Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
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'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home; A
charm from the sky seems to hallow us there, Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with else-
where. Home, home, sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home!
—John Howard Payne,
Home Sweet Home
Home truly is where the “hearth” is. It is where we cook our meals, raise our children, and
spend much of our free time. In times of trouble, most of us will probably weather the storms
within the comfort of our own home. This chapter covers the equipment, tools, and techniques
necessary for securing backup sources for heating, cooking, lighting, and power, enabling
people to “weather the storms” from the comfort of their own home when the power goes out
for an extended period. Subjects include backup sources for heating and cooking, including
propane and wood; different kinds of stoves for cooking and heating; backup light sources and
lanterns; a detailed section on how to hook up a generator to power your home's critical items
during a blackout; and what to do when the toilet won't flush.
Special Considerations: The Elderly, Infirm, Children, and Pets
Make sure that you plan ahead for the needs of any children, elders, or other people with spe-
cial needs. A time of crisis will be stressful for everybody, but the effects of being cooped up
and deprived of your normal routines tend to be especially difficult for children and the elderly.
Be sure to stash a supply of important medications, diapers, entertainment needs, special foods
for picky eaters, comfort foods, pet foods, and so on, that might help make a tense situation just
that much more relaxed. Even if you have to fake it, try to reassure your children that you have
things under control and know what you are doing. Communicate with your children. Kids es-
pecially will need a lot of assurances, physical contact, and emotional support during stressful
times when their routines are broken and their daily existence is far removed from what they
have come to know as their “normal life.” Try to be honest and keep children and elders in-
formed, but don't burden them with all the fears and concerns that may be running through
