Everyone I know is busy, busy, busy. Do take a few minutes, though, to take quick stock of your preps:

Is the gas tank of your vehicle topped off?

Is your vehicle maintenance current? Northern drivers, do you have the proper amount of antifreeze? Salt/newspapers/shovel/blanket in trunks?

Are all the batteries current in your flashlights? If you're using flashlights as emergency lighting sources, do you have one in every room? If you have big batteries, are those charged? Are the batteries in your radio(s) current? Do you have extra batteries? Are these fresh?

Is your backup heating source(s) ready to go?

Is your backup up cooking source(s) easily accessible? (We tend to move things around during the holidays)

Are you meds current? Do you have extra?

Do you have enough cash on hand?

Have you reviewed your emergency plans lately with those whom the plan applies to?

Have you made copies of important documents and stashed them in several secure places?

Is your pantry current? (are you rotating and restocking?)

Ditto water supplies. Make sure they aren't frozen if keeping water outside.

If you have a BOB (Bug out bag) -- are the contents current?

If it's important to you to have fresh food (fruits, veggies, etc) on hand, is this stock current? If not, do you plan to get more soon? (Consider getting it before Christmas Eve).

Ditto animal food and supplies if you don't stock some.

As usual, I have no "insider" information that anything is going to happen, but since we are headed into a holiday period, it makes sense to take a few minutes to take quick stock of your preps and add to them as necessary.

Best to all!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Answers

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-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

"Do you have extra batteries? Are these fresh?"

I've never understood this one. Batteries stored in a cool, dry place last a looooooonnnng time. But every emergency folks are lined up at the store for batteries. What happens to all of them?

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Brooks, I have a stash of batteries in one of the crisper drawers in my 'fridge. But I know others who store batteries in damp basements, hot attics, and out of the way shelves, where they might lie forgotten for several years or more. Worse, the children get into them and use them up in toys.

My biggest problem is that the guys borrow my flashlights, leave them on for hours at a time, and then don't replace the batteries.

Thus, it's a seasonal job for me to check batteries. I mentioned it now because I was at a this woman's house -- she owns about nine flashlights -- none of them work.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Get a good recharger (realgoods.com has several, a couple of which will recharge regular alkalines too) and some rechargeable batteries. It saves a bunch of money. A solar charger might be a good buy too. (ccraneco.com has very good value on house-brand rechargeables and has a good little solar charger too.) I also have a dealie that plugs into a ciggie lighter and can run things, including a battery charger.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

I just can't imagine using up my y2k batteries...

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

I've used all of my Y2K batteries. LOL! I go through a shoebox full a year.

OG, I've given up on rechargables for the momment. I had two (!!) sets for the scanner that went out at unfortunate moments and another set in my boom box that gave out 5 minutes into a road trip (I listen to books on CD, and I don't have a CD player in my car). I economize in enough areas that I can afford to buy throw-aways when Target, et al has their sales. That's one of my few extravagantances. (;

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

I have four portable scanners, flashlights, revolving tie rack, mini- computer vacuum, three clocks, stereos, toothbrushes, three remotes, and various and sundry other battery-operated gadgets--even an electronic flea comb for the cats. Two of the scanners are in constant, heavy use. I bought some rechargeables six or seven years ago and they have only just now given out. Many others are almost as old. The batteries from ccraneco.com are excellent quality; Eveready has the worst, especially the D batteries (which are C batteries in wolf's clothing and cost more).

Unfortunately, rechargeables lose power just sitting there, especially if in a hot/cold car, so they need to be charged up about once every three to six months. Now and then, they need to be run down to nothing before being recharged. I routinely charge up mine in May (hurricane season) and November (winter storms) and anytime in between if bad weather is predicted.

I had read somewhere that keeping batteries in the fridge or freezer makes no difference. I think it could have been in the ccraneco.com catalogue.

I keep my charger in a large picnic basket in the dining room. There's a large container inside full of charged batteries and the charger is usually full and charging.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Yep. I had Eveready batteries. I'm sure my charger wasn't that great, either. It was a garage sale buy.

I know the technology has gotten better. I'll look into it again when I finish using the batteries that I have in storage.

As for 'fridge storage -- it may not significantly prolong battery life, but it doesn't hurt, and I *always* know where they are. (: (There's also film and -- shhhhhh! -- peppermint patties in that drawer, too.)

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Oh yeah, candy in the fridge, definitely. Got in that habit in New Orleans where it was the only place safe from roaches. You CANNOT completely get rid of them in NO unless you have a monthly spraying service. After that, I found out I loved chilled chocolate!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001