Southern Michigan had a severe ice storm come through last week. It knocked out power to nearly a million customers across the state including my home and warehouse. Power went out late Wednesday night (2/22/23). My electrical company Thursday morning said most would have power back by Sunday. Well I “sheltered in place”, for the most part. Afterwards, a friend asked “How’d you get by?” I replied, “I was in Scouts.” It taught me the life survival lessons on getting through it.

In Scouts we learned how to cook without a microwave or oven (unless it was a Dutch oven). We learned how to wash dishes using boiling water. (Thankfully I have, and prefer, a gas range which was still working). We know about the “three pot method” for sanitary dish washing.

Those of us who are in the more northerly climates have earned the Polar Bear Award. It is an award for an overnight when it is below freezing. We know how to layer up clothing and bedding. Albeit I will admit I did not expect to be eligible for it by sleeping in my own home.

Now I have a gas water heater. But, it has an electrical vent system directly to the outside. It shuts down when the power goes off. There is still though, for a while, hot water in the tank. Thus, one is able to get in a shower if done carefully and quickly. Those of us who attended the 1973 National Jamboree and many of our camps know how to get through one of these kinds of showers.

Oh and with no power, there is no lighting. The Scouts’ motto though is “Be Prepared.” So I keep lights and batteries available as well as candles. They came in handy in this situation. I have often said that if one needs to really get by having a Scout Fieldbook (vintage preferred) will cover a lot of situations. I did not need to use it in this situation. Fortunately.

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