As long-timers here know, I'm more prepared for this sort of thing than most, as some of my family have now been through week-long power outages in the cold of winter- twice. I have a couple of the full-sized kerosene heaters, the Alpaca stove and a couple of backpacking stoves that use kerosene, Aladdin kerosene lamps, lanterns, probably way too much kerosene, battery-powered smoke/CO2 detectors, etc, etc.

All of which might come in handy someday, in a widespread power outage, or in an ice storm where travel was a problem, or in a long-term situation if I were worried about the possibility of looting... but, really, it's worth keeping perspective on these things. If the furnace just broke, and I couldn't get it repaired in time, I'd just drain the pipes and check into a nearby hotel. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The lamps and the Alpaca came in handy after Isabel (warmth was not a problem). The Alpaca comes with very poor directions, and it does take getting the "hang" of it, but it worked well- I'd advise practicing befhorehand. However, I wouldn't want to rely on it for heating more than a small room by itself. It's also fairly primitive compared to real kerosene heaters (like Kero-Sun or Toyoset)- no wire guards, electric ignition, tip-valves, etc.... so it's inherently more dangerous. Being smaller, it would also be much easier to kick or trip over by accident.

This time of year I keep a down sleeping bag, foam pad, a down parka, ski gloves, balaclava, telescoping snow shovel and Sorel boots in the back of my vehicle, besides the usual gear. I also have some factory-sealed disposable oil lamps that I found in a hardware store, but real care must be taken when playing with fire in a closed vehicle. There's the ever-present CO2 danger, but also that of setting fire to yourself, the upholstry, or the head liner. You could easily find yourself, at best, in a much more urgent survival situation, now without your vehicle, shelter, and any gear you couldn't get out in time. I wouldn't use an open flame in a vehicle unless there was real need, and then I'd watch it like a hawk.