People need to take preparedness seriously. We all laughed at preppers, but now look. It is better to be somewhat prepared than not at all.

I have 3 generators, a deep freezer with ice, battery-operated fans (Ryobi), solar lanterns, and non-perishable food + propane stove. Stay prepped, folks. It's crazy times that we're in.

Sis, please consider a solar generator and/or USB power packs. Make sure you store LOTS of water. It would help to keep some Gatorade powder (or something similar) on hand. Keep stocked up on over the counter meds. Stay up on prescription refills. Don't limit yourself to canned tuna. There's soups, beef stew, ravioli, chilli, etc. A portable butane stove is safe for indoor use. Hard copy books and board games will help break up monotony. Put your drink bottle in a clean DAMP sock. The evaporation process will cool the contents. Farm fresh eggs do not need to be refrigerated, but do need to be washed before cooking.

7 days without no power did something to me I'm a different man now

Have cash stashed just in case the bank is not available

This is always heartbreaking to hear Sis...not sure if this will help someone who reads this in the future...but when we got hit with Sandy...we were without power for 2 weeks... !! After the first 3 days when the meat thawed.. we started canning the meat (veggies) in the fridge/freezer. What we didn't can, we grilled/cooked and fed the neighbors and road folks cleaning up the trees. We lost very little food and our freezers were PACKED. We had solar generators and a berky so we still had a power source and the ability to filter rain water. We were prepared to the hilt and didn't feel it as much. Once you go through something like this you definitely learn what to do in advance. We have since moved out of the city/ (suburb) and are working on becoming self sufficient. The key is to STAY READY SO YOU DONT HAVE TO GET READY. Thank you for sharing this...hopefully people will listen and be more prepared for the next one. Hope this was helpful to someone else. Shalom Sis...!!

Since most of us live from paycheck to paycheck when you get little extra money put that aside for hotel. if you have to leave save at least $300 also if you have a deep freezer pack it with ice a week before a storm is about to hit reduce your food amount during Hurricane Season fresh food and meat. During the summer I keep least 20 cs of water.I don't touch it until its over. I have a small window ac.once I can afford it i will buy a solar generator. Look guys I don't make much money but it take discipline to buy these things some of the things i do is eat at home no nail saloon and wear what i have. I also live here in Missouri city Tx I lost power twice. These are some of the items that help me.

I plugged my external ice maker into my solar generator to have ice

I'm listening to you and my heart aches. I have peeps in Houston and I can't count the amounts of ," I'm sorry that I called you paranoid and a crazy prepper". I'm working with them now teaching them how to can meat, dehydrate veggies, showing them what freeze dried food is, etc. Folks don't keep enough water, they don't keep life straws ( water purification). A 5 day cooler or countertop ice machine plugged into a generator would've helped. Charcoal to cook, propane,sterno, solar lights from outside to use and save your batteries, a solar battery charger for cell phones and save the gas in your cars. I know hindsight is 20/20 and this is a learning moment for everyone. God bless you all, we're still praying.

Here in Kingwood Texas. We were out of power 9 days as well. Learned so much because of this storm and I agree with all you shared. This storm definitely emphasized the importance of being prepared. We spent so much time in HEB and in the car getting cool and charging phones. We had to stay in our hot house. Lessons learned.

This is why after the last major storm, I stocked up on battery powered fans and solar power items along with long term food storage, water items. Also invested in propane stove, heater as well. Coolers are fine if you have access to ice. Fences are covered by insurance. I hope that things work out. Texas is a different animal. Sounds like you have good support system too.

Get solar and gas/propane. Also get solar lights and you can use them instead of candles at night. Recharge the next morning. If you don’t have a gas stove get a propane camping stove to cook on. Get the portable air cooler to keep one room cool.

People make fun of preppers but preppers have the last laugh when something happens. Our ancestors were preppers in their own right. They grew and canned a lot of their own harvests, dried and smoked meats, raised chickens for eggs had water wells for a water source, sewed and mended their own clothes and made soap and candles. Back then most people lived like that and others didn't make fun as it was a way of life. Modern day preppers know this and spend their precious time doing the research and it really pays off in the long run. Happy prepping!