Simple Tips from the Dark Winged One on surviving C-19 and other Winter Emergencies!

Never mind Corona Virus ....I've said it every year, everyone needs a winter cupboard

- in case of storms, snow, and ESB strikes, never mind C-19.

There are simple, inexpensive ways of preparing yourself for periods of being stuck inside. A "Winter Cupboard" is really something every home should have, whether it's just you or you plus all your immediate family, dogs, cats and next door's Granny. There are events that can happen every year, from power-cuts, to unusual snow falls - and you should start being ready for them. I say this as someone who has to budget for each weekly shop and add an item in every week, so this is an exercise in cost effective preparation.

Also, check on others - check your elderly neighbours, ring your isolated friends, offer to share if they need something and you can manage. We will all get through, if only we remember that we are in this together. Pay especial care to those who are not native to Ireland, who may not have family here to help them or who are at risk from racist, ignorant misconceptions about C-19.

Simple steps:
It isn't complicated and it is mainly common sense. Think of the various scenarios and work out what you would need on hand to be comfortable, and safe. Read below for some simple, easy to manage tips on preparing for common, and uncommon, events.

Power Cuts

This is one of the most common events that can disrupt a household. Everyone should have in the following -

• Candles. I know, it's the obvious one, but you need decent sized ones, you need matches and lighters and rather crucially...you need to know where they areand be able to access them. In the dark. Check out Flying Tiger or Sostrene Grene for excellent value in larger candles.
• Something safe to stand the candle on. Use a side plate, or have metal candle holders.
• Stick on battery lights. These are invaluable for a number of reasons. They are perfect for a powercut but also in case of a fire - if you can put one of these at the top of the stairs you can hit it as you pass and see better where you are going in the dark and smoke. Also head lamps are a great idea - hang one where you can easily find it.
• Camping Stove with gas cylinders. A simple one ring stove costs €21.99 in Argos Gas Cannisters cost around €11 for 4 (NB double check which cannisters you need, the automatic Argos recommendation is often wrong) A camping stove is the difference between hot food and no food.
• Tinned food - don't think fancy think easy, filling and calorific. You need to be able to heat up in one pot, making sure it's hot all the way through. Stews are ideal, thick soups, even meatballs. Also Beans, Butter beans, Kidney beans, Chickpeas. All of these are available in supermarkets for very competitive prices. Buy own brand, and they're just as good.
• Dry food - Rice, Pasta, Cous Cous, Noodles are the best things to have on hand to bulk out meals. All can be cooked on a stove and/or a heat convector jar and all will provide energy. Dunnes Stores for example offer all the above at €1 a pack and similar prices for sauces, so even buy 2 items a week in the Autumn and stock that press.
• Some source of heating that doesn't rely on the main Electricity supply. If you have a fireplace, you need briquettes and coal and if not, try to source a battery operated fan heater or portable heater. They don't emit a lot of heat but they are better than nothing.
• Blankets, sleeping bags - if all else fails be able to access a few old fashioned blankets and sleeping bags, those added layers of warmth could be vital.

Snowed In

If snowed in you need all the above plus....

• Slow Cooker/Pressure Cooker if you still have power a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot can be a lifesaver. Neither have to be madly expensive, Slow Cookers start around €60 and Instant pots are a similar price although Aldi and Lidl sometimes have bargains on them. I use them all the time anyway, however a cheap on stored on a shelf for emergencies is a good idea. You can cook from frozen in the instant pot, which makes your freezer a more efficient tool for emergencies and the slow cooker allows you to cook cheap, usually tough meats or pop on stews and casseroles with great results.
• Food - you need all the food mentioned above plus bread and milk usually. If you have a freezer consider freezing the following - milk, sliced pans, and uncooked bread rolls that can be popped in the oven.
• Freezer food - again, if you can access a freezer, you have a major advantage. I keep cooked portions of veg in ours, that can be heated up easily. I keep frozen uncooked packs of stews/soups etc that can be defrosted a cooked. I keep frozen microwaveable meals, more on which in the next section. Anything that enables you to eat without having to venture out, pop in the freezer.
• Water, bottled or boiled and cooled

Sick, and Stuck Inside

• EASY FOOD If you are unfortunate enough to contract flu or WVB or the dreaded Corona Virus, you may not be able to cook. You may need to feed others who are dependent on you, while being ill yourself. So the easier it is to grab food, the better in these circumstances. So make sure at least some of the Winter Cupboard options are tins of easy to heat, filling stews or meatballs or soups. Microwaved dinners can be a godsend too. There are plain foods that are easier to digest but provide energy - think BRAT, banana rice apple toast - and if all else fails chocolate snacks and similar can get you through a rough day.
• MEDICINE - paracetemol, ibuprfen, cough medicine, all important to have on hand. Buy bigger packs of unbranded generic medicine, it's better value. Kid's medicine - Calpol, Nurafen - has long used by dates so stock up when you can.
• Think fluids - keep cooled boiled water on hand if you haven't got bottled water. Again most supermarkets have own brand, perfectly good, bottled water.
• Sanitizing - obviously if you have to go out you want to minimize your chances of contracting anything. We all know hand sanitizer is about the price of a small semi D in Dublin right now but don't despair. Soap and water is a very effective alternative also if you can't get the handwipes, there are really effective disinfectants that kill viruses e.g. Zoflora, €3 small and €8 large in both Dunnes and Eurosavers and there's bleach €1 in dunnes. It doesn't have to be expensive - but it's worth having these supplies in.

Again a lot of this is common sense, but we might not think of it while under stress. DO NOT panic buy, or hoard - we are a community, and we need to mind others as well as ourselves. But having in enough to help you through an emergency, that's just sensible. And responsible (because we have a lot of this stuff on hand, we're not out there stripping shelves!)
If the whole subject fills you with anxiety, try not to worry too much. Setting up a few simple things as a safety net can be a real help, and talking to others (not the panic merchants, avoid them!) and above all, if you're going to be isolated make sure to keep in touch via the net or phone with others, to alleviate the loneliness.

The Morrigan Institute wants you to be safe and well, and back fighting the good fight!