If you've ever wondered what it's like to live without electricity for a long time, just ask the people of Puerto Rico. Many of them lived without power for nearly a year. And according to a Harvard study, the death rate in Puerto Rico nearly doubled after Hurricane Maria do to a lack of air conditioning and medical care. It has been estimated that if … [Read more...]
How to Make a Biogas Generator In 7 Easy Steps
In poorer countries, where blackouts are common and supply lines are tenuous, people have to be inventive if they want to heat and light their homes. One way they do this is by building their own biogas generators. You would think this would be very complicated, but it's a lot simpler than you might think. Biogas is great because it's made from things … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Minimize Generator Noise
In a survival scenario, few pieces of machinery are more valuable than a quality generator. At a time when we have become almost entirely dependent on electricity for survival, having the ability to generate power when the grid is down could be the difference between the life and death. However, generators are also known for being quite noisy, and there … [Read more...]
Make Your Fuel Storage Last As Long As Possible
During a disaster, fuel is an invaluable resource. The problem is that everyone else needs it as badly as you do, and supplies are limited. That’s why any time a natural disaster strikes, the lines at gas stations seem to stretch on forever. Even if you do have the time and patience to sit in one of those lines, there’s no guarantee that there will be any … [Read more...]
6 Best Off Grid Battery Options
If you truly want to live off the grid, but you don't want to give up electricity, then you'll need to spend some time learning about battery systems. It's not as simple as plugging your home into a battery bank, turning on your lights and AC, and calling it a day. There's a lot to it, so if you don't know what you're doing, you're going to ruin your … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Keep Your Food Cold Without Electricity
We are right in the middle of summer, and it's a hot one. Parts of the United States have seen record high temperatures, and in Phoenix, nearly 50 flights were canceled because some planes can only operate in temperatures of 118 degrees F or less. Of course, the heat is no big deal if you have AC and a refrigerator full of cold drinks, salad fixings, … [Read more...]
7 Ways You Can Generate Power After a Disaster
Whether it’s a nuclear holocaust, a deadly plague, the perfect storm, or a large-scale terrorist attack, when a cataclysmic event goes down you can guarantee one thing: the power will go out. And while you don’t need electricity to be a hunter-gatherer for the rest of your life, if you want to help return human society to its former greatness—or just be … [Read more...]
8 Features To Look For in a Portable Generator
With a good generator, you can run important appliances in your home like refrigerators, heaters, and air conditioners during power outages. Generator dealers record the most sales when there are massive storms in surrounding regions, which means most people don't buy generators until they urgently need them. Waiting until the last minute forces you to … [Read more...]
9 Ways To Harness Solar Energy
What would happen to you if the power grid went down? Would you be in a panic as the batteries in your flashlight and radio slowly die, or would you have all the electricity you need to run your devices until power is restored? For a very long time, solar panels and solar-powered devices were simply too expensive for the amount of power they generated. … [Read more...]
6 Ways To Make Coffee Without Electricity
Coffee can be the one staple that adds a sense of normalcy in hard times. You might even be one of those diehard coffee lovers who ritualize their coffee brewing. But what happens when the electricity goes out? There will come a time when the shit hits the fan and you find yourself facing the apocalypse without any power source. Or maybe you just forgot … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Guide To Cooking Without Power
It's funny how cooking without power is regarded as a survival skill when for thousands of years, it was the only way to cook. Not long ago, there was no such thing as toasters, microwaves, and electric ovens, yet people still managed to cook big, delicious meals for their families. If they could do it, so can you! There's no reason to be intimidated by the … [Read more...]
15 Things To Do When The Power Goes Out
When the weather is bad--rain pounding the roof, wind shaking the windows, thunder rumbling through the air, lights flickering off and on--you know the power could go out any minute. Other times the power goes out with no warning, and there's no telling how long it will last. Most people have a mini panic attack when this happens. They scramble around, … [Read more...]
How to Get Power From a Phone Line During a Blackout
If you're at least 30, you probably remember a time when phones didn't need to be plugged into electrical outlets. You just plugged them into the phone line and they worked--even when the power was out. That's because phone companies send a little bit of power through the landlines, and they have backup generators that enable them to do this whether or not … [Read more...]
9 Supplies You Need for a Summer Power Outage
Just do a quick perusal of the internet and you'll find countless articles explaining what to buy and how to warm your house in the event of a winter power outage. But do you know what to do in the event of a summer power outage? Thousands of people die each year from hypothermia (abnormal cooling of the body’s temperature), but thousands also die from … [Read more...]
15 Fuel Storage Safety Tips You Need to Know
Unless you have a way to generate power, you’ll need to stock up on fuel in case the power goes out---or worse, the entire power grid goes down. However, too many preppers stockpile batteries, propane, and gasoline in ways that not only reduce their shelf life, but also pose major safety hazards. The purpose of this article is to help you store your … [Read more...]
Make an Altoids Mini iPhone Charger
This is really cool. Readiness Plan made a video tutorial explaining how to make a portable phone charger with just a few things: 9V snap connector, 9V USB car charger, electrical tape, 9V battery, rubber band, multi-tool, and of course a mini Altoids tin. If you plan on using this a lot, you'll want to stock up on plenty of 9V batteries. You could also … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Hack Outdoor Solar Lights for Survival
Outdoor solar lights are a prepper's best friend. I have several in my front yard that I plan on using for extra indoor lighting during a power outage. But the following article has several interesting ideas I never considered before. For example, if your solar garden lights have AA rechargeable batteries inside, you can use them as solar battery … [Read more...]
