Storm prepairedness

[mjbrox]

BTW, after watching all this shit unfold on TV, it has reminded me another reason why we moved out of DC and into the burbs of Richmond now that we have kids.

Worse case, my car can get me 450 miles on one tank. If that is not far enought, to get away from major issues then the world is probibly comming to an end anyway

 

[capri_auto]

I live in Clifton NJ... It's a mess here, but not that bad in my town. We didn't lose power in our house, but most of my town and the surrounding towns did and still have no power. I stocked up on some food and went into the storm with a half tank of gas. I knew going into the storm that lower coastal areas would be the hardest hit, but I underestimated the devastation in those areas. I also under estimated the duration of power outages and fuel shortages. I have family to the North that I could have made it to in case we got hit hard.

Today it took me 2.5 hrs to get a tank of gas, but it could be worse.

I agree a bike would be a great thing to have... After all this shit I wish I had my old Cannondale. Our dependence on fuel is sick and this put it into perspective.

Some people lost everything and the struggle continues. I agree people had fair warning, but leaving everything behind is a hard thing to do. I read about the woman that lost her kids after staying home instead of evacuating... it was an avoidable tragedy....

 

[apg]

Now that tank is going to be much bigger now that I know a about trifuel generators.

If you are planning a permanent installation, most of these gensets run exclusively on gas, and propane will get you a few more watts than natural gas. Tri-fuel generators are a tad more expensive than equivalent single fuel ones. I've seen some whole-house units with auto-switching for just a few bucks more than what I paid almost a decade ago. While you lose portability with a permanent installation, these come with weather-tight enclosures. I've gotta wheel mine out of the garage - after the rain stops. Electricity doesn't like to get wet.

 

[Durt D1ver]

For the most part, I considered myself to be adequately prepared. I typically will keep provisions for 3 days for a storm.But my issue, is that I don't I had get to stay with my family during times like this. I had both cars filled with gas, and a 5gallon can of gas. I had at least 5 gallons of water. Freezer was stocked with frozen tomato sauce, and cupboard is stocked with about 10lbs of pasta. Always have rice and beans in the cupboard. 2 20lb bottles of propane, 6 1lb propane bottles, a 2 burner camp stove, 3 propane lanterns. Multitude of flashlights.

Never previously felt the need for a generator, but then again, when im at work, we have a NG generator to run the whole building. So rechargeable things can be charged at work or in the car. I typically don't stock up on batteries, because I have numerous rechargeable lights. My house is on the most reliable power grid I've ever seen, previous to this I've never lost power for more than an hour. But being without power for an extended period of time with a 2 year old child isn't easy nowadays.

For work, I have a pack that I made up after the blizzards a few years ago. I keep socks and underwear for 3 days, a 32oz water bottle, we typically have 30-50 gallons of water at any time in 5 gallon cooler jugs there. I also keep an extra box of .40, .380, and 2 or 3 boxes of 12g slugs. I also keep Tylenol, provigil, a toothbrush, deodorant, and a razor. Prior to the storm, I bought a cheap bottle of 3 in 1 bodywash/shampoo/conditioner, and tossed it in there, along with a towel. Wood matches, and a cigarette lighter. After this, there are a few things I will keep both at home, and add to my work pack.

Even before this storm, I had planned on installing a NG generator on my house, but I had planned on attempting to move next year, so i was planning on it for my next house. I had done some research, and had looked into a freewatt, which is a home cogeneration unit, to provide both heat and power.

 

[kennith]

Our dependence on fuel is sick and this put it into perspective.

If you want to have civilization, you've got to have some manner of fuel. It can be readily purchased. People simply didn't purchase it when they should have.

I agree people had fair warning, but leaving everything behind is a hard thing to do.

I've done it several times, and so have some of my friends; starting over nearly from scratch. In this situation, most people have something to which they can return. Some of us didn't.

Grab your gear and hit the road. You can't save what can't be saved, no matter where you are. It sucks, but it's as easy as packing a bag. You can cry about it later, on dry land instead of knee-deep in water.

Your plight will remain the same, but your misery will be endured in safety.

How easy it was for them to judge New Orleans...

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[kennith]

If you are planning a permanent installation, most of these gensets run exclusively on gas, and propane will get you a few more watts than natural gas. Tri-fuel generators are a tad more expensive than equivalent single fuel ones. I've seen some whole-house units with auto-switching for just a few bucks more than what I paid almost a decade ago. While you lose portability with a permanent installation, these come with weather-tight enclosures. I've gotta wheel mine out of the garage - after the rain stops. Electricity doesn't like to get wet.

I want this:

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu1000i

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[AU_88]

I want this:

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu1000i

Cheers,

Kennith

I was just looking at the EU2000i. I saw it priced for the same as the MSRP on the 1000...

 

[kennith]

I was just looking at the EU2000i. I saw it priced for the same as the MSRP on the 1000...

1,000 watts is enough to power an Engel. Of course, if I had 2,000 watts, I could have video games and cold soda...

Hmmm...

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[LR Max]

As others have said, transportation and fuel.

So far there have been a few "events" this year that have come up on my radar that could possibly lead to a fuel shortage. As others have said, fill up both vehicles and a 5 gal can. I mean, I'm gonna need it anyway. Haven't actually had an issue but hey, its gas, gonna use it anyway.

I'm a bike guy. Hell I just got back from the grocery store a few hours ago. Loaded up all the food, milk, mixers, cleaning supplies, and beer I need for the next week or so. When all you got is time, the bike looks AMAZING.

Three weeks ago there was a HUGE festival not too far from the house. Everyone lined the streets around my house with cars and for about an hour afterwards, it was gridlocked. Gridlocked for HOURS. However I needed to go out, jumped on the bike and rolled through all of that. Hell I was in traffic on Thursday pedaling my fat ass back from voting and I was GOING FASTER than the cars. This is on a normal day at 6:30pm. Are cars faster? Hell yes. But cars get blocked by stop lights and jackasses who want to turn left when there is no turn lane available.

Also my pantry is stocked with dry/canned goods. Enough in there to last for a while. Also I just picked up one of those two burner big green coleman stoves. I figure between those and the gallon of white gas I've got, I can make it happen. Mind you, I live by myself so a little cabinet of chow can last me a while. If I had a wife and kids, then it would be a completely different story.

 

[Durt D1ver]

I had a borrowed e2000i that I borrowed before buying a 3200w HF special the other day. I was amazed how quiet and eficcient it was.
The freewatt system I referenced earlier is a home cogeneration unit, it uses a Honda NG engine powering a 1200w inverter generator, and uses the exhaust as your forced hot air, and is more efficient than most forced hot air furnaces. I had planned on purchasing one when I added an addition and remodel of my house, before we decided to try and sell. The remodel included emergency outlets, for the fridge, tv, and led recessed lighting through the house, with some in each room on emergency circuits,

 

[apg]

The Freewatt unit is a nice bit of kit, and though I didn't study the site for that long, the price wasn't easily discernable. Looks to be rather pricey, with all the control modules it needs. That, and it's only 1200 watts....

 

[Durt D1ver]

Its not designed to be a whole house backup generator, but to use energy that would normally only be used to heat your house, to generate power for your house, whenever your heat is running to alleviate some dependence on the power company. I don't think it generates enough that you will be getting large energy credits. I was also looking into home fuel cells, which a buddy that works for JCP&L recommended. The emergency backup power is a secondary use. There are plenty of other micro cogent units out there, but I liked that freewatt uses Honda engines and generators, which have proven reliability.

 

[RBBailey]

This one storm shows how stupid government intrusion is in people's lives:

1. It just shows how much of our population has been raised to believe the government is going to take care of them, so they don't need to do preparations.
2. It shows that if things really did go bad -- how about a storm like this and a massive earth quake in California at the same time? -- the government would be at a complete loss, or they would have to institute military law and completely control the populace till the issues were dealt with.
3. If you guys are talking about stockpiling food and all that, you are talking about breaking the law and being labeled as terrorists. The government has designed it so that we are not allowed to be anything but dependent on them -- the way things are going on the NE Coast are the way they are supposed to happen, no one should be complaining.

As far as being prepared: I have some extra food, I have a water filter system that will work for any situation, I'll make sure the cars and some extra cans are filled up, and I'll have clothes and camping gear ready to go -- including fire making abilities. Most of this stuff is about 1/2 an hour from being able to be used. If I had a week of warning, I'd be ready for a month on my own with no power or water.

The main thing I don't have is electrical power in the house if the power is down.

 

[mjbrox]

I was just looking at the EU2000i. I saw it priced for the same as the MSRP on the 1000...

hummmm

my deep freeze is 5 amps/ 115 V

So does that mean this thing could power my deep freeze?

 

[bri]

hummmm

my deep freeze is 5 amps/ 115 V

So does that mean this thing could power my deep freeze?

I think so, but I doubt at peak that your freezer is only 5 amps.

I ran freezer and fridge off a single 2000, but now I can do much more with the 30 amps that the 2000i and companion offer when paralleled.

The best (small/inexpensive) setup would be a small rv style solar and battery bank coupled with an eu2000i and I am guessing that you would have enough to power fridge and freezer and not run the generator 100% of the time. Just guessing though.

If you are not concerned about how loud a generator is, then there are many more options than the EU1000/2000. They are the quietest and I think that is worth it when you are in the wild.

Brian

 

[apg]

my deep freeze is 5 amps/ 115 V

So does that mean this thing could power my deep freeze?

In theory. Watts = volts x amps, thus your freezer has a rating of 575 watts. But that 5 amp draw is probably with a full load of food that has been well and truly frozen. It will draw more amps at startup and when working hard, kinda like the difference between city and highway mileage.

 

[apg]

This one storm shows how stupid government intrusion is in people's lives:

3. If you guys are talking about stockpiling food and all that, you are talking about breaking the law and being labeled as terrorists.

You've come up with some bullshit over the years, but this has to be the bullshittiest of all. Where did you get an idea like this? If true, that would make every Mormon in this nation a terrorist (I think one of the tennents of Mormonism is preparedness WRT food stores), as well as the Amish and Mennonites, not to mention just about every farmer in the country.

Oh yeah, I forgot. Mitt Romney did call FEMA "immoral."

 

[LR Max]

hummmm

my deep freeze is 5 amps/ 115 V

So does that mean this thing could power my deep freeze?

Go onto Honda's website and they have an entire section on average power consumption is for certain items. Should give you a general starting point.

Pretty much all I would want to run is my fridge, maybe charge/run a laptop, and charge a cell phone. My stove is electric, so forget trying to run that off a generator. Better to bust out the coleman in the garage.

 

[RBBailey]

APG: I was speaking in nuances of the interpretations of a few things, but specifically for when there is an emergency:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press...order-national-defense-resources-preparedness
http://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-SuspiciousActivity/Military_Surplus.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X2N1z9zJ20k

 

[az_max]

APG: I was speaking in nuances of the interpretations of a few things, but specifically for when there is an emergency:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press...order-national-defense-resources-preparedness
http://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-SuspiciousActivity/Military_Surplus.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X2N1z9zJ20k

Oops, there goes my cover...

 Make bulk purchases of items to include:
 Weatherproofed ammunition or match containers
 Meals Ready to Eat
 Night Vision Devices; night flashlights; gas masks
 High capacity magazines
 Bi-pods or tri-pods for rifles