There are many things that could happen that would hinder or halt normal everyday life. These things include both natural disasters and man-made disasters.

Either of these categories could cause a blackout. The largest blackout in the history of the United States happened on August 14, 2003.

During this blackout over 50 million people were without power. The daily life of an American depends so much on electricity and the ability to get power.

A blackout could devastate thousands of businesses and families who would not be able to work. It would also affect life in many other respects.

As a result it is very important for families to prepare against the occurrence of such an event. A blackout can occur anywhere and affect anyone.

The first thing a family should do to prepare for time of blackout is to make sure they have a proper emergency food kit put together. One of the key elements of this emergency kit is water.

A human will only last about three days without water before he or she dies. In general, you should store one gallon of water per person per day.

This gallon of water should cover cooking needs, drinking needs, and hygiene needs. Another crucial part of the emergency kit is the food.

A human can survive about three weeks without food. However, this is a very unpleasant experience.

Remember that many of the local grocery stores will not be able to provide perishable food because their power will be out. This means that their refrigerators, freezers, lights, and cash registers will be inoperable.

In addition, the food in your freezer and fridge will spoil fairly quickly. You will need to have plenty of back up, non-perishable food set aside for use.

It will also be useful to have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and several flashlights. The radio will keep you connected and help you have an idea of how soon you will get power back.

After you have gathered together your emergency kit, you will also want to make sure that your family has an emergency plan set in place. When the blackout occurs, it is likely that your family will not be in the same place.

You will need to know how you can contact each other and where you will meet after the disaster strikes. Hold a family meeting to talk about the various places you will meet.

Select a location close to your home, just outside of town, and outside of the state. Different circumstances will require different meeting locations.

Decide which extended family member to call if you cannot get a hold of your immediate family. This extended family member should be located at least out of state.

Hopefully this will mean that they are located outside of the disaster zone. By calling this extended family member you will be able to touch base with one another.

Remember to think about what you will do to care for your pet during the emergency as well. Some families have members that are dependent on power for their life.

For example, these family members may depend on a battery-operated wheelchair or life-support system. If this is the case, call your power provider and discuss the issue with them.

Most power companies keep an updated list of which homes are absolutely dependent on power. In an emergency they will try to bring these areas back online first.

In addition, they will be able to give you some ideas on how to prepare for a blackout. Think about what you will do if a blackout occurs and you are dependent on medication that needs to be refrigerated.

Most medications will be fine if kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours. However, if the blackout lasts for several hours, you will need to find other alternatives.

Blackouts can also harm computers and computer files. Make sure you back up all of the important and cherished files on your computer before a disaster strikes.

To protect your computer you should also turn off the computer and all related devices when they are not being used. High-quality surge protectors can also prevent your computer from being destroyed.

Remember that if a blackout occurs, the gas stations will not be able to operate because they rely on electricity to pump gas. Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times to be prepared for a blackout.

There are many things that you can do to prepare for a blackout. Simply think ahead.
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Author Bio: Jack R. Landry is an accomplished expert in family preparedness and has been giving seminars for over 15 years. He recommends that everyone have on hand an emergency food in case of any emergency or disaster.

Contact Info:
Jack R. Landry
JackRLandry@gmail.com
(http://www.foodinsurance.com)

Category: Environment/Nature
Keywords: Emergency Food