5 Essentials to Ride Out a Storm

It's nearly summer. And with skyrocketing temperatures come the chance for severe weather and power outages.

In July 2006, we spent nearly a week sans power at This D*mn House in 100-degree heat following a series of back-to-back storms that wiped out powerlines, roadways, trees and even some homes in the metro St. Louis area.

I learned quickly that there are things that we all should have on hand - just in case the power goes out. Whether an outage lasts for seven hours or seven days, you should invoke the Boy Scout motto and be prepared. As a result, there are things we are never without. These include:

1. Alternate light sources
A healthy supply of candles is good but, depending on the circumstances, an open flame may not be advisable. We invested in battery-powered lanterns and wind-up flashlights that are all kept in easily accessible places ... even when it's dark.

2. Batteries and battery-powered items
We have both battery and hand-crank radios to keep tabs on local news. Everyone should have at least one clock that runs on batteries. We even have a few "personal fans" with misters to help keep cool.

3. Non-perishable food
During a power outage, you don't want to repeatedly open a refrigerator in the short-term and it may not be a choice in the long-term. So it's a good idea to have other options available. Cereal, crackers and canned fruit are relatively healthy and have long shelf lives. Canned goods can be heated on a camp stove, barbecue grill or even an outdoor fireplace. Make sure you have a manual can opener, too.

Sherlockin' the History of Homes

When you buy a home you don't just take ownership of an engaging exterior, the rooms inside it, or the land it all sits on. No. Unless you've built it yourself, you've just bought yourself a piece of history.

There are plenty of bloggers out there going Sherlock Holmes and trying to learn about their purchase in greater detail. Ready to don that detective's hat? Here's a few places to explore:

1. Ask the neighbors. Some of the more senior residents may surprise you with what they know. They might even have photos.

2. County government. Either the tax assessor's, treasurer's or recorder's office should be able to tell you who owned the property from Day One, logging each transaction for the life of the home.

3. The local library. Depending on the age of your home, the library could provide a wealth of information including newspaper clippings, old city directories, and sometimes, census records.

4. Google it. If you come up with a family name, check it out on Google, searching with the names of your town and street.