Self-Sufficiency in Style
when the lights go out
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Self-Sufficiency in Style when the lights go out |
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| The
subject of the Sept 11 attacks on New York are dealt with on The
Effects of Terrorism.
At the time of finishing writing this article, more than a year later, Britain's ports are on full alert for a terrorist attack - and war with Iraq seems likely. The fire- fighters are also threatening a strike. |
Homesteaders are far more
likely to be badly affected by crises than city dwellers, they are also
better able to prepare.
It's not a question of being able to construct a wigwam, trap rabbits and make fire by rubbing sticks together, much more of taking sensible steps long before the event. |
| In an emergency, the
governmental authorities are duty bound to rush assistance through to the
cities and towns.
The remote and isolated small-holder is going to look after themselves and their neighbours. ...and neighbours it is too. There is nothing like a crisis for making people co-operate in a common interest. |
Priority Attention |
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Climate Change? |
Weather is the regular threat. Storms,
snow and flood prevent physical movement and cut power and telephone.
This scenario is increasingly common, even in the usually benign British Isles. Some places elsewhere face volcano and earthquake as well as extreme weather. |
| Man's actions in the form of
accidents, terrorism and strikes can give particular problems.
The first two are usually unanticipated, the last is usually well signalled - not that this helps much. Shortages caused by strikes, may impact on electricity, fuel for travelling as well as emptying the supermarket shelves. The rural dweller, once they get to town, may well arrive to find the very thing they have used valuable fuel to collect has long since disappeared into private hoards. The shortages may not always be rational, but we know what they are likely to be from previous incidents. |
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What can you do to prepare? |
A great deal- and the more you plan it into your lifestyle, the more effective it will be.
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| Solid fuel heating systems,
especially those that do not need electricity to circulate the hot water,
are a winner. Paraffin heaters are another useful stand-by.
However, it is difficult to do without electricity completely. Prolonged cuts can be catastrophic. An ample supply of rechargeable batteries ready for use is a must. A small petrol or gasoline generator can be used to recharge these and, if big enough, give a boost to the freezers during power cuts. Cooking facilities are best handled either on a solid-fuel stove or by gas canister cooker. Most small generators cannot provide an adequate back-up. Bore holes providing a private water supply are useful, if you can keep them running during a freeze, and if you have them rigged so the generator can provide some power. |
Batteries are pretty important. If you can't see, you can't do anything.
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A four- wheel drive is a good back-up vehicle for anyone in hills or mountains, but if you can't get the news, you can't plan any travel. |
Communications are very vulnerable.
To keep yourself informed, small battery operated TV's and radios. Wind-up radios are a good idea. To get messages out, a mobile telephone is a must, or, in some circumstances, a radio transmitter. More than one motor car, fully fuelled plus additional fuel (well away from the house and children). |
| It all sounds very dramatic,
but the writer has needed all these many times.
Preparation gives peace of mind. |
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Plan and you can let the world sort itself out. You will be one burden less for the authorities to worry about. You will be in a position to look after yourself and be a help to others. Self-sufficiency is not a selfish philosophy. |
So here is a list of the writer's
essentials:
Items that will be panic bought and quickly become unavailable... Salt, toilet rolls, powdered milk (if you have no home supply) bread flour and yeast - ( renew the yeast on a regular basis). Providing for power cuts... Battery charger, rechargeable batteries, generator plus fuel, battery radio, battery television, lots of torches. Make sure that everything you need to power from the generator has the appropriate connectors. Make sure you can also recharge at least one torch using the motor car (cigarette lighter usually). Telephone line down... Mobile phone (make sure you can recharge the battery). Keeping warm... Logs (also chain saw, oil and fuel), matches, paraffin and paraffin heaters. Also a few bags of coal or other solid fuel. The Animals... Feed, hay and straw. Cooking... Space on the wood-burner. A portable gas stove. Travel... The chainsaw, Wellington boots, mobile phone and blanket in the car. Tow-rope. The most important and the strictly luxurious. Whiskey, wine and a full freezer and larder. A large container for drinking water. Aspirin and any other medical necessities. Some cash (always helps). |
| At
this point when writing this article, the lights went out. Really, they
did!
So naturally we did the sensible thing, our daughter still had light and heat, as did the fish and chip shop and the pub. So after checking on our elderly neighbour, who was doing her best to set fire to her home - well you are allowed to at 92 - we piled in the car and went visiting. We came home to feast on fish and chips in the candlelight. The electricity came back the following morning. There is no point in making a drama out of a crisis unnecessarily. Panic and generators are kept for real emergencies. Little ones just give an excuse for a break in the routine. You can return to The Effects of Terrorism , consider Self-Sufficiency v Survivalism or read something of an incident in the writer's life Running for Cover. Floods! tells you how to avoid some problems when buying property. |
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...prepared for problems at the isolated Hangman's Cottage, just to the south of Misery Corner. |
