Now that we’re on our, what is it now, fifth snowstorm, or something, I’m starting to feel a little like we live at The Overlook Hotel…
Not to say that we’ve all gone crazy, just that when those snowstorms hit, we’re pretty isolated. Sometimes it is a few days before we can get out of our driveway and it could be as long as a week before the secondary roads are safe for travel.
It definitely makes you think about making the trip to town, what items to always have on hand, and what items make life better for country dwellers.
1)Bottled water. If the power goes out, there is no water from the well, either. You should have a gallon of water per person per day.
2)Powdered milk and canned goods. If you’re going to be snowed in for a long time, you’ll probably run out of milk. Keep a stash of powered milk on hand just in case. Canned goods that require little to no preparation are also smart to have on hand.
3)Toilet Paper. You do NOT want to run out of this. Stock up during a good sale.
4)Weather Alert Radio. Where we live there are no tornado sirens and no “Local on the 8′s” from the Weather Channel. You’ll hear all the latest weather warnings for your area with these handy radios.
5)Crank radio with flashlight. You never know when the power will go out, and you don’t want to be scrambling around in the dark looking for batteries. Find a good radio/light combo that runs on crank power.
6)Candles and matches. You won’t want to keep cranking that one flashlight forever!
7) Corded phones. If the power is out, you’re not going to be able to use your cordless phone. Be sure to have a corded backup.
8) Fuel. Be sure to always have plenty of fuel to run your furnace, your snow blower, and your gas grill.
9) Coolers. They’re great for transporting cold items from town, and can be used to store food on ice if you have an extended summer power outage. I also love those insulated hot/cold bags you can buy at stores like Walmart. They’re great for bringing home groceries or keeping your take-out warm on the drive home.
10) Car travel kit. Include a metal coffee can filled with non-perishable food (Hershey bars are a good choice), matches and candles. Keep a bottle or two of water, warm blankets, and winter hats, just in case you’re stranded and your car doesn’t run. Emergency flares and jumper cables are helpful, too.
So now I’ll ask all of my readers who are country dwellers: What types of things do you try to have on hand? What items make country life more convenient for you?
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