one thing I don't hear prepping channels talk about enough is bathing. After our last outage that lasted over 4 days, I decided to purchase a couple of "solar" showers. They are much better than heating up pots of water or bathing in buckets!
Some have taken a sponge bath only for years.
How about handheld walkie-talkies and portable cb radio's for emergency communications?.
Rugs for all floors particular over unheated crawls, slabs, basements.
Consider using your mattresses on floors if you need to use a tent.
This video reminds me of when I first started watching your vidoes. You were reviewing camping equipment/total collapse equipment. I was looking for an over the fire percolator. Years later and I still enjoy watching you
Thank you so much Kris for your calm, no nonsense approach. We appreciate the knowledge you share and started prepping with many of these items you have listed in the past year. Some of our family are just waking up to the shenanigans going on globally and are trying to play the catch up game....better late than never!
Its escalating very quickly. Some countries are suffering profoundly & only appears to be getting worse. Sad & very concerning.
Another obvious advantage of candles is long term storage. Keep them in a cool place and they last forever. The same can be said for Crisco "candles."
I’ve always taken new candles & put in the freezer for a couple of days. Remove, make sure they’re dry, & store. I was told by my elderly aunt that the candles lasted longer. I’ve always done it this way so not sure how true it is but my candles always seem to last longer.
@@chanchan5349 Thanks. You've taught me something new! I'll give it a try.
A Nalgene bottle inside an old boot sock is the best hot water bottle combination I’ve used! It will take boiling water for years and is large enough to keep a bed or sleeping bag warm all night long! I have used a 2 liter soda bottle, but the water can’t be boiling or the bottle will fail! Two liters of very hot water inside an old boot sock will heat a bed for longer than I’ve ever managed to sleep in one night!
@ SHEEP DOG, I HEAR PEOPLE MENTION USE "HOT WATER BOTTLES" AS WELL TO KEEP WARM AT NITE, PUTTING THEM IN OR AT THE FOOT OF THE BED (UNDER THE COVERS OF COURSE)
@@sheilab329 I should have also mentioned that a hot water bottle is a very safe heating system to sleep while it’s operating! I refuse to sleep with heaters, lamps, lanterns , candles etc. burning as that has caused lots of mischief in the past! Nothing like being nice and warm and knowing there’s no chance of CO poisoning or fire while you’re recharging! Proper rest during a disaster is vital to you thinking through/working through the problems you will face!
We had so many kids we couldn’t have afforded so many hot water bottles so my Mom would put boiling water in quart Mason jars put in a boot sock at the foot of all our beds. Worked a treat
@@henrysmom1742 Anything that will take hot water will work! A 2 liter soda bottle will fail with boiling water, but can be used for months with just very hot water!
I find a roll of 'Bubble Wrap' is great to wrap yourself in as the small air pockets heat up very quickly from your body heat and they maintain temperature better than a blanket or sheet. Also very cheap and also re-usable multiple times. I line a sleeping bag with some 'til it gets too warm!!
I also suggest the rechargeable hand warmers. They work great and can be carried with you day to day to have a personal warming option.
Hot hands are cheap in the large box from Amazon
When it’s freezing temps those things only warm the part of your body directly in contact with them. Supposedly hunters like them but they sure didn’t help much in my experience simply trying to stay warm during a power outage.
I’d suggest not relying too heavily on hand warmers of any kind for any real effective body warming.
Better to invest in merino wool underlayers, a soft wool neck gaiter, and a warm lined hat. Also good thick wool socks.
Get 2 sets of hand warmers, one for hands & one for your feet! Works for me , and like on the blankets! And the dogs! So cozy!
I got great wool socks, I started sweating & had to take them off! And I hate being cold!
I saw someone who had hand warmers that you put lighter fluid in. He said that you could put it in a cooler to keep things like water from freezing.
You showed an excellent sleeping pad during the video. It is really important that you don't sleep on a pad that has air chambers or an air mattress. That air can cool down and make you cold while you're sleeping.
**when you move to a smaller room to stay warm, be sure to cover or close the vents connected to the AC/heater.
Electric candles are really nice as they feel like they are giving you heat and the flickering feels more calming.
I like them to..the ambiance is soothing for the evening. Our led lantern light is so harsh and abrasive if you don't really need it.
The orange cords are usually only 15Amp and the yellow are usually 20Amp. Check the rating that’s printed on the cord. 12 gauge is higher capacity than 14 gauge.
Living in the Frozen Tundra of northern Wisconsin my biggest fear is losing power in Jan where the avg high temp is 20 deg. I have most of the things you recommend and more. But one thing you didn't mention are hand warmers. Safe, easy to use and will last several hours. Plus they come in multiple sizes and you can get clothing with pockets to hold the warmers in so they stay close to your body. Keep your kidneys warm and it helps to keep your blood warm.
How do you prevent pipes from freezing, etc.??
@@Nunya9876 If the house is going to be cold (below freezing) drain all your pipes through the water heater or the lowest point in your plumbing. If you have to leave and don't have time turn a water faucet on so that a steady dribble comes out. This will keep the water moving in the pipes as long as there is water pressure to the house. Also don't forget the traps under the sinks or tub. I always dump some anti freeze down the drain to keep the trap from freezing. Regular auto anti freeze will work but there is a product for a camper that may be cheaper.
@@greenbaypicker4976 thanks. 👍 good info
Suggestion on thermal clothing. Fishing joggers are usually double layered fleece and a far warmer than denim even in doors. As it is nearing end of season for fishing they are likely to be cheaper.
Also a good temporary fix is a 2nd pair of curtains to layer the windows as you would with personal clothing. I had to do this when I had a flat with poor heating for two winters. You need to wipe the moisture off the windows daily to prevent damp spores.
External or internal shtturs would also be good. For those who are good at carpentry a layer of insulation between 1/2 and 1 inch thick would make a difference.
Great advice. We in the Northeast are very venerable when the power goes out in the winter. The ice storm of 1998 taught us many lessons.
Lived through that 1998 Ice Storm in Montreal, Canada for 8 days, no power & -20'F at night. 1st thing I bought after that was a "Multi-fuel" 1-burner Hiking stove!! $$$$ but worth it! I had used my coleman 2-burner and coleman lantern in my apt kitchen next to window [cracked open] and a window cracked open at other side of apt (cross-ventilation)!!
Good stuff, Kris! I think I have all those areas covered fairly well. But since our wood stove is in the living room, (the largest room in our little house) that's where we will be congregating when the power goes out.
I'm harvesting carrots and parsnips today from my VegePod raised garden! I sent you an email about it the other day, and included a link. I *LOVE* this thing! Stay well!
Nothing better than harvesting the fruits of your labour 😁
I think how many times I watered my 🍅 🥒 and sure appreciate garden vegetable lol
@@Brad-99 Whatever we can grow simply *must* be better for us than commercially farmed chemical laden veggies. Best wishes to you!
VegPod? Sounds interesting. Will google that.
@@jackieflynt995 Their products are not cheap, but very well built and worth the money, in my opinion.
Your generator mounted on a garden cart? Brilliant idea. My lower back thanks you ! Checking prices now.
Great advice. A few tips from a Canadian. Let your taps drip to keep the water flowing if you cannot drain your system. Drain your toilets or put some antifreeze in them. Drain your hot water tanks as well. I keep snowshoes, snowmobile suit, a small sled Etc. In case there's a snowstorm and I have to leave and go and pick up whatever. Best lantern I've ever found is the Rayovac indestructible Lantern. It's waterproof and very shock resistant. 3D batteries and it will last Almost one month on low power. UST makes a great portable, sorta pocket size, Lantern which is what I carry with me in my bag.
Thanks 😊
Heater Buddies are AWESOME! There's also some attachments that can go straight onto the propane tanks to both heat AND cook.
One valuable item my husband left behind for me when he passed away from his service continued disability was his officers wool U.S. Navy peacoat. It's long and warm.
This is a great video, and I am happy to say that I have most of these items already, sometimes including the same brand like the Eton radio. Like I always tell people, preparedness is the antidote to fear and anxiety. I once came home to a notice on my door a water main had ruptured and to not use my water until it could be repaired. I went inside, opened a jug of water that I had stored, and poured myself a glass.
😅
"Weatherseal" tape to use with plastic sheeting works good, and it does not leave adhesive residue when removed.
Also, put ubber backed throw rugs on linoleum/vinyl floors, to insulate against cold coming up through those floors. (for concrete floors perhaps put a piece of carpet down).
Thank you for yet another wonderful video! It's nice to see other people adding suggestions too!
MRE heaters are also good too put in your jacket after using them to heat your food.
This was the perfect time for this video. Here in Norcal, the chill is just starting to feel in the air. Things are still a few weeks off from uncomfortable or desperate if the power goes out heatwise. Beginning of October, time to find these items in the garage. Figure out which room is going to be the bug-in -for-heat room and store items there so that we are ready and can focus energy elsewhere if blackout comes. Thanks for the organized motivating video.
Fantastic video...I watch TONS of preppier videos... this has been THE BEST...thank you so much!
Alright Kris! You nailed it. All the items covered are super essential and it’s good to know that I actually have most of these 🤓👌🏽
Great video! Nothing new to me, but so comprehensive I took notes to see where my weaknesses are... and correct them.
Right on time!! Please pay attention folks… your lives may depend on it. Be able to pass this knowledge on to others in your day to day casual conversation. Hopefully they will remember what you said and even better yet…prepared when you told them about these helpful hints. Good luck guys. Be kind when you can.
This is one if the best most comprehensive videos ive seen on this
Great advice. I appreciate the practical approach and not the world is ending approach...because that gets people to admit defeat and not prepare at all.
This is very much appreciated. PRACTICAL and AFFORDABLE. Thank you.
Dollar General has area rugs for ten dollars. 2 fit perfect under a two man tent in the kitchen or living room. I use clay pots, bricks, and candles to keep my pipes from freezing. I don't have a lot of money so make due. Plastic the windows, close off the room, I usually leave a gap. I am in. I have oil lamps which also put off heat.
Bubble wrap does a lot better for windows in cold room than plastic sheeting. It does wonders for keeping heat exchange at bay
As always, thanks Kris! Started reviewing my cold weather preps and was looking for any holes, and you released this! Perfect timing for checking and topping things off! Thank you to you and your team for looking out for us!
Hi Chris
Thanks for all that you do - I've prepped for years but there are millions out there who are oblivious so l hope your videos are being shared.
Even if it's not a shtf event, we're seeing scenarios like TX, and hurricane damage, wild fires etc so we all need to lay in emergency kits in cars, at work, at home.
2 suggestions:
1) I've been seeing channels showing how to make "crisco candles" lately. While it's okay if that's all you can afford, PLEASE don't make them in the shortening can as some people are showing in videos ! It's cardboard lined with foil so it will catch fire.
You can make them in Mason jars, coffee mugs etc. and keep them in a heavy pan/on a plate.
2 suggestions:
2) l have a propane fireplace as well as a wood burning one - if you do too it's a primary source of heat & you can cook on them but please, before you need it make sure the flue works and that the chimney is clear of bird/ squirrel nests etc.
Be well 🦋
Nice video, practical. It's like having a refresher course for winter preparedness. Thank you!
Lots of great info. I live in Florida on the gulf coast. Every time a hurricane hits anywhere in Fl, my power is out for 3 to 7 days (I'm on the end of the power grid, so not enough houses to prioritize for the electric company). I have the Midland version of the radio you showed. 12 hours at medium volume only discharges the battery halfway. Midland has spare batteries available. I've used one of the Mr. Buddy heaters indoors for about eight years. It's never set off my CO detector; however, if you use it with rechargeable tanks, use the propane filter sold by the Mr. Buddy company. You can find them for $10 to $12. I use the filter for two to three years. The little green non-refillable cylinders are filtered propane. The propane in refillable tanks may not be filtered. It could clog up the heater's ports/jets/etc. I've had tank-top heaters clog up after about four tanks of propane. I've been told you don't need the filters on a camp stove. I don't know for sure as I've never tired it. For lighting, I use Ryobi lights and rechargeable batteries. The lights are inexpensive. The batteries were inexpensive when I bought them, but not so much now. No complaints about Ryobi's lights, batteries, and chargers. No complaints about Ryobi inverters for the batteries, either. Again, great video. Very useful information.
*I have everything except 4 things on the list* *I guess I'm doing good for a Beginner prepper* *So Far*
Last Winter I bought an Original Comfy... the thicker one. Then during a very cold snow storm we had a 24 hour power outage. I put warm clothes on and then the Comfy over it all. Not only did I stay very warm but was also very comfortable!
i think probity number one is knowing your climate,
second this is why grandma had a house coat that was basically a quilt with sleeves
take 2 liter plastic pop bottles and put hot (not boiling) water in them then put them in a thick sock and throw them under your blanket at night. I used to use two, one near my feet and one near my torso and I would be toasty warm all night right until morning... The socks are essential. First to slow down the heat dissipation so they last until morning and more importantly, so that you don't burn yourself in your sleep in they lean against you directly.
Last Christmas I got 2 of my 4 grown kids and their families tents and sleeping bags. The other 2 already had them. The tents are mainly good for inside. They all got the 3 candle UCO candleier. I'm getting 2 little Mr buddies this month for my youngest and i. We both live in small apartments. Il give my bigger one to another daughter who has a bigger house. I've been collecting propane canisters every month for us. Everyone has co detectors. My oldest has a fireplace and my son and his family can go stay there. They live 3 hours away. I also gave my youngest a fire extinguisher last year. Im getting myself an extra one this month. Eight years ago i lost my apartment when the little girl across the hall lit a candle. Not going through that again. My kids are stubborn and I'm a worry wort lol.
Hi Chris , think about what needs to be done if , you need to winterize your home ! From draining your pipes also your water heater , furnace, toilets, add RV antifreeze to your traps, washing machine and remove to components of your toilet tank ,,which holds water.
Last winter my heat pump went out. It took 16 days to get the parts necessary for the repair. During those 16 days I went through 2 winter ice / snow storms with essentially no heat. The lowest temperature in my house was 45 degrees Fahrenheit. No pipes froze. Survival is doable
I have our house set to 45° to keep the electric bill down. I'll turn it up to 55° on the coldest days.
Thank you for this video! I liked the summary and that the pictures are about the tools and we can see you talk instead of other pictures that distracts me. Just my opinion, God bless you to you and everyone!
Full tank of gas to use heater in car if needed.
Love Mr. Heater buddy.
Wrapping your socks around the hot water bottles would be a nice way to prevent burning yourself & having a nice pair of warm socks.
just made hardtack from your video a long time ago. turned out great! after it cooled, I put it back in the oven at 175F for a couple more hours just to make sure completely dry. and I used your suggestion in 50/50 water/vodka.
for others, the title is "how to make hardtack (forever lasting bread)"
Hardtack with vodka? Could I get the recipe please?
@@debbiecurtis4021 search for the video title ...he or his friend mentions it helps it dry out even more or faster or something ...and since I had vodka, I figured I might as well =)
looks like the Golden Age for Preppers has come! )))
Greetings from Russia.
It's about 8C in the UK now. I refuse to use my gas and electric. I'll use warm clothes, Hotwater bottles, a flask of tea, and candles.
Yikes, it's about 15°C in London and I'm already pretty cold in my North facing flat. A hot water bottle inside a dressing gown is excellent though.
Thank you. I'm watching you from the Italian Alps, a pretty cold place to be in the winter.