Storm Prep

[HAR]

Hi Guys.
Here in Vermont, what was previously forecast as a mostly rain event with the chance for mild flooding due to rain/melting snow, this morning was reclassified as a Winter Storm Warning, with much less rain and forecast 8-12" heavy wet snow or more, with 25-35 mph winds and gusts 45 mph or more, and warnings of downed trees, branches, and possible wide spread power outages.

Erring on the side of caution, and as my wife and I are now both retired, I took the snowblower off and mounted the PTO generator. If it is crucial to drive someplace, I can quickly detach the power and use the tractor bucket to clear a path. I moved the tractor and genset next to the double throw connection, made sure the tank was full, and now I wait for mother nature. I know some of you might feel this is foolishness, and others may agree. BUT...why by fire insurance, you will probably never use it. If all does not transpire, I have had a few minutes of time alone with my tractor and my genset has been exercised. If something truly happens, it will just take me minutes to be back on power. A week or so ago, we had another similar event, but my area was spared. Some 30,000+ others were not so lucky and they spent 24-36 hours without power for nearly identical conditions, just the WX forecast was way off and no one suspected such an outcome.

The 3-5 day forecast has daytime temps that very well could melt most any snow that might fall.

Ah, the joys of winter in the northeast.

 

[Eagle1]

Hi Guys.
Here in Vermont, what was previously forecast as a mostly rain event with the chance for mild flooding due to rain/melting snow, this morning was reclassified as a Winter Storm Warning, with much less rain and forecast 8-12" heavy wet snow or more, with 25-35 mph winds and gusts 45 mph or more, and warnings of downed trees, branches, and possible wide spread power outages.

Erring on the side of caution, and as my wife and I are now both retired, I took the snowblower off and mounted the PTO generator. If it is crucial to drive someplace, I can quickly detach the power and use the tractor bucket to clear a path. I moved the tractor and genset next to the double throw connection, made sure the tank was full, and now I wait for mother nature. I know some of you might feel this is foolishness, and others may agree. BUT...why by fire insurance, you will probably never use it. If all does not transpire, I have had a few minutes of time alone with my tractor and my genset has been exercised. If something truly happens, it will just take me minutes to be back on power. A week or so ago, we had another similar event, but my area was spared. Some 30,000+ others were not so lucky and they spent 24-36 hours without power for nearly identical conditions, just the WX forecast was way off and no one suspected such an outcome.

The 3-5 day forecast has daytime temps that very well could melt most any snow that might fall.

Ah, the joys of winter in the northeast.

Seems like a reasonable plan, every time it looks like storms here I kick the well pump on to top off the 12000 gallon water tank. Buys me quite a while before I have to drag the genset to the well house to refill the tank.

 

[MoKelly]

I think you are smart. You live there and know what is best to protect your home and family.

Good luck. Hope it’s not as bad as forecast.

 

[MossRoad]

Hi Guys.
Here in Vermont, what was previously forecast as a mostly rain event with the chance for mild flooding due to rain/melting snow, this morning was reclassified as a Winter Storm Warning, with much less rain and forecast 8-12" heavy wet snow or more, with 25-35 mph winds and gusts 45 mph or more, and warnings of downed trees, branches, and possible wide spread power outages.

Erring on the side of caution, and as my wife and I are now both retired, I took the snowblower off and mounted the PTO generator. If it is crucial to drive someplace, I can quickly detach the power and use the tractor bucket to clear a path. I moved the tractor and genset next to the double throw connection, made sure the tank was full, and now I wait for mother nature. I know some of you might feel this is foolishness, and others may agree. BUT...why by fire insurance, you will probably never use it. If all does not transpire, I have had a few minutes of time alone with my tractor and my genset has been exercised. If something truly happens, it will just take me minutes to be back on power. A week or so ago, we had another similar event, but my area was spared. Some 30,000+ others were not so lucky and they spent 24-36 hours without power for nearly identical conditions, just the WX forecast was way off and no one suspected such an outcome.

The 3-5 day forecast has daytime temps that very well could melt most any snow that might fall.

Ah, the joys of winter in the northeast.

Never hurts to be prepared. Personally, I'd keep the snow removal equipment on knowing that I could easily get the generator hooked up if needed.

 

[seville009]

Always better to be over prepared than not prepared at all.

I always have the equipment ready to go (fueled up, etc), have a whole house propane generator on two 1,000 gallon tanks, and food and water.

May only need it once every ten years, but you’ll thank yourself when it’s that time.

 

[Thomas]

Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to old man winter.

 

[Hoobie]

We are on the rain/wind side of the same event. Flood warnings out. My house in no danger but roads are susceptible.

 

[ultrarunner]

Pacific Northwest experiencing record rain.

I was up at the place getting ready for new tenants and noticed my drainage totally blocked solid… extended a few days thinking I need to clear and rented a mini excavator… glad I did!

 

[drumminj]

I always have the equipment ready to go (fueled up, etc), have a whole house propane generator on two 1,000 gallon tanks, and food and water.

Two thousand-gallon tanks?!? Wow!

We have a thousand gallon tank (buried) for just a gas stove and the standby generator. I thought *I* was overly prepping!

 

[dstig1]

This is TBN...nobody here is going to take issue with your plan. Pretty much everyone here is going to say the same thing I am: "Good plan!"

 

[seville009]

Two thousand-gallon tanks?!? Wow!

We have a thousand gallon tank (buried) for just a gas stove and the standby generator. I thought *I* was overly prepping!

For the whole house - furnace, water heater, generator……

 

[nyone]

For my house we dont need power to heat or cook so a generator isnt super important.

Generaly for ice storms have a good working and sharp chainsaw along with a few days food and water. It may be days before the roads are really passable so getting out in a hurry prob wont be super important.

 

[seville009]

In 1997, I lived in a development with public water and natural gas service. Had a storm that knocked out power for about a week over a large region. Still had running/hot water though; had a small 5,000 watt generator for lights and refrigerator. Was during the summer, so didn’t need heat.

Moved to the country in 2001. No public utilities except for electric. If the power went out, it would be like a log cabin - no running water, no heat (house has no fireplace). That’s the primary reason for going all in on a whole house generator, especially if it happened in the winter.

Surprisingly, since I had it installed about 20 years ago, the longest outage we’ve had was maybe 8 hours during a summer day. Still feel that it was a good investment though; peace of mind.

 

[MossRoad]

If you hadn't installed the generator, you'd have had power outages every other week. It's kinda like washing a car to make it rain.

 

[ruffdog]

I just make sure the porch is loaded up with firewood and the backup supply is in the shed. If I can get to the far shed there is MUCH more wood. I can cook on/in the woodstove if needed. We would use the water supply for drinking and poop in a pail so we don't flush toilets.

 

[MossRoad]

I'll fire up the generator to fill the tub with water from the well and use that to flush the toilet before I poop in a bucket.

And that's only 4 months in the winter. I have pool water to flush the toilet the rest of the year.

 

[dodge man]

I make sure we have at least 12 hours worth of food and one of those 12 hour candles. Do cell phone flashlights put out heat?

 

[Eagle1]

Hurricane lamps and oil lanterns. We have a bunch and plenty of lamp oil. Lanterns are still as handy as back in the day. Not great light but you can find the toilet or walk the dogs.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

What part of VT are you from? I'm in the NEK, made sure Generator was full of gas, back up can, snowblower ready, tractor as well.
Maybe got 6" overnight and another 2 during the day. Our outlook is cold. We are normally colder than 2 miles away, must be elevation. Week looks like 20's to low 30's during the day and low teens at night. But with Sundays warm weather and rain, driveway isn't frozen yet, so I was shooting Staymat out of snowblower...

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I'll fire up the generator to fill the tub with water from the well and use that to flush the toilet before I poop in a bucket.

And that's only 4 months in the winter. I have pool water to flush the toilet the rest of the year.

Composting toilets, we just stir the "pot". Add a little litter as needed. Dump out the urine in the compost piles.