A reality check after Power went out !

[Grumpy Old Man]

A Carrington event.. yep if that were to ever really happen.. it would make a Zombie Apocalypse look like fun. The "wanderers" would want more than just a beer and a hamburger.. they would be coming over to take everything you had..Sure would be a way to reduce the population. TEOTWAWKI (look it up)

survivalcache.com read their version of TEOTWAWKI it says alot

 

[NorTracNY]

Wow! No power for over 7 hours! I'm sure they would have been calling their lawyers to find out who to sue if their cable phone worked. It's sad that they couldn't feed themselves without power. Even worse that they needed their air conditioning!

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Your really have to wonder what people are thinking when a short power outage has them wondering if their life is over or what to do for 1 nite ? I mean these people acted as tho they were lost and this area is country with 500 acre farms and the occasional subdivision ,more trucks than cars and we have the power go out once or twice every winter for a day or 2 but throw in 80 degrees and no a/c and they were clueless ?

 

[sherpa]

Our power goes out at least twice a month for several hours in these NC mountains. We lost power 3 times in one week in July. Each outgage lasted about 3 hours. The crews have to drive at least 45 minutes just to get out here. I have a generator ready to plug into the power supply at all times but rarely use it unless the power is off for at least 5 hours. I only have 2 utilities back here in these woods, electric and telephone. Our nearest neighbor is one mile away. No one panics around here when we lose power unless it's been off for more than 2 or 3 days. I always make sure I cut off my main switch before I send power through my lines. It is kinda fun being prepared and not caring whether it comes back on or not. We also have a fully stocked self contained RV ready that also has its own generator plus 160 watt solar panel system. All I have to do is park it in the sun and I have uulimited power. We can go at least 10 days or longer before we need water or anything in the RV. We know how to live on 12 volts if needed, we are ready.
sherpa

 

[Marveltone]

Glad to hear you were prepared. Last fall/early winter, we were out of power for three days. I logged our progress and observations in this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/259736-great-snow-storm-power-outage.html

Hope you can move to your new place soon!

Joe

 

[Kent B]

I have 2 Honda EU2000 generators one is gasoline while the other has been converted to propane. I have the 5500w Coleman that is gasoline. I have a multi fuel conversion for it but not installed.
I can run two refrigerators and some small electronics off of one Honda. They produce suitable sine wave that is safe for tech. The eu2000 is also very quiet and start up with just one pull of the cord.
I have a small battery bank on float charge. I'd like some larger solar panels.
The Coleman is loud but could be improved upon.
None of them are big enough to run the whole house but the Coleman can run the well pump or the window unit Air Conditioner.
I got a 250 gallon propane tank last year. Our heat is electric so we don't use propane much (until I get the hot water heater switched out) .
I could run that little generator for who knows how long on 250 gallons of propane.
Now that I have a tractor I can did a hole and live underground if it gets too hot.

No FEMA camps for this southern boy.

 

[Biggreenavalanche]

Wow ! Lack of personal preparedness in our country amazes me...good on you for helping....

I'm fairly self sufficient now, when I finally build new house and move I WILL be totally self sufficient ( speaking of power ) as new house will be totall off grid capable (both solar and wind, potentially micro hydro too) ... Not a doomsday prepper, yet, but starting to lean real hard in that direction !

Rich

 

[sdef]

The folks on this post obviously understand how the world works and the need to take care of ones self as best as reasonably possible. I have an 8.5 kw gas generator properly wired into a CB control panel which isolates the power line coming into the house, along with ~70 gallons of fuel. I have it primarily to run the well pump, but run it often enough to also keep the cold stuff coldish and use the microwave, etc when wanted. Also have 20 gallons of kerosene for lamps and a couple heaters, along with 25# of propane. I also have a wood stove that will heat the house. And a bunch of other stuff, including a small emergency solar system for battery charging of vehicles, small handheld devices, flashlights, etc.

I am well stocked for self defense, emergency shelter, medical supplies, NBC items, etc. and am good for anything short of a major medical issue or an F4/F5 tornado that would blow/suck it all away.

I have spent a lot of time, money and energy preparing as I have and have no sympathy for those physically and mentally able, who have decided their priorities are different than mine. I am a firm believer folks should live the choices they have made.

I disagree that those hapless individuals learned anything. Because as soon as the power came back on, their "experience" began to fade quickly and will only be a memory in short order, for most, if not all of them.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This stuff almost has to be instilled at preschool age I think. Boy Scouts, etc can help but we need to show how it is done IN FRONT of our kids/grandkids/other kids that show interest.

 

[nc redneck]

Years ago Fran came through central NC. No amount of money could buy a generator. People were sleeping overnight at Home Depot to get one. 7 days with no power it was hot and I was hauling water from my business just to flush toilets. I now have whole house Generac with auto transfer switch with a 1000 and 500 gallon propane tank. Sometimes you look at investment and regret it, but it only takes one time of power going out to be glad you did it.
Later
Scott