On 5/19/2015 11:20 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Tue, 19 May 2015 13:42:06 +0000 (UTC), jinx the minx
> > wrote:
>
>> MaryL > wrote:
>>> On 5/19/2015 7:06 AM, Bruce wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 19 May 2015 07:01:10 -0500, MaryL
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't overdo it, but I do keep a stock of canned goods plus dried
>>>>> produce such as beans--enough to last for a week in an emergency. I
>>>>> live in East Texas, and I have lost power for 7 days in each of two
>>>>> hurricanes that affected this area. I eat primarily fresh produce with
>>>>> some frozen food for my regular routine. I would need power to cook the
>>>>> dried food, so I do keep several containers of peanut butter, canned
>>>>> tuna and chicken, and other items that do not need to be cooked. I even
>>>>> keep a couple of cans of Spam. That is the only item that I do not
>>>>> include in my regular diet, but it would "do" in an emergency.
>>>>
>>>> Yes, I can imagine you'd want to be prepared for a hurricane and its
>>>> aftermath.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I also learned during those events to keep *lots* of batteries of
>>> different sizes on hand. I completely ran out of batteries the first
>>> time, and every store in town sold out the first day. Now, I keep lots
>>> of batteries, but I do cycle through them by putting the first expiration
>>> dates at the front. I also keep several gallons of bottled water. I do
>>> not use bottled water except when I am traveling, but that would be the
>>> most important item in the event of a true emergency.
>>>
>>> MaryL
>>
>> Thanks for that tip, Mary! We just bought a waterfront vacation home
>> directly on the gulf and I know DH is obsessing a bit on hurricane risk.
>> We just closed on the place four days ago, so I'm planning on flying down
>> later this week to buy furniture and housewares. I'll definitely be adding
>> extra batteries to my shopping list.
>
> I wouldn't stock up on very many batterys in anticipation of power
> outages, they deteriorate over time. Today batteries keep longer than
> they used to but still left on a shelf for a year or two they lose a
> lot of power so they may not be of much use for a protracted
> emergency. It's best to buy a small supply and rotate them with those
> you regularly use... and consider getting rid of your old flashlights
> and get LEDs.

I don't know why you assume the flashlights everyone else has are not
LEDs. I've got two small LED Coleman-style lanterns along with a large
LED flashlight. I even have a small LED book-light that serves double
as a bookmark so I can comfortably read during a power outage.

Of course you should rotate the batteries in your stock periodically;
none of them last forever, not even rechargeable batteries.

Jill