Time to shop for an emergency kit?

Thankfully, I was not among the thousands who lost electricity on Thursday night. But the prospect of 24 hours without power in this freezing cold has certainly made me question whether I'm prepared for such an unfortunate event — and the answer is no.

I have a handful of tealights around my apartment, and, if hard pressed, I could perhaps find some matches.

I know I own a flashlight. I have no idea where it is.

I have a feeling that's not really sufficient to keep me warm and light my way in the event of an extended power outage.

As for food and water, the pitcher in the fridge may not be enough to hold us over, and a half-eaten box of crackers is the only snack not requiring some degree of preparation currently available in my pantry.

Had I been in the east end, I would have had minimal light (unless I happened upon my elusive flashlight) and little food that didn't require preparation. Not good.

So, I'm going to take this outage as a wake-up call and finally stock a proper emergency kit, starting with proper candles, matches and snacks like granola bars. At least I already have the blankets and playing cards!

Check out tips for on surviving without electricity in our power outage primer.

Do you keep an emergency preparedness kit? What do you think a good kit should contain?

What tips do you have for staying safe (and entertained) during a blackout?

(Shutterstock image).

Comments

[Mr. Prepared]

If you want to be really prepared, here are a few other handy items: 1) a battery-powered radio, 2) a conventional telephone (the kind that doesn't require electricity), 3) a catalytic camp heater, which requires the tiny propane canisters and some D cell batteries. The latter can be purchased at Cdn Tire, can be used in the home with a window slightly cracked, and provides enough heat to keep a bedroom warm

[David Scott]

One caution to keep in mind is that you run the risk of causing a fire if you choose to use candles in the event of a blackout. The Red Cross recommends against their use for this very reason. I grea up in the Philippines and and our family went through literally hundreds of blackouts over the years. I must admit that we typically used candles. I now prefer lanterns and flashlights supplemented by light sticks. for those who have a hard time keeping batteries on hand and alive, light sticks are a great alternative. Emergency grade lightsticks will last for 12 hours+ and have a 4 year shelf life. They are non-flammable, waterproof, and non-toxic. So even kids can use them safely. They are available from emergency preparedness providers or wherever you buy camping supplies.