But here's the thing. This is EXACTLY when we need to think about, talk about and plan for things like no electricity, no heat, etc. What exactly would make you not be able to stay in your home if 'IT' happened? Some common things like a snowstorm or bad windstorm (let's stay simple here for a bit and leave out things like asteroids hitting the earth or Planet X or Nibiru).
This winter is supposed to be bad here in the NW this winter like it was last winter in the North East - New York, Boston, Philly, the whole northeast all had some doozies for winter storms. So how did you guys there fare? What did you do with frozen pipes and no power and 4 frickin feet of snow and the road not plowed, and what? How did you cook? How did you stay warm? What did you eat? (could you take showers still?)(ewwww - if the pipes froze then the toilets wouldn't flush, so what did you do about THAT? We'll save that for another day.)
Everybody over 30 oughta know that the time to get a generator isn't after the first blizzard/power outage. The time to buy an air conditioner isn't 3 days after the temps hit 102 degrees. You've been in the lines at Home Depot or Costco or Walmart (or got there too late to even BE in a line). Nope, the time to get the generator is in the summer when no one wants them. Same goes for the propane heaters.
For heat, something that is flat hands down brilliant (after I got mine ALL my friends got one) is the Mr Heater Big Buddy Heater
along with the hose/regulator
that you need to hook it to a propane tank (buy both, not just the heater). This thing is way up towards the top of my ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE items, whether you live in the desert or in Bemidji Minnesota (now THOSE guys get some cold winters :o) I love this heater for several reasons: first, it is designed to be used indoors and has a special oxygen sensor that will turn the unit off if it becomes unsafe for any reason. It also has a low and a high setting (don't be fooled and get the Little Buddy heater that gives only 9,000 BTUs of heat - it's only good for a bathroom sized space, you want the 18,000/9,000 BTU Big Buddy
). It also has a built in fan that runs on D cell 8 batteries that seem to last forever. You put the heater on high with the fan on and it really spreads the heat around the area. Then you turn the heater to low and let it run (still with the fan on). It is safe to use indoors, is lightweight, you aren't having to mess with kerosene, and wicks, and smell - just nice cozy heat when you need it most. And best of all, since it's summer, no one will be beating down the doors to get the last one. You'll want to have some D cell batteries (don't install them in the heater, just put them in a baggie in the heater box so you can find them when you need them) and a few of the 5 gallon propane cylinders
(like they use on the BBQ's) in your storage area and you'll be way better off next time the power goes out in the winter. I heat with propane heat
and a wood stove and I STILL have and use my Big Buddy heater. Why? Because sometimes it's just quicker and easier to turn the heater on for 20 or 30 minutes rather than build a fire. They're very handy to have around, especially if the power goes out.