Elec power outages really SUCK

[Butterfly]

Question about generators: How long would they power your home -- I mean assuming that you couldn't get any more fuel for them? Surely it wouldn't be safe to stockpile gasoline or diesel or whatever? I have zero experience with a generator.

 

[Gary O']

Question about generators: How long would they power your home -- I mean assuming that you couldn't get any more fuel for them? Surely it wouldn't be safe to stockpile gasoline or diesel or whatever? I have zero experience with a generator.

A gallon of gas will last more than a day for a 2000 watt genny

A genny that size will get you lights, television, phone charger, Mr Coffee coffee maker, a few other low watt things.
No AC, maybe a small fan.

The Honda is by far the best to get.
They go for around $1000
The Ryobi is about half that
It's also about half the quality, but will do the job

 

[Gary O']

Loss of electricity quickly shows us how dependent we've all become, on the same. I have a generator that will power a small window AC unit and a few other things like a lamp, phone charger, radio. As long as we stay in one room, we're OK, to an extent, as long as our gasoline and oil hold up. Thing is, I wonder how many of us would do well if our water service simply stopped. We have thirty gallons stored in glass, but that might be good for a couple of weeks, and then, if only used judiciously. The good life is good as long as we are supplied by "the system." I think the majority of folks would soon be virtually helpless if water and electrical service disappeared. Trouble is, with the world situation being what it is, I think the time may not be too far off when we will all be put to the test. Remember, be prepared, is more than just the Scout's motto.

and that's the ragged truth

I get a bit smug when folks around my area talk about their power outages, and my lack of dependence on the grid

But

The raw reality is, I wouldn't last much more than a few weeks..primarily due to the need for fuel.

Solar may be my next step
...but that stuff gets expensive in a hurry

 

[Keesha]

Question about generators: How long would they power your home -- I mean assuming that you couldn't get any more fuel for them? Surely it wouldn't be safe to stockpile gasoline or diesel or whatever? I have zero experience with a generator.

We have a champion generator and it does the job. A few years ago we lost power for three days but had a generator to keep the fridge running, tv, lights etc.

As far as gasoline goes, you leave the gasoline in it but you first add gasoline stabilizer. Every few months you charge it up.
Its not dangerous.

You can also get solar chargers for your phone.

 

[Keesha]

Loss of electricity quickly shows us how dependent we've all become, on the same. I have a generator that will power a small window AC unit and a few other things like a lamp, phone charger, radio. As long as we stay in one room, we're OK, to an extent, as long as our gasoline and oil hold up. Thing is, I wonder how many of us would do well if our water service simply stopped. We have thirty gallons stored in glass, but that might be good for a couple of weeks, and then, if only used judiciously. The good life is good as long as we are supplied by "the system." I think the majority of folks would soon be virtually helpless if water and electrical service disappeared. Trouble is, with the world situation being what it is, I think the time may not be too far off when we will all be put to the test. Remember, be prepared, is more than just the Scout's motto.

We are on well water and one year our well got silted up . We couldn’t get anyone out to fix it until the following spring so we were out of water for SIX MONTHS.
It sucked. Having baths in plastic bins ! Fun!
Not!

 

[SeaBreeze]

Makes me wonder how we got by without air conditioning. I remember as a kid a fan was considered a treat.

Last night I found myself thinking about my (deceased) older brother. He worked for the electric company in the town where I went to high school. He was a "lineman for the county" , but later he took some classes and got a promotion to a desk job at the main office. I also think of him if I see crews from the electric company when I'm out.

Same here AC, I grew up in an apartment and the building couldn't handle air conditioners even if people back then could afford them. All we had was a fan for years, when I got older my mother bought some kind of a little swamp cooler type unit that used water, just sat on a table. Condolences for the loss of your brother, my older brother passed on too when he was only 30, and I always think of him or see someone who resembles him.

I don't know if you're in an apartment or house, but generally anyone who buys a generator has a house and a garage or shed to store stuff like that in. That's where ours is, along with a propane camp stove, etc. I can go for weeks or more with no electricity if I'm camping and it's voluntary....but having it happen at home unexpectedly is a different story, especially if, like you mentioned, you have stuff defrosting in the freezer, etc.

 

[Buckeye]

Well. I’m at my lady friend’s house in Ohio and the power went out about 15 minutes ago. Very localized. Houses east of us still have power. Houses to the west do not. Transformer is on the power pole in front of her house

EDITED TO ADD: power was restored about 2 hours later (1 am local time). It seems a snake made it up the pole and somehow kicked off the transformer.

 

[StarSong]

Loss of electricity quickly shows us how dependent we've all become, on the same. I have a generator that will power a small window AC unit and a few other things like a lamp, phone charger, radio. As long as we stay in one room, we're OK, to an extent, as long as our gasoline and oil hold up. Thing is, I wonder how many of us would do well if our water service simply stopped. We have thirty gallons stored in glass, but that might be good for a couple of weeks, and then, if only used judiciously. The good life is good as long as we are supplied by "the system." I think the majority of folks would soon be virtually helpless if water and electrical service disappeared. Trouble is, with the world situation being what it is, I think the time may not be too far off when we will all be put to the test. Remember, be prepared, is more than just the Scout's motto.

and that's the ragged truth

I get a bit smug when folks around my area talk about their power outages, and my lack of dependence on the grid

But

The raw reality is, I wouldn't last much more than a few weeks..primarily due to the need for fuel.

Solar may be my next step ...but that stuff gets expensive in a hurry

We have about 25 gallons of water stored, give or take, plus a swimming pool full (which is no good for drinking but is ok for cleaning), and a small generator, plus a camper with back up batteries for camping off-grid.

Yes, most of us are astonishingly dependent on modern power and water utilities. Most people would be uncomfortable with power, but would live to tell about the experience. Without city power and water, few would survive past two weeks.

Just thinking about it makes me thirsty, especially since my area is experiencing a heat wave.

 

[Linda]

With possible 115* heat coming in the next few days over parts of California, I hope the electric stays on so we can run the ACs.

 

[Don M.]

People have become almost totally dependent upon electricity, over the past century. Coping without it is everything from an inconvenience...during a short outage...to life threatening conditions during an extended outage. Perhaps the Greatest threat to civilization would be a massive Solar Flare that would destroy much of the grid...for months. Without electricity, humans would quickly descend into savages.

When we moved to the boondocks, one of my first purchases was a 7500 watt generator....big enough to run the essential appliances, and the pump for the well water....but, even with that, I would still have the problem of finding fuel after a couple of days...if power was off at the gas stations. Knock wood...we've only had 3 or 4 outages in 15 years...the worst being about 18 hours.