preparing for power outages- surviving Ike

Since we live out in he country it is common for our power to go out in a storm, or even when there isn’t a storm. Or sometimes for no reason at all. Here are some of my best tips to stay prepared and not be quite so uncomfortable.

have a bible and know where it is
have oil lamps and oil and matches, and know where they are
have a hand crank or battery powered radio
have a supplemental heat source, kerosene heater or wood for the fireplace
have cast iron pans that you can cook in over a fire
an outside propane grill can be cooked on, keep extra propane handy
always have gallons of water stored
have flashlights with batteries
if you must have some source of electricity, buy an invertor, price from $29.99 and up, decide how many watts you must have, these can be hooked to your car battery if needed, but only for small stuff, will easily run your pc or charge your laptop, or a radio, or just about anything without a heating element, maybe a microwave if the invertor is big enough and the microwave is small
keep your gas tank full, (I know LOL)
have a car charger for cell phones
keep your freezer full at all times, if there is extra room fill it with water in 1 gal buckets or 2 liter bottles, do not seal until frozen, when the power goes out KEEP FREEZER SHUT, stuff will last for days if you do this, use up what is in fridge
have on hand a manual can opener
be on good terms with your neighbors