Winter is fully upon us and the chilly season brings plenty of extra challenges, which it’s wise to prepare to meet head on. If you’re a hardy prepper, then you’ll already have a large part of the legwork done and might only need a few tweaks to be prepared for any eventuality. However, if you’re new to the prepping scene, then a few extra pointers will be helpful to get you heading in the right direction.
The winter season can bring big storms and blackouts. With current soaring costs of energy and warnings from the National Grid that electricity and gas could be switched off if insufficient supplies are available, it will pay off to have back up plans to keep you and your family safe, warm and fed in every eventuality.
At Preppers Shop, we stock everything you need to make sure that you are fully prepped all year round. Here are some tips on how to prepare for anything that winter might choose to throw your way.
1 - Food and water
These are the most essential items to be prepared with. In the event of a storm cutting you off from the supermarket, or simply meaning that their suppliers aren’t getting through, with shelves left bare – you should aim to store enough food and water to survive for at least a couple of weeks without leaving the house. For more hints on making sure that you have the right food supplies prepped and stay on top of rotating stock, see our blog on how to organise your prepping supplies.
The recommended amount of water to stock up on is approximately four to five litres per person per day, preferably stored in bottles in case the water supply to the house freezes or is stopped for any other reason.
The best foods are non-perishable items, such as tins of fish, meat, beans, fruit and vegetables. Dried foods that are nutritious and easy to prepare, such as nuts and cereals, are ideal, as are freeze-dried or dehydrated meals, which are high in carbs and protein and have a long shelf life without much need for cooking or heating up. Protein bars are also great energy suppliers and don’t take up lots of shelf space – plus they’re surprisingly filling. Preppers Shop stocks all of the above and even sells meal bag packs to feed a person for three or seven days, covering all meals. If you can store them, then we supply bulk buys of army ration packs to guarantee you’ve got food covered for days or even weeks.
If the power goes out, keep your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible to retain the chill inside and keep food from going off as quickly. Keep an eye on food that is in a switched-off appliance and throw out anything that has been left at temperatures of four degrees Celsius or more, as you don’t want to risk food poisoning. Whilst you’re stocking up for the family, don’t forget food items, sanitation and medicine for any pets who might be shut inside with you as well.
2- Power up
Be ready for those predicted power cuts with a generator or portable solar power kit, which can power essential equipment, even storing some hand-powered items such as phone chargers and a radio. Keep a stock of batteries with several reliable torches and lanterns on hand as well, in addition to a supply of candles and matches, in an easy-to-access location. If you’re alerted to a storm brewing, take time to charge up your phones and power banks to guarantee you can communicate with the outside world, even if the power goes off. If you have no source of heat except for gas and electrically fired heaters, a propane space heater is a great investment and assures you that you can at least keep one room warm enough for everyone in the household. Read further hints in our blog on how to prepare for a blackout.
3- Cooking
Without power, cooking becomes much more difficult, so investing in a reliable camping stove that can run off a gas cylinder or even fuels you might have stashed in the shed – such as coal or wood – will be a lifesaver. Stocking mainly tinned foods will furthermore cut down the amount of cooking you need to do, as many items can be eaten straight from the tin without the need for any cooking at all. Nevertheless, it’s important to make sure you know where to find a tin opener! Similarly, many freeze-dried and dehydrated foods merely require hot water to reconstitute, which can easily be supplied from a small camping stove, creating a warming and nutritious meal in a matter of minutes.
4- Staying warm
If you have a wood burning stove or open fireplace and a stash of logs, then you’ll be made up. However, not everyone has these in their homes, so a space heater will come into its own. If you’re aiming to keep everyone warm with wood and coal in a real fire, make sure that you have your chimneys checked and maintained every year, to guarantee that getting the fire going won’t set the chimney alight. Aim to heat only one room, closing off other rooms to avoid heat loss, as this helps you concentrate fuel to make it last longer. Keep a supply of extra blankets, as well as getting everyone to layer up their clothing and block up gaps or cracks around doors to preserve heat. As you lose most heat through your extremities, also wear a hat, gloves and extra socks. We stock a vast array of military surplus clothing, which is warm, durable and affordable – great for your prepping stocks.
5- Sanitation
Sanitation can become a problem if water supplies are shut off, leaving you without a way to flush the toilet. Keeping the house sanitary is vital to prevent you becoming sick. Camping toilets are one solution, as is having a bucket to collect grey water, rainwater or melted snow, which can be used to flush the toilet and keep it functioning.
Whilst you’re stocking up on long-lasting food supplies, make sure you also purchase cleaning and sanitary items such as toilet paper and disinfectant, as well as ensuring you have a couple of weeks’ extra supply of basic and prescribed medication.
6- Home maintenance
There are lots of small tasks you can complete to prepare your house for being cut off in a storm. Make sure that trees and bushes are well pruned, as branches that become heavy with snow could break and fall onto your house or car. Empty hosepipes, clear out gutters and wrap any exposed pipes in insulation to prevent water from freezing, creating avoidable damage.
Do an inventory of all windows and doors for any gaps or openings that can be sealed and insulate walls and attics to enable the house to retain its heat better when temperatures drop. Wrapping water heaters in blankets can make the heating system more efficient and if you notch the heating thermostat down slightly, encouraging everyone to wear more layers, you can also save energy and the cost of heating the house, if the system is still functioning.
7- Car maintenance
Before the weather closes in, you’ll need to make sure that your car is serviced and stocked with de-icer, as well as emergency supplies in case you get trapped in your car during a storm or even just in a traffic jam for hours on a cold, freezing day. A bug-out bag, or our winter emergency car kit, is great insurance if you want peace of mind that you’ll be covered, as it contains all the essentials you’ll need to stay warm and fed until you can be rescued. Check that you know where ice scrapers are and can easily access spare tyres, new wiper blades and washer fluid, also ensuring that you have a survival blanket tucked into the glove box or boot. Keep a small supply of salt or grit in the car to help you get out of any tricky, ice-bound roads and ensure that you have up-to-date roadside assistance for your car, should you require it. It’s also a good idea to keep some basic tools in the boot along with jump cables and a first aid kit.
So, winter prepping essentials are basically the same as regular prepping essentials, but with extra items designed to ensure you stay warm in the cold weather. Winter prepping is taking into account what you need in the event of a power cut to your house, leaving you without heating and the means to cook warm meals.
A prepping newbie might find this daunting at first but the best advice is to build up your prepping supplies slowly and as you are able to organise the storage. If you want to begin your own prepping journey, why not contact us today? A member of our expert team would be more than happy to advise you on the items you should stock up on to begin your winter prepping stash, without breaking the bank.