Things to do:
Run the laundry and dishwasher. You’ll at least want clean underwear, socks and t shirts.
Do a quick vacuum – you don’t want to look at it for 3-4 days and think “What a mess!”
Make a pass thru the fridge and toss things that already look questionable; better to throw out sooner than later. Freeze whatever you can to keep the cold longer. Make extra ice.
Get cars out of garage, close garage door
Clear clutter from kitchen counter and desktop. You may need to be able to think in a hurry, not search thru clutter
Make extra hummingbird food and fill bird feeders
Get out your travel bag of toiletries/shave kit/etc. and a large tote bag. Underwear, socks, extra glasses, extra watch, spare chargers and cords, a note tablet, passport, some cash, extra house keys, a hat with a brim
Make your bed. Seriously. You’ll feel more in control, and in a pinch, you can throw clothes, jewelry, keepsakes in the middle and gather the corners of the bedspread/quilt/blanket/sheet and carry like Santa over your shoulder. Repeat as needed.
Run the sprinkler circuit at least once.
Charge everything that is chargeable ASAP. Keep it that way. Get out travel case or whatever for laptops, tablets, kindle, etc. Maybe download a couple of movies or TV shows to keep entertained a bit.
Go out and:
Fill cars with gas, buy extra pet and kid food, get cash, see about getting prescriptions refilled, stock up on allergy or asthma meds. Got TP and Kleenex? A few propane canisters for barbecue or camp stove, fill large propane tank for grill. Buy a carrot cake or other treat. You may need some comfort food in the next couple of days. Oreos? Halloween candy? You’ll thank me later.
PS: Stay hydrated. Drink before you’re thirsty. Water, juice, lemonade, sport drinks, ice tea, lots of ice. Don’t just sip, fill your mouth with two swallows worth. Stay away from sugar drinks. Fill a mug with ice and something, take a swallow every time you go by.
Candy McCorkell/Lafayette
Check, Check and CHECK! The only thing I hadn’t thought of, and will do as soon as I get home, is cook up a batch of hummingbird nectar. Those little guys provide hours of peaceful entertainment – much better than social media!
Love em, but the hummingbirds were here before I got here, and they will be here when I am long gone.
We have hot and cold running water and natgas for cooking if not for heat. Life is good.
Definitely clean out the freezer and fridge.Set the temperature colder beforehand since this is a planned outage. FREEZE them suckers! Make room for ice which melts thereby absorbing heat but producing liquid water. Hence ice in bowls. Ziplock may or may not leak regardless of the attractive appearance of the the Ziplock salesperson. Finally get yourself a faithful companion. Darkness calls for companionship. I prefer a dog but a good woman will do in a pinch.
Hmm. Blackout Bundling Companion… check!
Loved this. Added a few things to do for my own checklist!
We do nothing. Our kids are grown, and we know our way around our own home. If the lights go out, the lights go out. We own flashlights. We don’t use a generator. If we lose power, we’ll find someplace else to watch the World Series. If we don’t make it to work, we don’t make it to work. We always have plenty of gas. We’re in our 50s and neither one of us are on any medication. We’re in excellent health. Unless you’re elderly or raising kids, the over the top drama is over the top drama. The outages don’t last long. Relax.
Good list. I would add: reintroduce yourself to neighbors so they don’t schwak you while your out refilling your generator at zero dark thirty!!!
Also, run your insinkerator before the power goes out; if you don’t, it’ll become an inSTINKerator. I recommend a small strainer to catch food waste.
And, to Danielle’s point: Yes, relax! Enjoy the relative quiet and get back to the roots, in so much as one can in today’s world.
All of this outrage is either feigned or comes down to people freaking out about loss of their precious internet (says I, typing this via a web browser).
I do feel for the businesses who cannot operate, and the workers who truly can’t afford a day without pay.
I just want a straight answer. I’ve gone to the piggie web site 5 times and gotten 5 different answers each time.