Preparing for Sandy

[Rob-D]

We had people up here out for over a week last year. I just finished wiring in my new solar panels. I'm bullet proof if the power goes out... IF nothing nails the panels. I'll batten them down with straps just to make sure.They're talking 55 mph winds, that's a lot of force, lets hope I'm a good welder!
Last year with 1/3 the panels up now I was good for a week without power, if I can survive the initial winds I'll be fine. We always have food stored here as we lose power a few times a year, ice winds, etc. Getting water is never a problem with streams and the pond. I never flood ,I built the house on a high spot and made sure there was no water or springs under the foundation but my neighbor (friend) floods if things get bad.

All you can do is prepare and hope. I wish everyone the best.

Rob

 

[riptides]

I started testing my beer supply. I will now need more.

I mowed grass all day, so it is nice and short,

Cleaned gutters, but the first winds will clog them up.

More beer and I am ready.

 

[davel8257]

Here's a thought -- start a tractor-by-net relief network. If there's a bad storm anywhere, then other 'neighbors' nearby could be informed on what could be useful to help with cleanup: chainsaws? tractor & trailer, FEL? wood chipper? 4wd truck + trailer?

I live near Henryville, IN -- last spring's tornado left a huge mess. There were organized cleanup crews. One guy showed up with Branson tractor & trailer -- hauling workers in/out of the clean up area (no car traffic allowed/ utility co. was pulling new power line while we were there). He used that tractor to do some clearing while others sawed up tree limbs, etc...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

We did some "prepping" today. Moved anything loose indoors, cleaned up leaves, cleaned the gutters, and bought some food. I wanted to top off my gas tank in my car, but the gas station was a mad-house. I tried going two different times.

 

[Tig]

Well this story got my attention today when I watched the news for the first time in ages.
They're taking about the storm traveling through our area and clashing with cold fronts. I haven't heard any hurricane Hazel references yet, but the scenario sounds familiar. Hazel reshaped the islands around here and changed the rules on what we can do with our land. I'm kinda glad we are at a 50 year low for the water levels right now.

 

[RoyJackson]

If Sandy takes the predicted path, I expect we'll have a repeat of Hurricane Agnes for 1972.

All the outdoor gear is inside, the lanterns have new batteries or are charged, the battery starter unit is charged (for our cell phones). The vehicles are fueled, as is the tractor.
Plenty of non-perishable food and a case of beer!!

One thing I may have screwed up on...the tractor is in the garage. If we do lose power, we can't get the garage doors open (torsion bars would have to be disconnected). But leaving the tractor out could result in damage or theft. Well, if we do lose power, any downed debris will be there when the power comes back on...
Yeah, a genny would be nice...but I have little interest in a gas powered unit and I just didn't have the bucks for a PTO genny this year.

We up on a hill surrounded by trees. Any flooding (and I do expect that) won't affect us, but I do expect power outage

 

[Western]

She's getting close fellas, hope you guy's have had enough time to get prepared. From what I have heard down here, you guy's will get Mother nature **** bent and on steroids!! ...My FIL is at Ft Bragg, said they are "battening down the hatches" My BIL is in Norfolk (Ret Navy) he said the Navy is sending the ships out to sea? Good luck and God's speed

 

[newbury]

You would be prudent to prepare for heavy rains, high winds and a multi-day power outage middle of next week! :hurricane:

You should always be prepared for that. The only "special" preparation I did was fire up the generator a few weeks before I had planned to test it and fill an extra 5 gal jug of drinking water. One of those plastic collapsible ones to take camping etc.

This is crazy.

People in my area, Northern VA (the place that will decide America痴 fate on election day) are ALREADY freaked!

I went to the grocery store after I got off work on Friday. IT WAS A MAD-HOUSE.

Normally I do Friday shopping for the weekend.

They were completely out of WATER, and according to a lady in line behind me, so was the WalMart.

Incredible.

We are like rats in a bad scientific experiment.

And that confuses me. How bad are we that we HAVE to buy bottles of WATER for a heavy RAIN event? Doesn't anyone keep water filters? What does that stuff cost? $5/case? $4/gallon? I keep about 20 gallons on hand in glass carboys. Filled from the tap.

And somebody mentioned a case of BEER!! What good is a CASE of BEER? Better get 5 or 10 cases and have some friends over

Craigs list has gone crazy with generator sales. I knew I should have bought a dozen of the Harbor Freight $180 generators at their last sidewalk sale for $90@.

Now I'm hoping to get a 10KW plus diesel generator after the event winds down and somebody realizes they don't want it. Like how I picked up my 12 K Winco PTO generator for about 1/3 price.

 

[johnk]

Headed out to fill my gas can for my generator. Hopefully it won't be needed..

 

[riptides]

You should always be prepared for that. The only "special" preparation I did was fire up the generator a few weeks before I had planned to test it and fill an extra 5 gal jug of drinking water. One of those plastic collapsible ones to take camping etc.



And that confuses me. How bad are we that we HAVE to buy bottles of WATER for a heavy RAIN event? Doesn't anyone keep water filters? What does that stuff cost? $5/case? $4/gallon? I keep about 20 gallons on hand in glass carboys. Filled from the tap.

And somebody mentioned a case of BEER!! What good is a CASE of BEER? Better get 5 or 10 cases and have some friends over

Craigs list has gone crazy with generator sales. I knew I should have bought a dozen of the Harbor Freight $180 generators at their last sidewalk sale for $90@.

Now I'm hoping to get a 10KW plus diesel generator after the event winds down and somebody realizes they don't want it. Like how I picked up my 12 K Winco PTO generator for about 1/3 price.

On water, I use the bottles to flush my toilet. Isn't that what is really needed?

Gee, I am fortunate to be on a farm, with a creek, lots of watering devices, and the original hand-operated well!

So drinkable water is only a filter or boil away.

Electricity for essentials, from two generators. About ten gallons of gasoline on standby. Ugh. I'll be hard pressed to use that on the lawn care devices, but have a few cars it can go back in. Likewise, the cars will give up their gas, if it is out for an extended period of time.

The BEER, well, last night I tested it, and I will say, taste like more. I shall go out shortly and find some more stock. Maybe treat myself to some potato chips too.