Any thoughts on how to stay cool in a post electricity world?

The heat is so intense here people could easily die from it, especially those like me who should live in Alaska.

I bought a frogg Toggs chilly pad and a small AA battery powered misting fan. But that's it so far.

What I would really want is enough solar panels to power a very small 5k BTU Air Conditioner.

At a minimum I'm going to have to get something to charge my AA batteries for the fan.

(I really don't know how people lived in Texas pre-air conditioning.) 

oneyedman (Mod) --- 25 min ago -
I was at a library book sale last weekend and I bought 2 books on building underground homes....

Cool in the summer, warm in the winter

link title 

Short term - gas generator with A/C window unit. You could at least cool a sleeping room. We have the Honda Quiet which is extremely fuel efficient and is quiet enough to have a normal conversation while standing over it.

Of course if the SHTF is TEOTWAWKI, a running generator, no matter how quiet, would attract undesirables. Also, sources of gasoline would become depleted quickly.

Long term - Back to basics I guess. Wear light cotton clothing. Work only in the early mornings and late evenings. I have a couple of jell filled neck wraps that once re-hydrated are suppose to keep you (somewhat) cooler. I know I'll be sweating this extra weight off...for sure! :P

One of my concerns is the lack of ventilation in our communities. So many of us are packed into tight subdivisions that very little breeze can get through; not to mention the radiant heat from all the concrete and asphalt!

I guess there's a reason Houston's population exploded AFTER the invention of A/C. ;) 

I read in emergencies, and this doesn't apply to total collapse, use the car a/c to cool off a few times a day.
We have about 40 gallons in the shed...and of course 2 vehicles (mine) stay near full.
Most don't think of their tanks as resources---I do. That's 36 gallons if both are full.

And we started our generator today---every month to be sure it's working.