Preparing for a ‘Catastrophe’

From the Weather Channel

A…potentially historic and destructive winter storm will unleash its fury beginning Monday and will last through Wednesday.
…the storm may very well impact a third of the population of the United States; approximately 100 million people.

    The local news are full of dramatic reports about a severe winter storm that will be, “unleashing its fury” and will be on the level of a “catastrophe.” Although we may laugh at how the media uses a lot of hoopla to suddenly create a crisis, we still wanted to be prepared to be shut up in the house for a few days without power.  We’re supposed to be receiving a couple of inches of ice which will most likely result in the roads being to slick to drive on and major power outages. There also may be loss of cell phone service if the cell towers’ 24-hour generators aren’t able to be refilled.

We usually keep a pretty good supply of food and water at the house, but we drove to town just to grab some more…you guessed it….bread and milk.  We also looked into purchasing a generator, but even if we could’ve found one in a store we would only have been able to afford a generator that could power something like lamp-not too helpful.

   We ran into Lowe’s to see what options were available in generators and kerosene heaters, but most of their stuff had been sold out.  Noah and I filled up the van with gas and also filled up an extra gas tank we had brought along.

   Some friends had let us know that Wal Mart was an absolute zoo, but by the time we arrived the store was beginning to settle down. I had fun seeing what supplies and food people would buy when a catastrophe was at hand. Here are a few pictures:

Camping supplies: propane heaters and stoves

 

Flashlights

Toilet Paper

Paper Towels

 

Plastic Plates/Napkins

Milk

 

Eggs

 

Chips (I never could’ve guessed that chips would be hit, “Preparedness” item!)

 

Packaged Deli Meat

 

Cheeses

 

Produce

Campbell’s soup, didn’t seem to be a very “hot” item. You see, making a can of soup is just TOO much work to do for a meal…

…but Ramen noodles are just SO much easier to make.

However, none of the items above competed with the scarcity of:

BREAD!

 

     The folks stocking up for the storm primarily bought food that were easy to make and inexpensive. (Not that this information is particularly helpful, but the habits of the world around us can be fun to observe.)

   I have a theory that this storm is all just a conspiracy dreamed up by food manufacturers and grocery stores, but I suppose only the skies will prove whether or not this is just a lot of hoopla or not.

   Tomorrow night we may be reaching for the warmth of the hearth or sleeping in a room full of a candles, so I’d better enjoy a night’s warm, heated sleep while I can.  So if the internet goes down soon-au revoir until my next post.

-Andrew