New Year New Weather
A new year brings hope and optimism. It is also the perfect time to create or reassess your survival preparation. Are you ready for whatever may come at you in 2022?
With harsh winter conditions upon us in much of the country, and as we celebrate “Winter Weather Safety Week,” here’s a great place to start: What will I need to endure 10 days in harsh weather conditions, without power or outside assistance?
INVENTORY AND OP TEST (Operational Test)
For the following categories, take stock in what you currently have on hand and test it to make sure it works. During this inventory make sure you have enough for every individual in your household and note any gaps so corrective measures can be taken.
Food:
- Do you have enough for this 10-day period (times the number of individuals in your home)?
- Is the food still stable/edible?
- Is it still properly stored and free of any rodent infestation?
An obvious and simple solution is 4Patriots Survival Food. It lasts up to 25 years and comes in a secure storage bin. You simply add water, and it tastes GREAT!
Water: The juice of life. A human can survive up to 3 weeks without food, but only about 3 days without water.
- Plan to have a minimum of 1 liter of water per person/day.
- Ensure that your water will not freeze should you experience a loss of power. Either have a way to insulate it (placing it in a cooler without ice) or purchase larger insulated storage containers.
- If you already store water, it is time to change it out.
- In a pinch you can always drain water from your hot water heater which will give you 40-50 gallons of potable (drinkable) water.
Power: Last winter during a severe storm, thousands of folks in Texas never would have thought they would be without power for weeks – but they were. If it can happen to them, it can happen to you.
- If you don’t have the Patriot Power Generator 1800 – GET ONE! Although not a whole home solution, it is just what you need to get through a life-threatening situation like a prolonged loss of power. We received a ton of messages from those folks in Texas who owned them during their outage and they couldn’t have been happier.
- If you do own a Patriot Power Generator 1800 – pull it out, ensure it is fully charged by plugging it into the wall until the indicator displays 100%, then test it. Get your family together and show them how to place and plug in the solar charging panels.
- For any other items that require a charge like your Halo XT flashlight or Patriot Power Cell – ensure they are fully charged and test them.
- Make sure you have NEW extra batteries on hand for items that use them.
Shelter: Let’s assume you are in your home and still have a functioning roof over your head. There is a good chance that without power it is still going to get very cold.
- Extra sleeping bags are ideal but having blankets and winter coats will also work.
- Space blankets are small and also very effective.
- A large tarp can be worth its weight in gold if you have a hole in your roof or a broken window. Add one to your supplies.
- You will also want to move to an interior room of your home and close all other interior doors to maintain as much heat as possible, so come up with your plan should the need arise.
First Aid: When bad things happen, people get hurt. In addition to having an adequate first-aid kit with medical supplies that can address fractures, heavy bleeding, allergic reactions, and cold injuries, I HIGHLY recommend taking a basic first-aid course and getting CPR certified. This basic level of knowledge could save a loved one. You wouldn’t want to live with the alternative.
- Have extra required prescription medication available again, assuming 10 days without outside assistance.
- Over-the-counter pain and fever reducing meds.
- Allergic reaction medication and cough suppressants/decongestants.
Vehicle: We spend a lot of time in our vehicles and the chances of getting into a survival situation dramatically increase when the winter weather rolls in. Just recently there were people stranded in their vehicles throughout the night on I-95 in the Washington D.C. area due to severe weather and accidents. You should go through the list above for home preparation and duplicate it to a lesser degree. Plan for 48 hours stuck in your vehicle in severe winter weather conditions. A Patriot Power Cell is a must in this case, as many of those stranded were forced to turn off their vehicles or run out of gas – you need to keep your cell phone working.
- Add road flares and reflective caution signs.
- Ensure you know where and how to use the car jack and the spare tire is in working order.
- Never let your gas get below ½ a tank.
- Keep up on your auto maintenance to include the condition of tires and wiper blades.
- Perform a function check on headlights, tail/brake lights, hazard lights.
Understand that preparation is 90% of surviving any life-threatening situation. If you take a little time to perform the above tasks on an annual basis you will find yourself in a vastly better position to tackle that “worst case scenario” than most folks out there.
Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 12, 2021
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It’s Time to Put These Solar Power Myths to Rest
Even though the concept of using the power of the sun to produce energy is centuries old, how we do it these days is a fairly recent phenomenon.
And our usage of solar power has grown significantly in the U.S. over the past two decades. America now has 97.2 gigawatts of installed solar. That’s compared to 64.2 gigawatts at the end of 2018. In 2008 we had only 0.34 gigawatts.
Our current total is enough to power 18 million average homes. There are now more than 2 million solar panels in use in the 48 contiguous states.
Solar panel installer is considered the fastest growing job in the country. There are now more than 250,000 solar workers. That’s more than the coal, oil and natural gas industries combined.
And a little goes a long way. Solar photovoltaics on just 22,000 square miles of the nation’s land area – about the size of Lake Michigan – could supply enough electricity to power the entire country.
Shouldn’t our solar energy use be higher?
Those are impressive statistics. But solar energy still accounts for only 3 percent of total electricity generation in America.
Why isn’t that percentage higher? One of the reasons is that the start-up costs for going solar can be high.
Solar panels on your roof will probably save you significant amounts of money. But purchasing them and having them installed can be expensive. It may be four years before you make back your investment.
There’s another reason more electricity generation in the U.S. does not yet come from solar energy. Too many people believe myths about solar power. Today I want to take a look at some of those myths.
Myth: Solar panels need sunlight to work
It’s true that solar panels produce more electricity when it’s sunny than when it’s cloudy.
But it’s also true that solar panels generate electrical power in cloudy weather and when temperatures are colder.
Solar panel technology has improved. Panels can work effectively and efficiently even when the sun is not shining brightly.
And when the sun is shining on a cold winter day, they can generate about as much electrical power as on a hot summer day.
Myth: Solar panels are too expensive & require maintenance
Over the past 10 years, the cost of solar panels has gradually dropped as more people install them. In fact, prices for solar panels have decreased by approximately 30 percent during that time.
And incentives in the form of federal and state tax rebates have increased. Homeowners can offset up to 30 percent of a solar purchase. As previously mentioned, solar panels will save you money by reducing your power bills.
Installation of solar panels is a physical and know-how challenge for the average American. But not for a reliable solar company. And the panels are built to withstand harsh weather conditions.
There’s very little maintenance with solar panels. Mainly due to the fact that they have no moving parts. And they can be periodically cleaned with only water. In most parts of the country, rain takes care of that chore.
Myth: Solar panels damage roofs & lower resale value
Actually, the opposite is true. Solar panels are durable. They protect the sections of a roof they cover, extending that roof’s life.
What if a roof section needs to be repaired? That’s easily handled. Solar panels are mounted on a railing system atop a roof instead of being attached to that roof. They can be temporarily removed without a problem.
Sealant is used if there are gaps between the panels and the rooftop. And mounts are protected with a metal covering.
Rather than reducing the value of a home, studies have shown that solar panels actually add to a home’s value. And lead to faster sales.
Myth: Solar panels are bad for the environment
This myth comes from claims that solar panels get tossed in landfills once they stop working.
The reality is they are now built to be recycled. And if they reach a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, it’s going to be quite a while before you have to do that.
In the meantime, solar power is good for the environment. It is a much cleaner form of energy than fossil fuels. Over the lifetime of a rooftop system, many thousands of pounds of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions could be avoided.
Solar power reduces greenhouse gases. That’s one of the reasons so many businesses and homeowners are going solar.
Generator myths debunked
Solar panels may or may not be in your immediate future. In the meantime, there is a way for you to keep your lights and other appliances working when the inevitable power outages occur. And that’s with a generator.
You may have also heard some myths about generators. Such as, they aren’t necessary because power outages are only a temporary inconvenience.
But the fact is, even a short power outage can spoil your refrigerated and frozen food. Food you bought with your hard-earned money.
Blackouts can also cause accidents within a home due to reduced lighting. Excessive heat or cold can cause health issues. Electronics can be damaged. Your stress level can be elevated. And, outages can last for several days, weeks or more.
Why a solar generator is better
Gas-powered generators are dirty, noisy and dangerous. But a portable, solar-powered generator is none of the above.
It’s clean because it does not require fuel. It’s quiet. In fact, you can use it right next to your bed while you sleep.
And it’s safe. There are no dangerous fumes to breathe in. You can charge it through a wall outlet or with the free power of the sun.
Our recommendation here at 4Patriots is the Patriot Power Generator 1800.
>>Learn more about your SOLAR generator here
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Food Rationing Isn’t New… We May See It Again Soon
Grocery store owners learned something when the pandemic hit America early last year. They discovered limiting shoppers to one each of certain items meant fewer angry customers.
Those store owners would rather listen to a few people griping about limits than hundreds complaining about bare shelves.
I think we’re going to see more of this in connection with other emergencies. Including extreme weather events.
Such as in the days leading up to a hurricane or the approach of a wildfire. Or in the aftermath of tornadoes and flooding.
Extreme weather empties shelves
Spring is now in full swing. And we’ve already seen more than our share of violent weather. Just ask the folks in Alabama and Mississippi. That’s where recent tornadoes have caused much destruction.
The La Niña weather pattern is expected to produce more tornadoes than usual this spring. As well as more hurricanes than normal. And more major hurricanes, meaning Category 3 or higher.
I don’t know anyone who expects this year’s wildfire season to be much better than it’s been in recent years.
All this means we can expect to see rationing signs in our grocery stores. The alternative – shelves stripped bare – would be even worse.
Evolution of food rationing
Rationing is not new in America. It occurred during World Wars I and II. But it is new to most Americans these days.
I’d like to take a look today at the evolution of food rationing through the decades. Some of you are probably familiar with some or most of this. In fact, you might have lived through it.
But for others it could be an eye-opening experience. Either way, it’s a fascinating history with possible implications for the future.
The first major example of food rationing in the U.S. began in 1917. That was after World War I began. President Woodrow Wilson established the U.S. Food Administration. In order to provide U.S. troops with the sustenance they needed to fight overseas.
Could meatless Tuesdays return?
Future President Herbert Hoover was tasked with overseeing this voluntary program. Americans’ compassion and patriotism would determine the initiative’s success.
The goal of this new administration was to manage the wartime supply. As well as the conservation, distribution and transportation of food.
American citizens were asked to reduce consumption of meat. Plus wheat, fats and sugar. They were encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables. Because they were difficult to keep fresh when transported overseas.
Among the slogans people saw on billboards and heard on radios were, “Food will win the war.” Promotions included “Meatless Tuesdays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays.”
World War I troops got food
Local food boards were established. In order to help American families prepare meals without meat and wheat.
These boards offered guidance, recipes with suitable replacements and canning demonstrations.
So, did the plan work? Yes. Within a year, food shipments to our troops in Europe doubled.
Between 1918 and 1919, food consumption in America was reduced by 15 percent. Following the war, Hoover organized shipments of food to millions in Europe. They were starving due to the effects of the war.
Restrictions became mandatory
Fast forward to World War II. It was obvious U.S. involvement in this global conflict would last longer than in World War I.
Voluntary conservation wasn’t going to be enough. So, the U.S. government put restrictions on imported foods. And placed limitations on the transportation of goods, due to a shortage of rubber tires.
In early 1942, the Emergency Price Control Act was established. Price limits were set and food rationing began.
Soon Americans couldn’t purchase sugar without government-issued food coupons. Additional rationed foods included meat and cheese. Plus canned fish, canned milk and other processed foods.
War ration stamps used widely
Citizens who wished to obtain rationed foods registered to receive war ration books. They contained stamps that could be used to purchase restricted items.
These stamps were very popular. In fact, 91 percent of Americans registered for the stamps, which were issued on a point system.
For example, people were allowed to use 48 “blue points” each month to buy canned, bottled or dried foods. And 64 “red points” to purchase meat, fish and dairy products.
Many people ended up trading one type of stamp for another. Forged and stolen stamps were also sold on the black market.
Americans plant victory gardens
During World War II, the slogan changed from “Food will win the war” to “Do with less so they’ll have enough.”
Many people planted “victory gardens” to supplement supplies they bought at stores.
Sugar was in short supply because much of it had come from Hawaii and the Philippines. Those imports were cut off in 1942.
Some people saved some of their stamps for special occasions, such as holidays. But that often backfired when stores did not receive shipments in time.
Where the rubber meets the road
We can all figure out why food rationing was needed during World War II. But why were rubber products so sparse?
Because the world’s primary supplier of natural rubber products was Southeast Asia. Japan occupied rubber tree plantations after the U.S. entered the war.
American factories got busy trying to produce products needed for the war effort. So, citizens were asked to turn in their garden hoses for recycling. As well as raincoats, old tires, gloves and rubber shoes.
Very few new tires were seen on cars during the war. Some people even lined the insides of their tires with newspapers to try to make them last longer.
Be prepared for shortages and rationing
It’s been a long time since food and other items were legally rationed in America. But that doesn’t mean it will never happen again. Regardless, stores could limit purchases of some products due to extreme weather.
Let’s face it. There are many other threats in our world today as well. Including hostile governments and terrorists. They’d love to see Americans scrambling for their next meal.
The best way to prepare for a food shortage is to stock up on food with a long shelf life.
And with Emergency Food Bars from 4Patriots, that problem is solved – 100%.
This food can literally go anywhere with you – your car, boat, RV or vacation home. You can stash some wherever you need a little extra “food security” that’s not only delicious, but mega-nutritious too.
Just hear it from veterans like Patricia A.: “These Emergency Food Bars are truly delicious. Bought them to try out and was impressed. Like many other former-military, I have eaten C-rations, K-rations, MRE’s. These by far taste the best. Now putting them in my car for emergencies (and when I feel puckish!)”
Plus, it stands up to extreme temps. So keeping it in your car like Patricia – or almost anywhere – means you’ll always have a hidden stash of emergency food, no matter the weather.
