Eco friendly hurricane preparedness? Why does it matter?

I’ve lived through Hurricanes Bob, Ernesto, Fran, Irene, Isabel, Jeanne, and Sandy, which was so fierce it was called a superstorm. I’ve had to survive several “derechos,” too. Plus, just three months ago, I was trapped for three hours in a terrifying flood and had to be rescued by first responders.

Especially with hurricanes, you know they’re coming, and you want to do everything possible to be prepared.  But before you rush out and buy cases of plastic bottled water, crates of paper plates, and bulk bags of single-serving plastic-wrapped food, take a pause.

You don’t need to give up your green lifestyle simply because a hurricane is coming your way!

Check out these 10 eco friendly survival tips. They are the same ones I follow whenever I’m faced with a hurricane or other natural disaster. I hope they’ll help you, too.

Eco Friendly Hurricane Preparedness Survival Guide

Here’s what you may need both during and after a hurricane – and how to keep it green.

Note: For convenience, I’ve provided Amazon links so you can see what I’m talking about. Plus, if you need these soon, you can get them delivered quickly. You may also be able to find most of these items at your local hardware or grocery store. If you do buy them at Amazon, I’ll earn a teeny, tiny commission that helps Big Green Purse bring you helpful info just like this. Thanks!

DRINKING WATER

You could lose access to your water supply if pumps stop working or if the supply becomes contaminated because there’s some kind of breakdown at your water treatment plant.

Authorities recommend you have a three day supply of water on hand for every person in your household. That means about three gallons of water per person, to use for drinking as well as cleaning.

Rather than buy cases of plastic water bottles, fill up gallon-sized water jugs with filtered tap water. You can also use pitchers, Thermoses, large water bottles and even cooking pots.

The LifeStaw Personal Water Filter removes bacteria, parasites and even microplastics so you have drinking water wherever you need it.

Large reusable water jugs are also a good option. Though I almost never recommend buying plastic,  reusable jugs that are used only occasionally can help you avoid dozens of single-use throwaways.

Here are two options. Both are collapsible, so you can store them and save them for the next emergency.

Wash all the containers well in hot water. Wait until the day the weather event begins. Then, fill up your containers and cover them tightly, then use sparingly as needed. The water should easily last for three days.

Don’t leave plastic containers in the hot sun.

Once they’re empty, let them dry out completely, then store them in a cool, dry place.

Finally, if you must buy bottled water, choose the largest containers rather than cases of single-use throwaways.

Need a new water bottle? Here are 5 we like!

PERSONAL HYGIENE

If by chance you do lose water, you’re still going to want to clean up.

Each person should have a washcloth available for their hands and face and a sponge bath or two.

You’ll find lots of soft organic cotton wash cloths here, as well as those made from bamboo.

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap could come in handy as well. Get the unscented soap and use it for personal hygiene and to wash dishes.

Just remember that any soapy water can contaminate other water supplies, so if you pour soapy water out, make sure you do so at least 200 feet from a storm drain, creek or river.

Once an emergency has passed, this is still a great soap to use around the house.

Skip the antibacterial hand cleaners, but if you do need handi-wipes, look for those made with plant-based ingredients free of alcohol, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial dyes, fragrances, and triclosan.

Babyganics Hand and Face Wipes is one option. Honest Co. is another.

NOTE: Baby wipes are NOT biodegradable. Nor should you flush them down a toilet. Check with your municipality as to whether they can be recycled in your community.

FOOD

Have food on hand that doesn’t require refrigeration or cooking. This could include canned tuna and other fish; dried cereal; fresh and dried fruit; peanut butter and jelly; snacks and cookies; soups; and breads and crackers.

If buying canned tuna and salmon, the two brands I think taste best are Sustainable Seas and Wild Planet.

Sustainable Seas sources tuna caught only by pole and line.

That way, there are no other fish or sea creatures unnecessarily caught in nets and killed.

Sustainable Seas is endorsed by The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program and the Blue Ocean Institute. Plus, it tastes good!

Wild Planet sells salmon, tuna, sardines, anchovies, and more.

The pink salmon is really delicious, and can be eaten right from the can or mixed with a little mustard or other condiment.

Like Sustainable Seas, Wild Planet sources its tuna only from pole or troll catch fisheries, not purse seine nets that catch a lot of other fish or sea animals.

Other Food Tips:

In the event of a power outage, keep freezer closed. Open the refrigerator minimally and quickly. Make ice in advance and as soon as the power goes out, put big blocks of ice or ice cubes in your refrigerator to help keep it cool. Have a cooler out and ready if needed.

POWDERED, BOXED OR CANNED MILK AND MILK SUBSTITUTES

If you lose power, one of the first foods to spoil could be your milk. I personally love milk in my coffee and tea, so I always make sure I have some kind of milk on hand in the event of an emergency.

Though I don’t make a habit of buying single-serving milk, I keep a few cartons of single-serving organic milk boxes in my pantry for emergencies.

If you live dairy-free and prefer almond milk, you can also find single servings in a variety of flavors.

Brands like Silk are organic and Non-gmo verified.

COOKSTOVE OR GRILL

I have a gas stove, so even when I lose power I can cook because I can use a match to light a burner.

If you have an outdoor grill, make sure you have enough propane to meet your cooking needs for as long as the power outage lasts.

Skip a charcoal grill as they generate a lot of air pollution.

Here are some camping stoves that work well and are good to have around in a power outage.

Solar ovens could also come in handy – once the sun starts shining again!

LIGHTING

Candles – Avoid using tapers or any candle that could easily tip over and start a fire. Choose beeswax or soy candles, which are healthier than paraffin candles that emit air pollution.

This 100% beeswax emergency candle won’t tip over, and it will give off a lot of light.

You can also group tea light candles together to create a cozy light source. Keep them on a tray or dish, not just on your table or counter, and definitely don’t put them on paper as a precaution against fire.

LuminAid – LuminAID solar lanterns are inflatable and can be charged either by the sun or USB port. That means you can also use them to charge a cell phone.

I like this company because they also provide emergency relief to communities that are hard hit by storms.

They were very active in bringing lighting to residents in Puerto Rico after hurricanes there demolished the island power plants.

Head Lamp – The beauty of a head lamp is that it shines light in the direction you’re looking while freeing up your hands so you can do other activities.

This headlamp uses rechargeable batteries and shines enough light for reading, cooking and anything else you may need to do to make a power outage more tolerable.

Flashlights – LED flashlights give off very bright light. Most of them are battery powered, so if you opt for battery flashlights, use rechargeable batteries like this one does.

Rechargeable Batteries and Charger – You can get rechargers for most batteries. Recharging batteries reduces the number of batteries you’ll use over time.

My Big Green Purse community recommends using Energizer rechargeable batteries and the charger they come with, rather than a generic brand.

Solar Garden Lights – One Big Green Purse reader brings her solar powered garden lights in from outdoors and takes advantage of the light they emit. Brilliant!

DISHES and DINING

Resist the urge to buy a stack of paper plates, plastic forks and knives, and paper napkins. Greener options include:

Reusable plastic, like the options made by Preserve.

Again, I don’t advocate buying much plastic at all.

But these won’t break, so if you can’t wash them right away, you don’t have to worry about storing them. And once you get them, you can use them for picnics and parties, too.

Corelle – One Big Green Purse readers uses Corelle dinnerware as her back-up, not just for emergencies but for parties, too.

Corelle is extremely durable and doesn’t easily break so, like Preserve, could be a good option if you can’t wash it right away.

Another advantage of Corelle is that it is quite thin; it won’t take up a lot of room when you store it.

Camping plates – If you already go camping, you probably have a set of metal plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery.

If you don’t but your area is prone to power outages and other emergencies, now might be a time to get a set. These are indestructible, easy to store, and easy to clean.

If you don’t have the water to wash your dishes off right away, wipe them off with a damp sponge until you can. Dip them in a pot of water that you’ve added a couple of drops of bleach to if you need to reuse them; the bleach will help disinfect them.

By the way, reduce the need for dishes in the first place. Focus on one-plate or one-bowl meals and lots of finger foods.

Just in case you want to turn an emergency into a party,
don’t miss our post on plastic-free party supplies!

HAND CRANK RADIO

If you lose internet access, you can stay up-to-date on what’s happening by listening to a radio.

I personally prefer a radio like this one: it can be hand cranked when you have absolutely no power, but can also be charged by solar or battery.

It includes a flashlight and a port so you charge your cell phone, too.

CHARGERS

You’ll want to keep phones and other mobile devices charged, and possibly your lap top or computer.

Charge everything up in advance, and charge portable battery packs as well.

Car Lighter Charger – plug into your car’s cigarette lighter, or to the USB port in newer cars

Solar Chargers – There are a wide variety available to charge phones and other mobile devices, as well as laptops.

Keep in mind that if it’s stormy and cloudy, there may not be enough sun to charge your device. Charge them in advance, and recharge them when there’s enough sun to do so!

TRASH BAGS

If you end up with debris that can’t be recycled, use trash bags made from recycled materials, like these.

They’re made from 70% certified post consumer recycled materials and belong to 1% For the Planet.

I’d love to hear about how you prepare for a hurricane or other emergency.

Plus, please let me know if you have any recommendations for our eco friendly hurricane preparedness survival guide. What products and services make your life easier during a power outage or other natural disaster?

The post Eco Friendly Hurricane Preparedness Survival Guide appeared first on Big Green Purse.

There are many places around the world where people do not have access to safe drinking water. Here in the U.S., we often take safe drinking water for granted. After all, if you are thirsty all you need to do is to turn on a tap and fill up your glass. What was once considered a basic need fulfilled, however, has been called into question ever since the Flint water crisis occurred.

We invited Dynamic Water Technologies to provide some analysis of the Flint water crisis and also explain the solutions it’s developed for safer water treatment. Dynamic Water Technologies is a commercial and industrial water treatment company that is committed to healthier water treatment that eliminates toxic chemical additives and reduces water use by improving resource management. Here is their guest post explaining how the crisis in Flint occurred and the solution they propose.

How Did the Flint Water Crisis Occur?

In 2014, the city of Flint switched to the Flint River as its drinking water source. Previously, the city had been using Detroit River water, which was cleaner and healthier.

The first sign that something was wrong was when residents began to complain about the color and taste of the water. It was later announced that total coliform bacteria and e.coli were being detected in the drinking water. To address this issue, officials simply added chlorine to the water as a disinfectant measure.

There was, however, no anti-corrosive agent added to the water, as well. It was perhaps this considerable amount of chlorine that led to the lead pipes that carried the water corroding even more quickly. Unfortunately, this was not discovered until much later. It was months after the fact that the residents were informed about the dangerous levels of lead in their systems because they’d been drinking the contaminated water.

Prior to the lead being discovered, there was still something for Flint to worry about. This was the presence of total trihalomethanes in the water supply. This dangerous substance occurs when chlorine combines with organic matter present in the supply. TTHM has long been considered a carcinogen. Despite being aware of the TTHM, officials were slow to make adequate changes.

Hundreds of People Suffer

It took a long time for people to get the answers that they wanted. When the dust settled, what became apparent was shocking. Through sheer oversight and the lack of necessary equipment, disaster descended upon Flint. Hundreds of people, including children, suffered because relevant safeguards were not in place.

What happened in Flint was a tragedy, but not completely unheard of. This is because when cities or corporations use outdated methods of water treatment, issues like corrosion and infection always arise. To prevent such problems from occurring in the future, communities, companies, and industries need to find a better way to cleanse and treat the water they drink.

The Solution to Future Water Problems

There are many innovators who witnessed the Flint water crisis and decided to create better, cleaner ways of giving people pure, fresh water. Companies like Dynamic Water Technologies have designed systems to ensure that the issues plaguing Flint become a thing of the past.

Essentially, what the company has come up with is an improved way of processed water treatment. This is an automated system that protects and improve water quality in two important and unique ways.

√ First, it balances the pH of the water. This is important because it is an imbalance of the pH that leads to corrosion. In turn, this is what causes metals like lead to leach into the water supply.

√ Second, there will be no more need to put any harmful chemicals into the supply with this system in place. Sanitation will be maintained, but there will be no use for disinfectants that are typically harmful to humans.

What is revolutionary about the methods that Dynamic Water have used is that it does not require external chemicals to kick start reactions.

Instead, all that is done is that an electrical current is introduced into the water supply.

This is done with the help of electrodes that are made up of either iron or aluminum and situated in the supply.

When the current is passed, partial electrolysis of the water takes place. In turn, this causes the contaminants to approach a more stable state that tends to be more solid in nature.

The hydrophobic tendency of the new state of the contaminants will make them easier to remove from the supply. The contaminants that can be removed with this method include lead, mercury, chromate, and even domestic sewage.

These are easy alterations that water treatment facilities can implement within their current processes. In addition to helping to keep the supply clean, it will also help these facilities save money in the long run.

Of course, just because the solution exists does not mean that municipalities will use it. It is important for more people to be aware of modern water safety technologies that are currently available. With citizens advocating for safer, healthier water treatment, drinking water in every city in America can be protected.

NOTE: We believe it is important to bring additional sources of expertise to you so you can make better choices for yourself, your family and your community. We look forward to your feedback and will be happy to respond to requests for information on the issues you care about most.

The post What You Can Learn About Water Treatment from the Flint Water Crisis appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Could you live on 4 liters of water a day? That’s the equivalent of about a gallon. And when it comes down to it, that’s just not very much water. Unfortunately, that’s about all the clean water millions of people in the world have access to – not just for drinking or washing or cooking, but for everything they do. 4 liters. 1 gallon. DigDeep.org thinks that’s wrong – and so do I. That’s why I agreed to take DigDeep’s 4Liters Challenge. I want to help them raise awareness — and money — so more people can have access to clean, safe water.

To take the challenge, I filled up four liter-size bottles of water and used them over the course of a 24-hour period. In doing so, here’s what I realized:

* I would use more than the water I had all day to flush my toilet just once (but most people usually flush their toilets once an hour – you definitely couldn’t do that on 4 liters a day).

* I could wash my face and hands only twice in the day. I could wet a wash cloth and wipe off my body, but definitely not take a shower. Shampoo my hair? No.

* On normal days, I use just about 4 liters of water every day to make a pot of coffee, 4 or 5 cups of tea, wash the fruit I eat for breakfast and the salad ingredients I eat for lunch. During the Challenge, that could have used up all the water I had, so I cut out the coffee, made only two cups of tea, and wiped off my fruit instead of washing it.

* Once I used my water for tea, coffee, and food washing, there was no water left over to boil water for rice or pasta, to make soup, or just to drink with some ice and a squeeze of lemon and lime.

* There definitely was not enough water to wash dishes, let alone run the dishwasher.

* Laundry? Forget about it. Housecleaning? Nope.

* Lawn? Garden? No water for watering outdoors or in.

You’ll notice that the list of what I COULD NOT  do on 4 liters of water a day is much longer than what I could do. Lucky for me, I suffered this water scarcity for only one day.

But what if this were your reality day after day after day?

For millions of people, it is. DigDeep is trying to change that. The organization defends access to water as a “basic human right,” says the organization’s energetic founder, George McGraw. DigDeep also helps communities build sustainable water projects that improve water access for the people who need it. And of course, DigDeep runs the 4liters challenge to educate water-rich people like you and me about this precious resource.

I hope you’ll take the 4liters challenge, and I also hope you’ll help support DigDeep financially. The group is asking for a small $40 tax-deductible contribution, but you don’t have to donate to participate in the challenge.

By the way, while you’re at it, invite your friends to participate, too.

Sign up to take the challenge or contribute here.

DON’T MISS THESE OTHER HELPFUL POSTS

Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50%

Ten No-Brainer Ways to Use Water Wisely

Meet My New Water-Saving Toilet

The post Take Dig Deep’s 4Liters Challenge! appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency have found fish, frogs and other aquatic animals with both male and female sex organs, freaks of nature they attribute to the growing amounts of pharmaceuticals showing up in rivers, lakes and streams.

The pharmaceuticals include narcotics, birth control drugs, anti-depressants and other controlled substances that most wastewater treatment plants aren’t equipped to remove. One study found nine male smallmouth bass in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.carrying female eggs inside their sex organs.

You can read all about it in the July/August issue of E Magazine (see “Water Worries: Drugs are turning up in drinking water and causing bizarre mutations.”).

Meanwhile, if you’re disposing of pharmaceuticals you no long need, toss them in the trash, not down the toilet. You can also contact Earth Keepers, (906) 228-6095, a grassroots group that organized a highly successful program in Michigan to collect old drugs to keep them out of the water.

The post Are the drugs you take giving the fish in the lake conniptions? appeared first on Big Green Purse.