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The problems of daily life suddenly seem small when you don't have electricity. In the event of a natural disaster, simple tasks like cooking your food, charging your phone or lighting your house become complicated.
An average of 218 million people were affected worldwide by natural disasters each year between 1994 and 2013. That's according to the report by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). Floods and droughts accounted for 80 percent of the people affected. Storms, earthquakes, and extreme temperatures accounted for the remaining natural disasters.
Power loss affects millions
The CRED report also shows a rising number of people affected by storms. The report concluded that families across the nation need to be better at strengthening emergency preparedness to lower the number of deaths and losses from natural disasters.
Power loss is a common result of ice storms, severe winter storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, but even without natural disasters, power outages are increasing across the US. In 2015, over 7,2 million people experienced power loss across the country. While most power outages last only a few hours, sometimes power is out for days.
Are you prepared?
In preparation for natural disasters and power outages, most emergency preparedness resources recommend storing food and other emergency items and an evacuation kit to last 72 hours.
But, if the power went out for a long stretch of time, what would you do with the food in your refrigerator? Could you cook your food storage? Do you have enough fuel for your cooking source?
Few solutions are out there for big families, such as the Bear River Rocket Stove. Unfortunately, it takes a week without power for families to think about their sudden inability to cook. Be prepared now for when disaster strikes.
Simple steps to prepare for emergencies
While Bear River Rocket Stoves are a serious solution for emergency preparedness, there are other simple measures that can be taken. Ready.gov suggest having at least a two-week supply of necessities including:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Nonperishable food and easy to prepare items
- First aid kit
- Week supply of medications
- Family contact information
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Hand-crank or battery-powered radio
- Rain ponchos
- Emergency thermal blankets
- Emergency cash
- Cellphone and charger
- Non-cordless landline phone
It’s also a good idea to keep your car’s gas tank at least three-quarters full and keep several small solar-powered lights handy for emergency situations. Small and simple steps before a disaster or power outage can ensure both comfort and survival. Planning a way to cook food without electricity is another important preparation. While propane stoves are an excellent short-term solution, a rocket stove proves invaluable providing hot meals when the power is out for an extended time.