Follow the Yellow Brick Road – Part 4, by J.M.

(Continued from Part 3. This concludes the article.) Resources Once you have your route options figured out and taken into account potential obstacles and hazards, the next step should be to take a look at potential resource requirements and availability. The first resource I will typically look at is food – I always have some […]

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Here’s How to Keep Food Cold During a Blackout

What’s the worst thing about a power outage?

The answer to that question depends on a variety of factors. Including where you live and what time of year it is. As well as any health conditions you might have.

Stumbling around in the dark is not fun. But there are worse problems connected to a blackout.

The loss of air conditioning during a heat wave is one. As is the loss of heat during a frigid spell. Either could be life-threatening.

And what if you’re dependent on refrigeration for your medicine? Or on an electrical device to keep your heart beating regularly? That’s pretty serious stuff.

A common goal

We all live in different areas of the country. We experience blackouts at different times of the year. And we have different health conditions.

But one thing we all have in common is this: we want to keep our food cold in refrigerators and freezers.

We worked hard to earn money to buy that food. The last thing we want is for food in a fully-stocked refrigerator and freezer to go bad because our power went out.

Spoiler Alert – The good news is you can keep your food fresh, safe, and cold, even in a blackout. More on that in a moment.

Hitting close to home

There’s a reason this subject is top of mind for me. Not all that long ago, we here at 4Patriots got a big scare.

A tornado outbreak struck downtown Nashville where we’re based. As well as at nearby Cookeville.

The tornadoes killed 25 people and injured 300. With winds reaching 175 miles per hour, the destruction was massive.

More than 70,000 people lost electrical power. The storm caused nearly $1 billion in damage. It was a full week before some folks had power restored.

Tips and tricks

As a general rule, food in a refrigerator should be good for four hours after the power goes out. In a freezer, it should stay safe for 24 to 48 hours.

But when an outage extends longer than those time periods, that spells trouble. You’re in danger of losing the food you need to feed yourself and your family.

Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks to help you keep your food safe longer.

Today I want to share some of them with you. They just might come in handy next time a power outage occurs in your neck of the woods.

Keep those doors closed

Here’s something to always remember. When the power goes out, there is a temptation to open the freezer and refrigerator periodically.

Understandably, people want to check on the status of their food. But don’t do it. Every time those doors open, warm air gets in. That shortens the life of your food.

Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed except for removing an item you want to cook or eat right away. Or quickly moving some items from the refrigerator to the freezer.

The magic temperature is 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can keep your food at that temperature or lower, it should be safe to eat. Keeping the doors closed will help.

Meat down, vegetables up

Whenever possible, keep your freezer and refrigerator full. Food will stay safe during a power outage in a full freezer longer than in a half-full freezer. Same with your refrigerator.

If your refrigerator or freezer is not full, at least group your foods together. Rather than having them spread out.

Because heat rises – even inside a refrigerator – the bottom portion of your refrigerator is colder than the top.

So, keep meat and fish in the lower levels. Fruits and vegetables can be placed on the higher shelves.

Stock up on ice

The more ice you have available, the better you can keep your food cold during a blackout.

In addition to filling your ice trays regularly, place a couple of bags of ice in your kitchen or garage freezer.

You could even freeze water in Tupperware containers. But don’t fill them, because water expands when it freezes. It might break those containers.

When a blackout extends beyond several hours, you can put ice in coolers. Then move some food from your freezer and refrigerator to those coolers.

And if it’s colder outside than inside, you might want to set those coolers outside your door.

Thermometer beats a taste test

Earlier I mentioned you don’t want your refrigerated food to get above 45 degrees. The best way to ensure that is by keeping a thermometer inside your refrigerator and freezer.

These thermometers are inexpensive. They are a big help in determining whether food has gone bad during and following an outage. Newer refrigerators have displays on the outside of the door to let you know your freezer and fridge temps.

If you don’t have a thermometer, don’t make the mistake of testing your food by tasting it. You’re better off throwing something out than getting sick from eating it.

Refrigerated perishable food will go bad after four hours. Including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, and leftovers. When in doubt, toss it out.

Free Freedom Fridge from Frank? Yes!

So, if your power is out and you’re approaching the time when food could start to go bad, what do you do? The answer is the solar-powered and portable Freedom Fridge from 4Patriots. And for a limited time, you can get one for free. You heard me right.

With the purchase of a Patriot Power Generator 1800, you will receive a Freedom Fridge free of charge. It weighs only 17 pounds and it can either cool or heat your food – your choice.

Which means the food it contains does not have to be shelf stable. You can run this food locker for up to 30,000 hours over its lifetime. And while it’s perfect for an emergency situation, you can also take it with you for RV trips, camping, or even the grandkids’ soccer games.

If all that weren’t enough, Freedom Fridge also features a USB outlet so you can use it to power up your phone, tablet, GPS unit, flashlight, or radio.

You probably already know all about the Patriot Power Generator 1800, but just in case, here’s a quick reminder. This generator, which you can charge for free with the sun or with an electrical outlet, is fume-free and silent. So, it’s safe to use indoors.

This is an amazing deal you can’t afford not to take advantage of. And to make it even sweeter, I’ll throw in two free solar panels to charge your generator and Freedom Fridge. Plus free shipping and handling, an easy payment, and a money-back guarantee. You literally can’t lose.

Here’s where to get yours…

Get These 15 Items Now While They’re Available

There are two types of people in the world. One knows it’s only a matter of time before an emergency occurs and so they prepare for it. The other also knows it’s only a matter of time before an emergency occurs, but they figure they’ll deal with it when the time comes.

Because you’re reading this communication from us at 4Patriots, I’ll assume you are among that first group. And I’m very glad to know that.

You’ve seen it over and over again – either firsthand or in the news – so you know some kind of crisis is going to affect you, probably sooner rather than later.

And you know that when it occurs, grocery store shelves will empty of food and water quickly. Long lines will form at gas pumps. People will search for backup power wherever they can find it. I hope you’ve already done what you can to prepare for the inevitable.

Have you thought of everything?

But even if you have thought ahead and prepared for a potential disaster, you might not have considered everything.

To fully protect yourself and your family, you need to prepare for a number of different scenarios with a variety of products.

Below I’ve listed 15 things that could be difficult to get your hands on during a crisis. Because there will be high demand – not to mention jacked up prices – and limited supplies due to disrupted supply chains.

If you take care of these needs in advance, you’ll gain peace of mind. And you’ll have the items you need when others around you are scrambling in panic mode.

Water. I don’t have to tell you how crucial this need is. More often than not, an emergency situation will result in the compromised quality of the local water supply. It could be shut off altogether, or contaminated. You need both a supply of usable water and a way to filter what’s coming out of your taps.

Food. Again, this is pretty basic, and something we’ve preached repeatedly. You need a significant supply of long-lasting survival food to carry you and your family through a crisis. Often first to disappear during an emergency are perishables such as milk, bread, and eggs, as well as non-perishables including soups, stews, grains, and granola and protein bars.

Shelter. Everyone hopes that if a crisis occurs, they’ll be able to hunker down at home rather than having to bug out. That’s usually the case so make sure your home is able to withstand extreme weather events. But in addition, create a plan that involves where you will go and alternate routes to get there if you do need to evacuate. Not everyone can afford a cabin in the woods, so at the very least have a list of hotels/motels outside your immediate area where you could head if necessary.

Medical supplies. Talk to your physician about getting at least a three-month supply of each med you take regularly. Medical supplies will become victims of a supply chain problem, so stay as far ahead of that as possible.

First-aid kit. You should also purchase or assemble a comprehensive first-aid kit and keep one at home and one in each of your vehicles. It’s also a good idea to have back-ups for medical equipment you use regularly, including CPAP machines and blood pressure monitors.

Hygiene items. Toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and a wide variety of other personal hygiene items will get scooped up at stores immediately after a crisis occurs. Having a good supply in advance will be a big help.

Backup power. One common denominator with just about every crisis is our vulnerable electric grid going down. It doesn’t take much for that to happen. Which makes having backup power crucial. Your best defense is a solar-powered generator, but you also want to have pocket-sized power banks to keep your smaller electronic devices charged. Including your cellphone.

Fuel. There is probably a limited amount of fuel you’ll want to keep in your garage for safety reasons, but it’s not a bad idea to have a few gallons available in safe containers. A disaster is likely to limit access to fuel. And try to remember to keep each of your vehicles’ gas tanks as full as possible on a regular basis because you never know when a crisis will occur.

Flashlights. Basic flashlights are better than nothing, but what you really want are tactical flashlights that serve a variety of purposes. Including one that can cut a seatbelt or break a window, and that can flash an SOS signal and even charge other electrical items. Keep a couple at home and at least one in each of your vehicles.

Batteries. Some of your emergency supplies, including basic flashlights, need batteries, so compile a collection of batteries in different sizes. A dead battery is one of the last things you’ll want to have in a crisis.

Emergency radio. Regardless of the disaster that will cause you to hunker down or bug out, you can stay on top of the news with an emergency radio. And if it’s solar-powered, you don’t have to worry about your power going out. You’ll have up-to-the-minute information on the crisis, including weather forecasts and which areas are most affected by the emergency.

Fire-starters. This can take many forms, including Bic lighters, matches, and even flint and steel. Weather-proof fire-starters are reliable and effective.

Solar Cooker. If you’re without electrical power – whether at home or after bugging out – you’ll want a way to heat water. A portable solar cooker will do the trick. It can boil water for coffee, tea or cocoa, as well as hot dogs and more. Not to mention a hot wet cloth for cleaning.

Camp Stove. With very little smoke and no gas whatsoever, you can cook meals without power when you have a portable camp stove. Just add twigs and leaves and you’ll have a small fire that can cook a variety of foods.

One more ‘cool’ necessity

A number of the items listed above can fit in a bug-out bag or other emergency kit. Once you’ve fully stocked that kit, keep it near your front door so you can grab it and go in a hurry if necessary.

Let me add one final item to your emergency supplies: ice. Say what? How in the world can I keep ice in an emergency kit?

Well, you can’t, because obviously it will melt. But if you always keep ice in your freezers and have a convenient place to move it to when the power goes out, you’ll be able to keep food and medicines cold, and also use that ice for first-aid if necessary.

And just in case you’re ever tempted to take ice for granted, did you hear what happened last summer in Spain? Due to a heat wave, high energy bills, and ongoing concern about the pandemic, many stores limited the amount of ice bags consumers could purchase.

The same could happen here someday, so be prepared!

Gifts for Sojourners, by K.R. >> Thur. May 4 >> IS

As I reflected on the results of the SurvivalBlog poll that suggested topics for essays, one suggestion stood out: “Preparing give-away bags for wanderers.” (Good job, whoever made this suggestion.) I bring no special qualifications except for years of fine-tuning my go-bag and bartering inventory–and some time for reflection. After all, a barter list, a […]

Some Storage Food Challenges, by S.F. in Oregon

In this brief article, I will discuss some issues with stored food. Pests Insects – There are many sources of information on how to store grains and beans using dry ice, nitrogen or oxygen absorbers so I will not duplicate that here. I will add that if you use mylar bags, get 12 mil or […]

Cooking Food Without Electricity? No problem!

If we could bring our ancestors from the 1800s back to life, they’d be amazed at all the conveniences we enjoy. There would be so many things they could learn from us about modern-day life.

But there would also be things they could teach us. Including how to function during a power outage.

They lived without electricity their entire lives, so they would be much better equipped to handle a blackout than we are.

Well, we can’t bring them back to teach us, but there is something that will come back to us quickly during a power outage. And that’s our appetites. That’s why it’s essential that we include how to cook food without electricity in our survival plans.

Time to turn up the heat

That’s today’s topic. And with blackouts increasing in America – due to extreme weather, accidents, attacks on power stations, aging equipment, and more – this subject becomes more important than ever before.

We’re accustomed to modern-day electronic devices and appliances. Many of us don’t know what we’d do without electricity for a week, let alone a month.

In an extended outage, you and your family members will want food requiring heating. Including survival food.

Trust me, you’ll get tired of eating granola bars and crackers pretty quickly during a blackout. Here are some ways to cook food without electricity:

Solar ovens

This is a great option in warmer, sunnier climates. The solar oven cooking method works by converting sunlight to heat. The trapped heat is used to cook food.

You can bake, boil, steam, stew, and even dehydrate food. This is a safe option without flames. No fossil fuels are required and no air pollution is produced.

This method is portable and low maintenance. Food almost never sticks or burns. Most meals don’t require much stirring during cooking.

If you’re new to solar oven cooking, choose recipes that do well with slow cooking. Such as stews and casseroles.

Portable gas stoves

These are best used as an outdoor cooking method. The two best options with portable gas stoves are butane and propane.

Butane stoves are portable and can generate enough heat to do most cooking. However, butane canisters can be pricey and hold a limited amount of fuel.

Propane is a highly dependable fuel at freezing temperatures and high altitudes. The tanks, however, are thick-walled. They’re too heavy to easily carry.

Smaller stoves in this genre are single-burner stoves. But there are also two-burner stoves. If portability is not an issue, larger camper stoves with legs are effective.

Wood and coal-burning stoves

Wood-burning and coal-burning stoves are convenient for use in the winter when you can cook and heat your home simultaneously. But they’re also great in warmer months.

If it is flat enough, you can cook on top of it. The fire should be going strong before you start cooking. It’s best to use cast-iron cookware. It conducts heat, but does not retain it.

Frying time is similar to using a conventional gas or electric stove. But cooking time is longer.

If your food is cooking too quickly, turn down the drafts. Transfer food to a cooler part of the stovetop. If it’s cooking too slowly, open the drafts and add wood to the fire.

Grills and open-fire cooking

If you’re able to hunker down at home – or you have one of these grills at your bug-out location – it will come in handy. They use gas or charcoal.

This is a great way to grill various meats and fish. As well as large vegetables. Grills have an advantage over open-fire cooking because their lids trap more heat.

Open-fire cooking is a simple outdoor solution during a crisis. Set a barbeque grill plate over an open fire and cook.

Another option is using a large, flat rock. Place the rock over the fire. Once the rock is hot, put your pan or pot on top. The harder the rock, the less likely it is to crack.

Fireplace and fondue pot

If you’re hunkering down, a fireplace is not a bad choice. Use logs rather than charcoal, which can produce carbon monoxide.

Add a little vegetable oil, salt, and pepper to your food before wrapping it in aluminum foil. Then cook it over the flame. Use tongs and rotate the food often. Use a meat thermometer for meat to make sure the inside is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can use a fondue pot to cook a small meal. Make sure your fuel is approved for indoor use.

Stainless steel is the way to go here. Both for cooking and for cleaning up afterwards. Make sure the handles are strong and the base is wide.

Canned heat and engine cooking

The canned heat method is safe, inexpensive, and easy. You’ve probably seen this flaming canister used by caterers to keep food warm.

The no-spill, gel-like fuel is simple to use and can burn for several hours. Canned heat can be used with a chafing dish, fondue pot, or certain stoves and grills.

Engine cooking uses excess heat from your car or truck engine. It’s a last-resort cooking tactic.

Identify a hotspot such as the exhaust manifold. Wrap your prepared food in several layers of foil. Secure the food with a steel wire and make sure it’s not touching any moving parts. Close the hood and let your food cook.

Bug-out bag musts

Because cooking without power might have to be done outdoors, include the following survival gear items in bug-out bags.

Pots, Pans, and Plates. A store-bought mess kit will do just fine. You can find them in a big box store’s sporting goods department. Because they inter-stack and lock together, they’re easy to carry, use, clean, and pack.

Silverware. The big box stores should sell interlocking knife/fork/spoon sets. Don’t choose plastic. You don’t know how long you’re going to be using these utensils.

Aluminum Foil. Use aluminum foil to wrap vegetables, meat, or fish when they are cooking over a campfire. As well as to carry cooked food when you start moving again.

Coffee Pot. Lash a small percolator to the outside of your bag to keep it from banging around or breaking. To really be efficient, keep small, clean clothing items inside it when you’re moving.

Cooking Pot. Include a large cooking pot with a lid in one of your bags. You’ll be able to heat up larger quantities of food that way, including stew.

Serving Utensils. When it comes to getting food from the pot or pan to your plate, items such as spatulas, ladles, and meat forks are much preferable to knives, forks, and spoons.

Canteen. Make sure you have at least one military-grade canteen in your bug-out bag. The better ones also include a matching cup (which can double as a boiling pot), an insulated carrier, and a utility belt for transportation.

Water Purifiers. Carry a personal water filter and a small bottle of water purification tablets. Nothing spells disaster for a bug-out experience faster than drinking contaminated water.

Dishwashing Liquid. To keep your cooking utensils clean, include a non-breakable, spill-free bottle of dishwashing liquid.

A device to help you experiment

You don’t have to wait for a tragedy to experiment with cooking without electricity. It can be a fun activity to practice.

Why not give it a try, such as with your emergency food supply. It will save some money on your energy bills, and allow you to become well-versed in cooking without power. You’ll be happy you did.

In fact, my top recommendation for cooking during a blackout is by using the 4Patriots Sun Kettle™ Personal Water Heater.

Using the power of the sun, this incredible device will boil water and cook food. No batteries, cords, fuel, flames, or electricity needed.

Its parabolic mirrors trap the rays of the sun, which are then focused on the tempered-glass tube. It will get your water boiling in just minutes.

And that will provide you with water for drinking or warm food to eat. You can prepare coffee, prep a warm washcloth and administer first aid. And it will keep liquid hot for hours. All with the free power of the sun.

Here’s how to learn more and get yours…

10 Emergency Supplies You Should NOT Waste Your Money On

We talk a lot about emergency supplies you should have on hand for when a crisis situation develops. We even provide extensive lists of these items from time to time.

I think it’s about time we tell you which supplies you should NOT waste your money on.

Because every supply you purchase that won’t do you much good represents money you could have spent on something that could do you plenty of good.

Not to mention the fact that those unnecessary items take up valuable space in your storage area or bug-out bag.

Limit your single-use items

The first things I’d look at when seeking to avoid unnecessary emergency supplies are single-use items. The more different uses you can get out of a single item, the better. (Later I’ll mention 10 great multi-purpose items.)

On the contrary, single-use items such as regular, disposable batteries are a waste of money and space.

Other types of items I keep out of my emergency supplies are those that are not weatherproof. A bug-out situation will require spending more time outdoors than normal. You don’t want too many items that will require staying dry to work.

Additional things to stay away from when it comes to stockpiling supplies for a crisis are those that require more supplies to function. A great example is a gas-powered generator. Gas is not only heavy to transport, but also can be dangerous.

Avoid these money and space wasters

What are some other supply items you shouldn’t waste money on, for one reason or another? Here are a few:

Mass quantities of paper products. Yes, it’s good to have a decent supply of toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, etc. But stockpiling tons of those items in anticipation of stores running out is probably a waste of money. And it’s unlikely you’ll be able to use them for bartering.

Food with high sodium levels. Some food producers load up their food with lots of sodium. They do it for taste and preservation purposes. But in addition to not being good for you, that sodium is going to make you thirsty. Which means you’ll need even more water than you planned on.

Non-solar electronic devices. The electric grid is often the first casualty when it comes to an emergency caused by extreme weather or other problems. You want to have electronics with solar panels so you can recharge them with the free power of the sun instead of watching them die a slow death.

Water in large containers. You’ve seen those five and 10-gallon containers, right? They’re nice to look at but virtually impossible for most people to transport. If you suddenly have to bug out, you’ll have to leave all that life-giving water behind. Stick to containers the average person can carry. Even a gallon of water is heavy.

Too many canned goods. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have some canned food and beverages in your emergency supplies. The shelf life is not nearly as long as survival food, but canned items can sustain you for a while. However, they usually contain a lot of sodium and again, if you have to bug out, they can be very heavy to transport in larger quantities.

10 multi-use items

I mentioned that multi-use items are important to include in your emergency supplies. Here are a few you might consider adding to your stockpile, as well as some of their surprising uses:

Aluminum foil. Blade sharpener, meat wrapper, trail marker, grill cleaner, keep tinder dry.

Baby powder. Grease stain remover, ant repellent, deodorant, dry skin soother, shoe freshener.

Baking soda. Brush your teeth, eliminate smells, bug repellent, gain traction, pain reliever.

Bandanas. Handkerchief, washcloth, forehead protector, tourniquet, cordage, blindfold, dog collar.

Honey. Digestion aid, energy booster, inflammation reducer, splinter remover, wound treatment.

Lip balm. Blister soother, sunscreen, knife rust preventer, glass cleaner, zipper lubricator.

Plastic grocery bags. Insulation, trail marking, food storage, trash holder, wet item separator.

Rechargeable batteries. The function of the batteries doesn’t change but the list of items you can power is endless.

Steel wool. Fire starter, garden tool cleaner, scissors sharpener, screw tightener, rust remover.

Super Glue. Fix broken knife grip, water bottle sealer, skin repair, backpack strap repair, cordage strengthener.

Emergency Supplies You Should NOT Waste Your Money On