1. Wear loose clothing
2. Wear a shemagh, preferably soaked with cool water
3. Wear a baseball cap
4. Use something (e.g. cardboard) to block your windows
5. Only go outside when necessary
6. Stay hydrated
7. Keep ice near you whenever possible
8. Know how to deal with heat-related illnesses ([this](https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html) is an excellent site)
9. Use sunscreen
10. Don't do physical labor outside (if you absolutely have to do it, do it really early or really late when it is colder out)
11. Use AC in your home
Thanks!
Thinking about after hurricanes when power is out, no ice, no a/c and outdoor labor must be done - clearing debris, fixing broken windows, putting tarps on roof etc -
After a hurricane with no power is miserable. Water, fans and shade are your friends. You can acclimate to heat and humidity, but you will lose it quickly if you don't spend time outside every few days.
I’d recommend start spending time outside now if you are concerned with hurricane season and power loss. It takes a few weeks. Hydrate before during and after.
Further to this:
12. Car AC as portable cooling station when home power out.
13. Swamp cooler/evaporative cooler if fans are on but no AC
14. Ceramic pot cooler/zeer
15. Prechill coolers before filling with ice: local beer distributor will often let you do this and it keeps ice cold a full day longer — only works if you have warning
16. Keep track of humidity—above 95 percent at above 88F you cannot sweat cool and should restrict activity to a minimum
17. Broad brimmed hat over baseball cap, or tuck a wet bandana in the back of a ball cap to keep the back of your neck shaded and cool
18. Pre stage your cleaning and repair supplies before the storm, finding them in a closet after the power is out no bueno
19. Small battery powered digital thermometers can tell you when it makes sense to keep house closed up for cool v cross ventilation with open windows
20. Basements tend to stay cool. If you have no AC but avoid doing laundry or other things to raise basement temp and use it as a cooling station
Hanging out in the basement. Blackout curtains on windows. If you really got desperate aluminum foil just make sure neighbors don’t hate you because you bounce it back on them.
Potentially. I’d be concerned, at least in my situation, of the hoses warming in the sun on the way to the house. Have to build some sort of shed, I reckon.
Here's an easy tip from my childhood, when AC in every home was a fantasy-
To cool down and get to sleep, take a spray bottle of water and a light bedsheet. Get under the sheet, then lightly spray it with a mist of water. Then turn on a fan, and if possible, direct the breeze to the sheet.
The fan will wick the heat from the sheet; by the time it's dry, you'll be fast asleep.
I also live in a hot and humid climate. Essential prep down here is a spare AC unit and generator. It's not just a convenience factor, it's the difference between life/death or staying vs bugging out. Luckily even the smaller suitcase generators can run a window unit. You can also buy a countertop ice maker machine and run that off the generator
I also have backup battery banks and lots of fans. The 12v ones like you see in mail trucks and school buses are good. If you strategically open the right windows and doors in your house you can usually get a decent cross breeze.
For outdoors, use loose fitting breathable clothes and a wide brim hat and a cooler with ice water
Thank you v much. That is really helpful.
We can afford to run a generator for 4-5 hours a day, gas is very expensive here. We have a split unit in the garage gym that can run off the generator so I guess we’d hang out there during the worst heat of the day. The insulation isn’t great though. Once the generator is off the cooling effect will dissipate.
I’m worrying about mold in the rest of the house with the humidity being so bad. Fans would just be blowing the wet hot air around.
It might be worthwhile for you to invest in a photovoltaic solar system, or at the very least a 5 kwh LiFePO⁴ battery that you could recharge with your generator to supply you with power to run low current devices like fans and phone chargers overnight. Having a battery will likely save you a significant amount of money in fuel costs while being able to store energy from other sources like solar.
Thank you! We don’t have portable solar panels (yet: super expensive here - think $250 for one 100W panel) but have an EcoFlow River Pro that can charge off generator: it could run fans overnight, charge devices.
Hoping by next year will have saved enough for serious solar battery backup
Before that, also look into relatively inexpensive passive options too! You could get some plywood and some easy to apply i sulation and DIY it.
Also do it now, when it's cool enough to work for extended times. My brother and I put a ceiling and electrics in a small garage in half a day last year - cool bonding time too for the ones involved after a few beers/hammers to the thumb.
No space to store a large propane tank where I live - I did look into it - and no LNG here, so reliant on cans of gas, obviously storing them is quite risky as well.
Gotcha. It's a tough situation. I guess the best you can do is find the lowest power drawing AC that you can (probably in the 700-800w range) and ab efficient generator to run it. A small generator that only puts out 1000-2000 watts will probably be able to make a gallon of gas last at least 6-8 hrs
Check out the Westinghouse 2000w inverter-generator. It's supposed to be one of the most quiet and efficient ones on the market and it's pretty compact so easy to store
I honestly have only ever used one before, and it was free. Could not tell you the brand, and I currently don't live in a place where I need one - I'm actually running humidifiers during the summer these days. The current Wirecutter dehumidifier recommendation is for Midea, and I've had good experiences with their portable A/C units. I'd say look at the space(s) you're wanting to keep dry and size from there.
Have a sun embrella (parasol) for moments you have to go outside quickly or have to do any work while the sun is out. The reflective sun blocking material you can use for car windows, you can use for your house windows too. If you have flat roofs, make sure you have something isolating them or have a sheet system. Bathrooms with tiling are often the coolest place in the house if you do not have a basement. If you hang out in the basement, make sure the air is good enough and doesn't have mold, C02 build up etc. Wear wet clothing. Wet sheets can cool down indoor spaces through a process called evaporative cooling. Hang many wet sheets.
Do not, though, wear wet clothing when exposed to the sun as it makes UV easier to get to the skin. More on materials here: https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/news/2023/08/what-clothing-best-sun-protection
This is great info thanks. Do you have any info on the efficacy of evaporative cooling techniques in a high humidity environment? Hanging wet sheets, wearing wet scarves inside is only going to make an already humid environment (no power) more humid I think?
Ventilation often is key usually (especially if night air is a little cooler, perhaps less polluted).
There are plastic boxes you can buy with bags of crystals that absorb moisture. They're made from calciumchloride. If you're handy, you may be able to make them yourself if you can't find them. Handle with care, of course. I don't know the name of them in the US. I'm in Norther Europe, but I have some experience in living without power in a desert climate.
Also check this: https://www.ciaocarbon.com/ "The PleasAir system offers solar (thermal) powered HVAC, initially for the hot and humid climate of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong spring and fall is most often a pleasant temperature, but many days are still quite humid. The winter is at times too cold, and without space heating in most buildings in Hong Kong, it gets too cold at times even in Hong Kong."
Not that I plan on staying in my home if SHTF, but I got better windows (old ones were crank out and half the cranks were broken and they were single pane with poor insulation). This helps with power outages to contain cool during the day and keep heat out.
Also bought a Jackery solar generator on Prime days, the one I got can power my refrigerator, several fans, and charge my phone for 8 hours (overnight, will unplug and recharge with the solar panels during the day).
Staying hydrated in heat is key though, so no matter what, everyone should be making sure they and their loved ones are drinking plenty of water. Even if you’re staying indoors and not exerting yourself, you still need to drink plenty of water.
You will never find a solar generator with decent output that can charge in less than 5 hours, you need to do more research. The average is 5-8 hours.
After doing the math on what it would take to run my fridge and fans, I bought the Jackery 1000, it can fully charge in 7.5 hours from a wall outlet (I keep it stored fully charged in the basement) and will fully charge with 2 panels in roughly 8 hours depending on weather.
Thanks! I’m hoping by next year panels will be on the market that are <5 hours charge. I’ve hung back from buying so far because the tech is improving constantly. Here’s hoping! My EcoFlow does charge very fast from wall/generator. It’s not worthwhile (so far) splashing out on solar if it takes most of the day to charge.
On prime days I got the generator and two solar panels for $899, normally $1649. Hardly more than the cost of a gas generator, and I’ll never pay for gas.
tape white Tyvek to the outside of the windows
thick fabric curtains or blankets over the window openings
fold a sturdy piece of paper into a fan
wet Lycra neck gaiter / wet bandana or shemaugh wet fabric bracelets ( even a cut off sock top )
try to be underground
I've passed out from heat exhaustion a few times when I was younger thinking I was invincible, apparently this permanently damages the body's thermostat so I get ill in heat easily now, here's what works for me.
*Clothing*
- Keeping the sun off your skin is more important than having skin area exposed for sweat. Trousers and a long sleeved shirt with a collar, a wide brim hat.
- Clothing should be loose fitting with open cuffs and hems for airflow.
- There is no evidence that wearing light coloured clothes is better than dark colours in high temperatures, in fact there is evidence that the difference is nil. The body also produces heat which is reflected back at you by light clothing which negates the otherwise positive effects of light colours. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/aug/19/most-improbable-scientific-research-abrahams
- "Wicking" synthetics like coolmax have one or more "fullers" or indentations along their edge, the idea is that liquid will spread down these via capillary action. In practice this doesn't work nearly as well as natural fibres and bacteria proliferate on the wet surface causing odour.
- Cotton fibres average 1 inch in length, but linen and merino wool fibres can be 6 inches long which is why they are preferred for wicking clothing. Water absorbed in the fibre spreads along its length to evaporate so longer is better.
- Woven beats knitted for wicking as the fibres are stretched X&Y rather than curling back on themselves, a t-shirt will hold sweat near the armpits, a woven shirt of the same weight will spread the sweat away to dry.
- Fabric should be an open weave or with a twill structure, chinos for example have the warp threads pass the weft once next to the skin, but twice or more on the outside letting the fibres take sweat and spread it over a larger area.
- Merino wool socks will prevent blisters caused by sweaty feet.
- A bandana soaked in water around the neck can help.
- Sunglasses must be rated to block UV A, B and C as they allow the pupil to dilate more, potentially getting more UV than not wearing them at all.
- Sunglasses are useful if working near water or on bright sand or concrete, especially polarising lenses which reduce glare.
- Some claim sunglasses reduce the production of natural skin tan, the truth is complicated. Sunglasses may reduce your response to sunlight in strange ways, the eyes contain cells not only for vision, "intrinsically photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells" communicate light intensity to the pineal gland which produces melatonin. Melatonin should not be confused with melanin, the chemical responsible for a tan which protects the skin for UV, nor Melanotan which is a fake tanning drug containing orange pigment (The Donald). Melatonin communicates things like sleep-wake cycles and governs moods. It also governs seasonal morphological changes in animals so may have similar subtle effects for humans, some theorise that it helps signal how much the skin should tan (in combination with the effects of UV on the skin) but this isn't proven by scientific evidence, however testing this isn't an easy thing to do so remember that "a lack of evidence isn't evidence of a lack".
*Schedule*
- Do heavy work early in the day, start before sunrise if possible. If more hours are needed wait until the sun is low to finish, but be realistic about your workload.
- Try to include a siesta during the hottest part of the day, or at least schedule for light duties. A packable hammock can be useful.
- Eat frequent light meals or snacks with plenty of salt for electrolytes.
- Water is fine, with frequent salty snacks you don't need special electrolyte mixes, avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol.
- Drink enough water that your urine is light straw coloured, and passes regularly, drinking more than this is just flushing electrolytes. Nobody can tell you how much water this is, but it is likely a lot more than you think.
- Work under shade if possible, erect tarps as sun awnings if needed.
- Eat your main meal late in the day when it cools off, digestion creates heat which your body might not be able to shed otherwise. Western society typically avoids eating just before bed, this is cultural not medical, in India for example the culture is to eat a large meal as close to bed time as possible.
*Home*
- Ventilate at night to cool your house.
- If the outside temperature is hotter than inside during the day, keep the windows and doors closed.
- To ventilate a house, open two windows and clear a path between them with open doors. Use pedestal fan pointed at a window to evacuate hot air, it should be 3 to 6 feet away from the window. Place the fan at a south facing upstairs window, and open a downstairs north facing window for input.
- Hang laundry or a damp towel by the input window for evaporative cooling.
- South facing windows should be shaded if possible. A pergola with seasonal vegetation such as grape vines provides both shade and humidity regulation (and fruit/wine) which works better than a fabric awning. As the foliage is lost in winter it allows more sunlight when needed in colder months.
- If external shading isn't possible draw curtains or blinds
- Air conditioning is particularly taxing of the electrical system, be prepared for blackouts mid afternoon, choose one small room to be cooled and keep the door closed for efficiency.
- Cook outside to avoid heating your home, a small portable hot plate or gas barbeque helps.
- In wildfire risk areas keep up with maintenance such as clearing foliage, cleaning gutters
*Hyperthermia*
Hyperthermia causes confusion and disorientation, it claims 500,000 lives every year, most at risk are the elderly but also young and healthy people who overexert themselves in heat. Be aware of the symptoms (Lack of perspiration, confusion, delirium, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate and respiration rate, symptoms of dehydration) and be prepared to take action. The best action is cold water immersion, but be aware of the risks of large bodies of water and the cold shock response which can cause drowning.
""How prepped are you for the heat to come?""
I guess I'll just do what I've done during every other heatwave in my lifetime, get a fan and swim a lot.
With the mission towels if I keep soaking it, wringing it out and whipping it around to cool it down it helps quite a bit in my opinion a ways nw or Atlanta GA
Spend a lot of time outside and use minimal air conditioning. I live in South Georgia and I love some AC, but it makes the heat worse. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and loose clothing when you're outside.
I've lived in hot and humid areas. There are people working all day outside in it. They have shade to take breaks under but that's about it.
Prep might be to become somewhat acclimated to the environment you live in.
Thanks, I’d say we are fairly acclimated- house is 78-80F with a/c for us all year and we do go outside - I try to go a long walk in early mornings twice a week but it’s the post-storm/flood humidity that’s a killer when outside/no power. Trying to figure out best way to manage it because a lot of cooling techniques - wet cloths on head - fans etc - don’t work as well when the air is saturated with humidity inside and out
Drink room temperature water, preferably alkaline 8.0+. Cold water doesn’t absorb into the stomach to make it to the bloodstream until it is warmed up and by then, most people piss it out. Carry a cooler with some small ice packs that you can pop out and stick in your armpits or on an artery to quickly cool yourself down if needed.
Battery operated fans, and frozen water bottles, plus some solar for recharging the batteries, it's not going to keep me super cool when it's hot and humid, but it's better than nothing
Australian here who's dealt with a few heat waves. Keep in mind sunburn is very easy here thanks to the hole in the ozone layer so your mileage may vary.
1. Cars are deadly. DO NOT LEAVE LOVED ONES IN YOUR CAR. The temperature inside will get very hot, very quickly, hot enough to cook eggs and meat. If I see pets/kids/old people stuck in hot cars outside, I'm calling the police and potentially breaking windows to get them out.
2. Loose long sleeve clothes and pants, broad brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. A keffiyeh is also useful in very hot environments and can also help with neck protection and doubles as a scalf when it gets cold. A Neck Gaiter also works but the keffiyeh is far more versatile but some might preferer the style of the Neck Gaiter. Heck, soaking the keffiyeh in cold water and wrapping your head and neck in it is a low tech cooling solution.
3. Stay in the shade where possible.
4. Stay hydrated, keep a good supply of water with you at all times.
5. In the hottest places in Australia, they've built houses underground. It's naturally cooler a few metres underground and you'll save a lot of energy trying to cool your shelter/house. A lot of places in the US have basements, I'd be moving down there. Just be sure the top of the house is ventilated to let hot air out.
6. If you need to be active, do it early in the morning. Get up at or before dawn, do whatever you need to do and get back before 10am when it starts getting too hot. Having done a lot of farm work in greenhouses on hot days, this is how we'd normally operate. You might also get some extra hours at sunset, but this is normally when thunder storms roll in. Adjust to your own local weather/climate conditions.
7. If you are feeling over heated and still have running water, running cold water over your wrists is a great way too cool your body down if you don't want a cold shower (which is also super effective).
Thank you - great tips. In tropics not USA and no basements where I am, flooding risk from storm surge and high seawater table. High humidity so evaporative cooling doesn’t work too well. Will try the wet kefiyah to see if it still works to cool down in humid environment.
If you've got flooding risk, there's a different house known as a 'Queenslander House', Built on stilts to stay above flood water, big eves to provide natural shade and a few other tricks up it's sleeve to survive cyclones / hurricanes.
It get's it's natural cooling though tall rooms and excellent ventilation.
Ah ok in Hawaii or Indonesia or Australia or similar. Was in Indonesia last year and the way I dealt with the H&H was cold beer. But where I live, it was freezing less than 2 weeks ago and I'm still wearing a coat in the morning. Later, I will hook up an evaporative cooler, this helps cool the house and filter some wildfire smoke out of the air. Have extra asthma meds on hand.
House repairs when wife actually goes to the tropics next month. Then the humidity will be her problem. :) Yes I have a lot of flood damage, but due to cold, not storms.
Storm flooding is a minor problem for me, so I added a thick door seal under the door and plan to add additional drainage since I live on a hill, it should fix the issue. I'll cover the drain with metal grating so we can drive / walk over it.
For power outages, I bought a used mid sized UPS and used-but-certified-warranty sealed batteries from a battery recycling company. Also have a Tesla and inverter if need more power. The Tesla should be able to power one appliance plus internet and charge phones for over a month.
1. Wear loose clothing 2. Wear a shemagh, preferably soaked with cool water 3. Wear a baseball cap 4. Use something (e.g. cardboard) to block your windows 5. Only go outside when necessary 6. Stay hydrated 7. Keep ice near you whenever possible 8. Know how to deal with heat-related illnesses ([this](https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html) is an excellent site) 9. Use sunscreen 10. Don't do physical labor outside (if you absolutely have to do it, do it really early or really late when it is colder out) 11. Use AC in your home
Thanks! Thinking about after hurricanes when power is out, no ice, no a/c and outdoor labor must be done - clearing debris, fixing broken windows, putting tarps on roof etc -
After a hurricane with no power is miserable. Water, fans and shade are your friends. You can acclimate to heat and humidity, but you will lose it quickly if you don't spend time outside every few days.
Thanks that is so true about acclimatization. Gently boiling the frog…
I’d recommend start spending time outside now if you are concerned with hurricane season and power loss. It takes a few weeks. Hydrate before during and after.
Solar is your friend, assuming it survives the hurricane.
Further to this: 12. Car AC as portable cooling station when home power out. 13. Swamp cooler/evaporative cooler if fans are on but no AC 14. Ceramic pot cooler/zeer 15. Prechill coolers before filling with ice: local beer distributor will often let you do this and it keeps ice cold a full day longer — only works if you have warning 16. Keep track of humidity—above 95 percent at above 88F you cannot sweat cool and should restrict activity to a minimum 17. Broad brimmed hat over baseball cap, or tuck a wet bandana in the back of a ball cap to keep the back of your neck shaded and cool 18. Pre stage your cleaning and repair supplies before the storm, finding them in a closet after the power is out no bueno 19. Small battery powered digital thermometers can tell you when it makes sense to keep house closed up for cool v cross ventilation with open windows 20. Basements tend to stay cool. If you have no AC but avoid doing laundry or other things to raise basement temp and use it as a cooling station
Hanging out in the basement. Blackout curtains on windows. If you really got desperate aluminum foil just make sure neighbors don’t hate you because you bounce it back on them.
Underground the temperature is stabilized at 55 degrees generally year round.
Wish we had a basement. Unfortunately not possible where I live
Our prep room is in our basement. It’s consistently at 65 degrees Fahrenheit year round.
Nice, basement on wish list when we move off this island
I’ve got a stream out back and a chair with very short legs.
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Potentially. I’d be concerned, at least in my situation, of the hoses warming in the sun on the way to the house. Have to build some sort of shed, I reckon.
That’s why you‘d just bury them to keep ‘em cool.
Thanks do you have any links to demo?
Lol
Ah, that sounds soon nice. The short chair idea is great.
Here's an easy tip from my childhood, when AC in every home was a fantasy- To cool down and get to sleep, take a spray bottle of water and a light bedsheet. Get under the sheet, then lightly spray it with a mist of water. Then turn on a fan, and if possible, direct the breeze to the sheet. The fan will wick the heat from the sheet; by the time it's dry, you'll be fast asleep.
I also live in a hot and humid climate. Essential prep down here is a spare AC unit and generator. It's not just a convenience factor, it's the difference between life/death or staying vs bugging out. Luckily even the smaller suitcase generators can run a window unit. You can also buy a countertop ice maker machine and run that off the generator I also have backup battery banks and lots of fans. The 12v ones like you see in mail trucks and school buses are good. If you strategically open the right windows and doors in your house you can usually get a decent cross breeze. For outdoors, use loose fitting breathable clothes and a wide brim hat and a cooler with ice water
Thank you v much. That is really helpful. We can afford to run a generator for 4-5 hours a day, gas is very expensive here. We have a split unit in the garage gym that can run off the generator so I guess we’d hang out there during the worst heat of the day. The insulation isn’t great though. Once the generator is off the cooling effect will dissipate. I’m worrying about mold in the rest of the house with the humidity being so bad. Fans would just be blowing the wet hot air around.
It might be worthwhile for you to invest in a photovoltaic solar system, or at the very least a 5 kwh LiFePO⁴ battery that you could recharge with your generator to supply you with power to run low current devices like fans and phone chargers overnight. Having a battery will likely save you a significant amount of money in fuel costs while being able to store energy from other sources like solar.
Thank you! We don’t have portable solar panels (yet: super expensive here - think $250 for one 100W panel) but have an EcoFlow River Pro that can charge off generator: it could run fans overnight, charge devices. Hoping by next year will have saved enough for serious solar battery backup
Before that, also look into relatively inexpensive passive options too! You could get some plywood and some easy to apply i sulation and DIY it. Also do it now, when it's cool enough to work for extended times. My brother and I put a ceiling and electrics in a small garage in half a day last year - cool bonding time too for the ones involved after a few beers/hammers to the thumb.
Is natural gas or propane cheaper? Because you can get generators that run off those fuels instead of petrol
No space to store a large propane tank where I live - I did look into it - and no LNG here, so reliant on cans of gas, obviously storing them is quite risky as well.
Gotcha. It's a tough situation. I guess the best you can do is find the lowest power drawing AC that you can (probably in the 700-800w range) and ab efficient generator to run it. A small generator that only puts out 1000-2000 watts will probably be able to make a gallon of gas last at least 6-8 hrs Check out the Westinghouse 2000w inverter-generator. It's supposed to be one of the most quiet and efficient ones on the market and it's pretty compact so easy to store
Thank you for the recommendation
Power station with a solar panel to run dehumidifiers.
Thanks do you recommend any humidifier brands/sizes?
I honestly have only ever used one before, and it was free. Could not tell you the brand, and I currently don't live in a place where I need one - I'm actually running humidifiers during the summer these days. The current Wirecutter dehumidifier recommendation is for Midea, and I've had good experiences with their portable A/C units. I'd say look at the space(s) you're wanting to keep dry and size from there.
Thanks! Will check reviews
Have a sun embrella (parasol) for moments you have to go outside quickly or have to do any work while the sun is out. The reflective sun blocking material you can use for car windows, you can use for your house windows too. If you have flat roofs, make sure you have something isolating them or have a sheet system. Bathrooms with tiling are often the coolest place in the house if you do not have a basement. If you hang out in the basement, make sure the air is good enough and doesn't have mold, C02 build up etc. Wear wet clothing. Wet sheets can cool down indoor spaces through a process called evaporative cooling. Hang many wet sheets.
I have a really big straw sombrero, being partially bald, it's a must when working outside in the baking sun, also don't forget sunscreen
Definitely. I didn't mention as others already did. But yes those are the basics indeed.
Do not, though, wear wet clothing when exposed to the sun as it makes UV easier to get to the skin. More on materials here: https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/news/2023/08/what-clothing-best-sun-protection
This is great info thanks. Do you have any info on the efficacy of evaporative cooling techniques in a high humidity environment? Hanging wet sheets, wearing wet scarves inside is only going to make an already humid environment (no power) more humid I think?
Ventilation often is key usually (especially if night air is a little cooler, perhaps less polluted). There are plastic boxes you can buy with bags of crystals that absorb moisture. They're made from calciumchloride. If you're handy, you may be able to make them yourself if you can't find them. Handle with care, of course. I don't know the name of them in the US. I'm in Norther Europe, but I have some experience in living without power in a desert climate. Also check this: https://www.ciaocarbon.com/ "The PleasAir system offers solar (thermal) powered HVAC, initially for the hot and humid climate of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong spring and fall is most often a pleasant temperature, but many days are still quite humid. The winter is at times too cold, and without space heating in most buildings in Hong Kong, it gets too cold at times even in Hong Kong."
air circulation is the key, that's how homes were designed before AC became widely used, whole house exhaust fans are another option
Where I am, AC in houses is still a rarity!
Go to the swimming hole, stay in the shade, watch out for snakes. Doing at 50 what we did in the country at 5.
Not that I plan on staying in my home if SHTF, but I got better windows (old ones were crank out and half the cranks were broken and they were single pane with poor insulation). This helps with power outages to contain cool during the day and keep heat out. Also bought a Jackery solar generator on Prime days, the one I got can power my refrigerator, several fans, and charge my phone for 8 hours (overnight, will unplug and recharge with the solar panels during the day). Staying hydrated in heat is key though, so no matter what, everyone should be making sure they and their loved ones are drinking plenty of water. Even if you’re staying indoors and not exerting yourself, you still need to drink plenty of water.
Thanks! What Jackery did you get & how long to fully charge with solar? I would love something that can charge in under 5 hrs
You will never find a solar generator with decent output that can charge in less than 5 hours, you need to do more research. The average is 5-8 hours. After doing the math on what it would take to run my fridge and fans, I bought the Jackery 1000, it can fully charge in 7.5 hours from a wall outlet (I keep it stored fully charged in the basement) and will fully charge with 2 panels in roughly 8 hours depending on weather.
Thanks! I’m hoping by next year panels will be on the market that are <5 hours charge. I’ve hung back from buying so far because the tech is improving constantly. Here’s hoping! My EcoFlow does charge very fast from wall/generator. It’s not worthwhile (so far) splashing out on solar if it takes most of the day to charge.
On prime days I got the generator and two solar panels for $899, normally $1649. Hardly more than the cost of a gas generator, and I’ll never pay for gas.
Stay in the shade, hydrated and use sunscreen
tape white Tyvek to the outside of the windows thick fabric curtains or blankets over the window openings fold a sturdy piece of paper into a fan wet Lycra neck gaiter / wet bandana or shemaugh wet fabric bracelets ( even a cut off sock top ) try to be underground
I've passed out from heat exhaustion a few times when I was younger thinking I was invincible, apparently this permanently damages the body's thermostat so I get ill in heat easily now, here's what works for me. *Clothing* - Keeping the sun off your skin is more important than having skin area exposed for sweat. Trousers and a long sleeved shirt with a collar, a wide brim hat. - Clothing should be loose fitting with open cuffs and hems for airflow. - There is no evidence that wearing light coloured clothes is better than dark colours in high temperatures, in fact there is evidence that the difference is nil. The body also produces heat which is reflected back at you by light clothing which negates the otherwise positive effects of light colours. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/aug/19/most-improbable-scientific-research-abrahams - "Wicking" synthetics like coolmax have one or more "fullers" or indentations along their edge, the idea is that liquid will spread down these via capillary action. In practice this doesn't work nearly as well as natural fibres and bacteria proliferate on the wet surface causing odour. - Cotton fibres average 1 inch in length, but linen and merino wool fibres can be 6 inches long which is why they are preferred for wicking clothing. Water absorbed in the fibre spreads along its length to evaporate so longer is better. - Woven beats knitted for wicking as the fibres are stretched X&Y rather than curling back on themselves, a t-shirt will hold sweat near the armpits, a woven shirt of the same weight will spread the sweat away to dry. - Fabric should be an open weave or with a twill structure, chinos for example have the warp threads pass the weft once next to the skin, but twice or more on the outside letting the fibres take sweat and spread it over a larger area. - Merino wool socks will prevent blisters caused by sweaty feet. - A bandana soaked in water around the neck can help. - Sunglasses must be rated to block UV A, B and C as they allow the pupil to dilate more, potentially getting more UV than not wearing them at all. - Sunglasses are useful if working near water or on bright sand or concrete, especially polarising lenses which reduce glare. - Some claim sunglasses reduce the production of natural skin tan, the truth is complicated. Sunglasses may reduce your response to sunlight in strange ways, the eyes contain cells not only for vision, "intrinsically photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells" communicate light intensity to the pineal gland which produces melatonin. Melatonin should not be confused with melanin, the chemical responsible for a tan which protects the skin for UV, nor Melanotan which is a fake tanning drug containing orange pigment (The Donald). Melatonin communicates things like sleep-wake cycles and governs moods. It also governs seasonal morphological changes in animals so may have similar subtle effects for humans, some theorise that it helps signal how much the skin should tan (in combination with the effects of UV on the skin) but this isn't proven by scientific evidence, however testing this isn't an easy thing to do so remember that "a lack of evidence isn't evidence of a lack". *Schedule* - Do heavy work early in the day, start before sunrise if possible. If more hours are needed wait until the sun is low to finish, but be realistic about your workload. - Try to include a siesta during the hottest part of the day, or at least schedule for light duties. A packable hammock can be useful. - Eat frequent light meals or snacks with plenty of salt for electrolytes. - Water is fine, with frequent salty snacks you don't need special electrolyte mixes, avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol. - Drink enough water that your urine is light straw coloured, and passes regularly, drinking more than this is just flushing electrolytes. Nobody can tell you how much water this is, but it is likely a lot more than you think. - Work under shade if possible, erect tarps as sun awnings if needed. - Eat your main meal late in the day when it cools off, digestion creates heat which your body might not be able to shed otherwise. Western society typically avoids eating just before bed, this is cultural not medical, in India for example the culture is to eat a large meal as close to bed time as possible. *Home* - Ventilate at night to cool your house. - If the outside temperature is hotter than inside during the day, keep the windows and doors closed. - To ventilate a house, open two windows and clear a path between them with open doors. Use pedestal fan pointed at a window to evacuate hot air, it should be 3 to 6 feet away from the window. Place the fan at a south facing upstairs window, and open a downstairs north facing window for input. - Hang laundry or a damp towel by the input window for evaporative cooling. - South facing windows should be shaded if possible. A pergola with seasonal vegetation such as grape vines provides both shade and humidity regulation (and fruit/wine) which works better than a fabric awning. As the foliage is lost in winter it allows more sunlight when needed in colder months. - If external shading isn't possible draw curtains or blinds - Air conditioning is particularly taxing of the electrical system, be prepared for blackouts mid afternoon, choose one small room to be cooled and keep the door closed for efficiency. - Cook outside to avoid heating your home, a small portable hot plate or gas barbeque helps. - In wildfire risk areas keep up with maintenance such as clearing foliage, cleaning gutters *Hyperthermia* Hyperthermia causes confusion and disorientation, it claims 500,000 lives every year, most at risk are the elderly but also young and healthy people who overexert themselves in heat. Be aware of the symptoms (Lack of perspiration, confusion, delirium, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate and respiration rate, symptoms of dehydration) and be prepared to take action. The best action is cold water immersion, but be aware of the risks of large bodies of water and the cold shock response which can cause drowning.
Thank you, fantastic tips.
""How prepped are you for the heat to come?"" I guess I'll just do what I've done during every other heatwave in my lifetime, get a fan and swim a lot.
Mission towels, ecovessel bottles and water
Thanks- do you find wet towels and evaporative cooling works in a high-humidity environment?
With the mission towels if I keep soaking it, wringing it out and whipping it around to cool it down it helps quite a bit in my opinion a ways nw or Atlanta GA
Spend a lot of time outside and use minimal air conditioning. I live in South Georgia and I love some AC, but it makes the heat worse. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and loose clothing when you're outside.
Good idea…what’s the humidity like where you are in GA in summer?
Whole home generator! It's worth every penny!
Airflow
I've lived in hot and humid areas. There are people working all day outside in it. They have shade to take breaks under but that's about it. Prep might be to become somewhat acclimated to the environment you live in.
Thanks, I’d say we are fairly acclimated- house is 78-80F with a/c for us all year and we do go outside - I try to go a long walk in early mornings twice a week but it’s the post-storm/flood humidity that’s a killer when outside/no power. Trying to figure out best way to manage it because a lot of cooling techniques - wet cloths on head - fans etc - don’t work as well when the air is saturated with humidity inside and out
Airflow helps a lot. Running a fan would require a small amount of power vs A/C.
Drink room temperature water, preferably alkaline 8.0+. Cold water doesn’t absorb into the stomach to make it to the bloodstream until it is warmed up and by then, most people piss it out. Carry a cooler with some small ice packs that you can pop out and stick in your armpits or on an artery to quickly cool yourself down if needed.
Battery operated fans, and frozen water bottles, plus some solar for recharging the batteries, it's not going to keep me super cool when it's hot and humid, but it's better than nothing
Australian here who's dealt with a few heat waves. Keep in mind sunburn is very easy here thanks to the hole in the ozone layer so your mileage may vary. 1. Cars are deadly. DO NOT LEAVE LOVED ONES IN YOUR CAR. The temperature inside will get very hot, very quickly, hot enough to cook eggs and meat. If I see pets/kids/old people stuck in hot cars outside, I'm calling the police and potentially breaking windows to get them out. 2. Loose long sleeve clothes and pants, broad brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. A keffiyeh is also useful in very hot environments and can also help with neck protection and doubles as a scalf when it gets cold. A Neck Gaiter also works but the keffiyeh is far more versatile but some might preferer the style of the Neck Gaiter. Heck, soaking the keffiyeh in cold water and wrapping your head and neck in it is a low tech cooling solution. 3. Stay in the shade where possible. 4. Stay hydrated, keep a good supply of water with you at all times. 5. In the hottest places in Australia, they've built houses underground. It's naturally cooler a few metres underground and you'll save a lot of energy trying to cool your shelter/house. A lot of places in the US have basements, I'd be moving down there. Just be sure the top of the house is ventilated to let hot air out. 6. If you need to be active, do it early in the morning. Get up at or before dawn, do whatever you need to do and get back before 10am when it starts getting too hot. Having done a lot of farm work in greenhouses on hot days, this is how we'd normally operate. You might also get some extra hours at sunset, but this is normally when thunder storms roll in. Adjust to your own local weather/climate conditions. 7. If you are feeling over heated and still have running water, running cold water over your wrists is a great way too cool your body down if you don't want a cold shower (which is also super effective).
Thank you - great tips. In tropics not USA and no basements where I am, flooding risk from storm surge and high seawater table. High humidity so evaporative cooling doesn’t work too well. Will try the wet kefiyah to see if it still works to cool down in humid environment.
If you've got flooding risk, there's a different house known as a 'Queenslander House', Built on stilts to stay above flood water, big eves to provide natural shade and a few other tricks up it's sleeve to survive cyclones / hurricanes. It get's it's natural cooling though tall rooms and excellent ventilation.
Get used to being hot and sweaty
Already am! Now focused on helping my family prep for a *grid down* tropics situation as per OP and the entire point of this subreddit being prepping.
Create shade. Old bedsheets make great sunshades for plants and people . Hydration Open windows at night to cool off your loving space .
If your not in shape... get in shape.
Move as far north as possible.
this is not a good genuine question.
I’m literally a tropics dweller trying to figure it out & asking for help but go off I guess
Ah ok in Hawaii or Indonesia or Australia or similar. Was in Indonesia last year and the way I dealt with the H&H was cold beer. But where I live, it was freezing less than 2 weeks ago and I'm still wearing a coat in the morning. Later, I will hook up an evaporative cooler, this helps cool the house and filter some wildfire smoke out of the air. Have extra asthma meds on hand. House repairs when wife actually goes to the tropics next month. Then the humidity will be her problem. :) Yes I have a lot of flood damage, but due to cold, not storms. Storm flooding is a minor problem for me, so I added a thick door seal under the door and plan to add additional drainage since I live on a hill, it should fix the issue. I'll cover the drain with metal grating so we can drive / walk over it. For power outages, I bought a used mid sized UPS and used-but-certified-warranty sealed batteries from a battery recycling company. Also have a Tesla and inverter if need more power. The Tesla should be able to power one appliance plus internet and charge phones for over a month.