To my friends in the states expected to be affected by the extreme cold and winter storms – stay safe, and here is a good article which offers state-by-state info on community resources and tips for staying warm and safe.
One of the best things people can do is stay home if it all possible. Stay off the roads.
You know, a lot of the tips for cold weather are not so different from the tips for hurricanes. Power outages are an increasingly common reality, and the more we all prepare & practice, the better.
This article offers tips and resources for staying safe & warm in the forecast severe winter storm / super cold temps that are forecast to affect 30 states. (My photo of cozy candlelight last night in our garage glamp-partment.) The article includes state by state info for the affected states.
Good links on shelter resources etc.; I’m going to be exploring these links for more ideas to support our unhoused community. Note, we live in central coastal Florida and are not expected to be affected by the severe winter storm. However, even in the warm states, people can be affected by cold temperatures, so it’s very useful to read up on tips for how people up north learn how to keep warm.
And here’s this same blog post on my DEEP GREEN Facebook page in case you want to share it there. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16BCmmtLQt/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Ice storm, community resources
PS. You know what they say, sharing is caring! By sharing this blog post and other posts on my blog, you can help people be safer and less vulnerable by building community amid increasingly chaotic conditions. Not just literal meteorological weather conditions, but all sorts of weather conditions.
PPS. In the non-consumer advocate group on Facebook just now, someone just asked if anyone is turning up their heat in anticipation of the severe cold. (Apparently the concept is to pre-store a bit of heat. Something I never thought of.)
Multiple people pointed out it’s more effective to just close off most rooms, and stay in one room together, or as few rooms as possible. In other words, body heat. Other members of the group pointed out that cranking up the heat put extra stress on the grid right when we don’t need to be doing that.
My response to the post:
Hard freeze is rare where we live, but when it happens I just open the taps and shut off the water main, after making sure we have several days’ worth of water stored in jugs in the house.
As I’ve seen lots of other people share here & elsewhere, the easiest & least expensive & safest way to keep warm is just to be in one room, with all the blankets and pets and people etc. And close off as many of the other rooms as possible. That’s what we do.
Also: Regarding water for the toilet, in case there’s to be a super hard freeze and / or extended freeze, I find it best to have ready an emergency “hurricane toilet” (bucket w plastic toilet seat etc.) rather than rely on using precious scarce water to flush. To cut down on odors without adding too much bulk, using kitty litter as cover material can be an option. I’ve used fine oak-leaf litter or fine brown grass clippings as cover matter in such situations but it’s not always available. Also, try to reserve the bucket just for pooping. Minimize peeing in the bucket, to save space in the bucket. Use the toilet for pee only, like a urinal. It’ll get a bit smelly but keeping the lid down between uses to cut down on odors will help. Also, very important, don’t put toilet paper in the toilet. Put it in the bucket or small, covered trashcan. During emergency times, only pee and no solids should go in the toilet. Then later once the water is back on and you’re ready to flush, there’s less likelihood of the toilet clogging from a bunch of accumulated toilet paper. (Ask me how I know this LOL.)