The Forecast is for a Super El Niño This Year
If you watch the news, you have heard that there is a 90% chance of a Super El Niño this year. With the wonderful weather fall brings, preparing for a Super El Niño seems like a far-off series of events. Not so much if you live along certain areas of the eastern seaboard and have dealt with flooding this summer.
Extreme weather phenomena can upend your life to one degree or another. Since many of you have personally experienced the havoc of extreme weather, we wanted to share some of the hard-earned knowledge we have gathered over the years to help you weather the super El Niño this winter season.
We will offer some simple and quick ideas, along with long-term planning ideas we hope can help you, in some small way, prepare for extreme weather events. Many of our suggestions take into account that many times you don’t have that much notice in an emergency to leave your home or prepare for extreme weather situations.
Super El Niño General Preparation Tasks
On the internet, you can find the basics of preparing for extreme weather, and the same is basically true for a super El Niño. Here are the basics we have gotten in place for preparation for this winter:
- Make a Plan: Your plan should cover different types of emergencies, such as extreme snow, rain, flooding, or lack of precipitation this winter.
- Have Your Options in Place & Where to Go for Help: Make your list, make copies, store one in each vehicle, and plastic laminate your options list.
- Stock Up on Essentials: Water, Food, Flashlights & Headlamps: Headlamps are essential when you need your hands for tasks; remember to have a manual can opener. Solar-powered flashlights or using rechargeable batteries are good options to have in place.
- Water on Hand: Fill up your bathtub and safe water containers when there is any chance of a power outage or extreme weather event.
- Food: Use up the food you have on hand in the refrigerator and freezer a week before if you have notice. If not, use your refrigerator food first, then your freezer food is you don't have a way to power them in extreme weather.
- Prepare for Outages: Make sure you have a plan for every type of emergency outage. Keep cell phones charged, generator oil checked, and gas or propane on hand for generators. If you have portable solar generators, make sure they are charged.
- Have a Communication Network: Have a list on your phone and printed of essential numbers to call in an emergency and of friends and family. Be sure to let people know they are on your emergency call list.
- Stay Informed: Have a list of sources for your area so that you can stay informed of need-to-know information, such as shelters, large animal evacuation, charging stations, etc.
- Inspect Your Roof & Clean Gutters: Be sure to inspect your roof for leaks and clean your gutters before we get into our rainy season.
- Prepare Your Yard: Prepare your yard for extreme weather by cutting dead branches and removing branches that are close to your home.
- Prescriptions & Supplements: Have a three-month supply of your family's prescriptions and supplements on hand.
Have an Emergency Packing List
Over the years, if you haven't created an emergency packing, this is a good opportunity to do it! I’ve learned over the years how important it is to have an emergency packing list. When an emergency or extreme weather hits, it is not the time to try to remember what is essential to pack.
Have your list of prescriptions and supplements included on your emergency packing list. I also recommend having the essentials for your pets included on your emergency packing list. I have my packing list laminated. I also have go bags out before the time of year when emergencies can strike, so it’s quick to pack up and leave if necessary.
Have Your Home Prepared for Super El Niño
A super El Niño will probably bring king tides, atmospheric rivers, heavy rainfall, hail, record snowfall, erosion, flooding, and mudslides. If you live close to a creek, river, or the ocean, you need to be aware of incoming storms and be prepared ahead of time. Having a tide table on hand is good for knowing when high tides will occur. High tides coupled with record rainfall equal a better chance of flooding. Know your weak points in advance:
- You live in a low-lying area; you might be prone to flooding, so sandbags are good to have on hand.
- You have a steep hill on your property; be watchful for mudslides and erosion, especially so if your home is perched on a hillside.
- If you live near a creek or river, be mindful of when high tides occur during or after rainstorms.
- If you live near the ocean, be aware of high tides occurring during or after rainstorms. Also, keep an eye out for erosion.
Keep Your Vehicles Fueled
Because emergencies can happen any time of year, I’ve made a habit of keeping all our vehicles fueled at all times. I also invested in a siphon pump to pump gas out of vehicles. I also use it for siphoning gas out of generators and to drain generators at the end of the season and put the gas back into our vehicles. Gas stations can be tough to find in an emergency, and fuel is essential for safety.
If you have an EV vehicle, make sure that it is fully charged at all times. Be sure to check with your vehicle manufacturer if your EV vehicle may be charged using a portable inverter generator. Unless you have a generator that produces 7,000-10,000 running watts, your vehicle will be on a slow charge. If you have solar power at your home with backup battery storage, you are set for extreme weather situations.
Portable Generators or Backup Generators
If you have the funds and time, installing a backup whole-house generator with either a 100-amp or 200-amp panel is a great way to power your house when electricity is not available. The investment can pay off if you lose power often, and it may add to the value of your home. There are still credits available this year for solar generators that are tied to your electrical panel.
Standby generators are the next best thing. We invested in an inverter dual-fuel electric start generator that can power the essentials of our home. I like it because propane is easy to store and it’s simple to start.
Most of the technology in your home needs an inverter generator these days because they need a constant current. If you have an older generator, having an APC battery backup between your gas generators and the electronics in our home keeps the electronics safe.
I have also invested in solar portable generators this year. These generators can be hooked up to an electrical socket, your car, or solar. When I hooked up the larger one to an electrical socket, it only took an hour to charge. I bought my first last year, and it powered the office and the refrigerator for 4 days and only used 55% of the battery charge. That saved a lot of money over gas or propane. I've also gotten tired of filling and carrying 5-gallon gas cans, plus gas has gotten so expensive that portable solar generators pay for themselves quickly.
Store Easy-to-Prepare Food
This is a tip I can’t stress enough with prolonged power outages and powering your home with a backup generator. Before winter weather and El Niño, I ensure I have food that doesn’t require refrigeration or lots of meal prep. Before El Niño, I stock up on nuts, cereal, granola, protein bars, dried fruit, canned beans, tortillas, bread, peanut butter, and premade protein smoothies. Stock up on food that is good fuel for your body and doesn't require electricity or refrigeration.
Stock Up on Water Prior to El Niño
Remember, if you live on city water and the power goes out, to fill up your bathtub first to have water to flush toilets. If you live in the country and you are on a well, you only have the water that is between your well and house in your pipes to draw upon. Storing water for emergencies, power outages, and El Niño is wise. Please see our article last month on water security for details on storing water and water security.
All of us at Shed Windows and More are hoping for an easy El Nino this year. Be sure to check out our products for getting your outdoor buildings and sheds in shape before this winter.