Update from WV - Big Country OK! - No Power

[big country]

We lost power Friday night @ 6pm. We still don't have power -- no phones cell or home are working as the phone lines are down too. Power company said it would be 7-10 days before power was restored for us.
We had another big storm last night huge winds and more trees down so I doubt that helps the outlook on restoring power...ha!
Water is out since I'm on a well...no power - no water.
I've been hauling buckets of water from the creek to flush the toilet so we're good there.
we had 12 gallons of bottled water stored (probably should have more) and we've been supplementing with water from the creek (filtered through the berkey...comes out clean and tastes fine!)

We drove into town for church, and while there in town and after church, we went to the YMCA to swim and shower. Bathing is a weakness in my plans that will be rectified after this ordeal is over. We can boil creek water and sponge bathe easily enough which would be enough I guess....but a shower would help. I plan to get a portable shower setup and/or stored for the future.

I loaded up our deep freezer into the truck and took it to a friends house where they have power so we won't lose any meat or anything. Its nice having a small deep freeze that is easily transportable (3.5 cuFt)! Obviously not an option for SHTF, but for now I'm not willing to lose $400 in groceries!

I've got a big poplar tree and silver maple down in the field, gonna have to borrow a chainsaw and get it cut up (in small enough pieces to pull with the truck). Nothing down near the house. I'd like some recomendations on chainsaws to buy since it appears I should have one sooner then later! So if you have some recomendations please send them my way! No "residential" chainsaws, I'd like a hard use-heavy use professional chainsaw.

we've been sleeping in the basement since its about 15 degrees cooler down there then upstairs.

People in town (small town..15k people) are INSANE and totally unprepared for something like this. It is eye opening! I went to walmart to buy a box of clay pigeons (that tells you how concerned I was about not having power...lol!) and people were loading up on non-perishables and water. The woman in front of my was telling me she was buying food that wouldn't go bad w/o power. She said all her "microwave meals" were rotten already so she was buying 5 bags of chips, 5 boxes of crackers, 10 cans of spam, and 2 jars of peanut butter....eaten high on the hog in that household....lol! The man behind me was asking her where she found the bottled water cause he couldnt find any in the store. She said she got the "last ones" and he said well thats OK, I'm buying 4 cases of beer since I can't get any water! The camping section of walmart was destroyed, not one lantern or coleman propane tank to be found anywhere. No air matresses or sleeping bags left?? Just wierd...

[osoab]

Good luck to you big country. At least you can look at this as dry run for the most part.

[General of Darkness]

Glad to hear you're ok. Do you have a generator?

[big country]

Glad to hear you're ok. Do you have a generator?

Of course not, it is in the future plans though! Probably a NG generator wired in perminately around 7000-10,000 watts.

[Dogman]

It is good you and yours are doing fine.

In a way, even if storms do create hardship, this is a very good way to see and understand what is needed. Have a note book and start making lists of needs and wants. It is one thing to plan for something like you are going through and a total different thing actually doing it. And when things clear up, ACT! Make the changes, buy the items you see that are needed or the things that would make things easier for your and yours if/when something like this happens again. Because it will, I can not remember the number of times that power goes out here long term, (over a day) people go nuts and buy gen sets, and then in a year or so they sell them. Only to do it again when another power or what ever happens, happens.

Or enough time goes by and people start forgetting about their preps, say they have that gen set sitting in the corner that they do not check as needed and the fuel goes bad, havent run for years, etc,etc and when needed they drag it out expecting things to be fine and guess what?

The dam thing will not run!

Something like your power outage can be used as a learning experience! Some learn and some do not, and suffer when a repeat event happens again, and it will happen again.

[freespirit]

STIHL- the only name you need to know when it comes to chainsaws...

3062

[horseshoe3]

STIHL- the only name you need to know when it comes to chainsaws...

3062

+1.

Husqvarna used to be neck and neck with Stihl, but lately they have lowered their quality to compete in price with the Poulans and Homelites of the world.

I also hear good very things about Dolmar, but why bother when Stihl is a proven performer.

[slowbell]

Or enough time goes by and people start forgetting about their preps, say they have that gen set sitting in the corner that they do not check as needed and the fuel goes bad, havent run for years, etc,etc and when needed they drag it out expecting things to be fine and guess what?

The dam thing will not run!

This happened to me with my generator. It sat for long enough that the fuel gummed up the carburator, and i had to take it in for a rebuild.

Advise for most small generators. Run them up at least once a month. If you can't do that, for longer term storage, run it dry to get as much fuel out of the system for storage. In fact, if you have anything engine driven, chainsaws, lawnmowers, etc....run them once a month. Have a monthly "engine" day where you go through it all. My two bits.

[EE_]

Interesting way to learn what you need to survive and how others react to a difficult situation. A real life eye opening experience.
Glad everyone is safe. This will pass soon and you and others will be better for it.
Best of luck.

EE

[Old Herb Lady]

Same here Big Country....I'm not too far from you I suppose.....I'm north of you.....

Our power came back on yesterday....... sucked so bad and I'm not gonna like SHTF.

I'm way too spoiled by electricity. Wayyyy tooo much !

We were prepared, not really though..... mentally is where the challenge/ real work is.

Ugh ! Couple more days.....hang in there......best of luck....I know it sucks !

[PlatinumBlonde]

I am happy ya'll are okay!

[Libertytree]

Good to hear yaw'll are ok. Take care.

[iOWNme]

Glad to hear everytihng is ok given the circumstances. Thanks for this post, it is a reminder to check all of my preps and as always: Be Wise and Prepared.

I know for you this sucks, but for others these stories are INVALUABLE to us. Thanks again for this post!

[Plastic]

I am in northern Indiana, the electric went out for 9 hours on Friday and I consider myself fortunate. My parents live in the next county over and have only lost electric a few times in the last decade, and even then for no more than an hour or two. Mine goes out if a squirrel farts, happy as hell it did'nt go out again with yesterdays repeat blast...

Glad you are doing ok and LOL @ Clay pigeons.

[V10Silver]

Having gone thru ice storms in 5 years in NH. You're living a very good practical exercise. We found Heat (winter storms) and Hot Water being the 2 biggest obstacles. We installed last year a forced hot air / wood fired furnace. In a power outage we can keep the house in the 60's just using convection / gravity to move the air. Changed over to an electric hot water heater tied into the generator circuit. We play apollo 13 in order to take care of everything. Turn on the stove turn off the hot water...etc.
As far as chainsaws I have a sthil farm boss which gets the job done for cutting firewood. A logger friend of mine uses husqvarna and after using his for a day I'll be getting me one. He said they are about 700 bucks didn't get the model number.
Good luck and take this opportunity to find the weaknesses in your plan.

[MNeagle]

How are you online bc? Thanks for the report!

[big country]

How are you online bc? Thanks for the report!

Still gotta go to work ;) Work has power and internet.

----

My dad has a Husqvarna 359 and I really like that saw - What would be the equivalent saw in the Stihl line so I can compare? I dont know anything about saws...

[chad]

i hereby request that big country's user level be changed to "clay pigeons." best line ever.

[Twisted Titan]

Taggggg

[drafter]

I've got 2 or 3 of those gravity fed camp showers packed away. I'm strange when it comes to personal hygene, so those types of items were always a priority. I'll probably starve to death before i go without a shower and a shave.

Sounds like you're getting a great trial run to spot your weeknesses though. Stay safe.

[willie pete]

hang in there bc, IF it's any help to you, I (not just me, a VERY large area) once went without electricity for very close to 3 weeks.........some went longer....

[zap]

BC, you oughta be thinking about going gravity fed with your water (if possible) we tried the pump/pressure tank and took it out in less then a year, just a pain in the A$$. We had a sunfrost fridge for a few years that you could run off a car battery, I know you are just starting out but at least you are heading in the right direction. Hang in there !

http://www.sunfrost.com/refrigerators_main.html (http://www.sunfrost.com/refrigerators_main.html)

[horseshoe3]

My dad has a Husqvarna 359 and I really like that saw - What would be the equivalent saw in the Stihl line so I can compare? I dont know anything about saws...

260 and 290 are a little smaller. 361 is a little bigger.

I've got a 260 and an an 066. I use the 066 for heavy blocking. The 260 for everything else. If I only had one saw, I would get a 361. It's a little heavier than a 260, but the extra power would be worth it.

When I was in Jr high and high school, we ran Homelite XLs and XL2s. I would take 3 or 4 out and come back when I had a pickup load of wood or all the saws were broken, whichever came first (about 50/50). When I went to college, Dad realized that his free saw repair had left and he bought a Stihl 021. It is now 16 years old and has only needed basic maintainence and a carb kit a few years ago. He farms and cuts his own wood for a leaky old furnace in a leaky trailer house, so it gets plenty of use - about 20 cords of hardwood per year plus farm cleanup work. It has over 1000 hours on it and runs like new. This is from a saw that Stihl calls a "homeowner/occasional use". I don't think anyone but a professional lumberjack could ever wear out one of their "professional" saws.

I cut aboutthe same amount of wood. My saws are not near that old, and have had no problems yet.

[Twisted Titan]

Stern Solar showers I swear buy them

Me and the troops are currently using right now because the water heater busted a while ago and im not fixxing it in house thats going back to the bank someday.


They have 4.0 Gallon and 2.5 Gallons Get three of each so you have multiple back ups

Dont get the one with the shower pouch as it totally useless and they charge a few bucks for something that wont fit a standard bottle

The 4 gallons are awesome but they are HEAVY and they get flaming hot which will cause the handle to tear after enough uses.

The 2.5 gallon will do the job just as well plus the have the benifit of getting warmer faster because its a smaller amount and much more manageable.


I cant endorse this product enough because it really be a life saver on multiple levels also there is added benifit of anonmity I had this solar bag laying out and people would walk by and scracth their head not knowing what it was or what it did. I eventually had a neighboor ask and he was utterly astounded when i told what it did and the cost.


Any how glad you shared your experince. got plans to run out and get a hand crank emergency radio and a extra hellping of canned goods after listening to your tail of Murphy.

keep safe and +1 on the Berkey with the creek water .




http://youtu.be/aaPm9qHVRow

[big country]

Thanks for the info on the saw and the solar shower! I'm going to order some of those showers right now!

I REALLY looked at getting a Sun Frost fridge, but they were so expensive. I ended up buying a mass-market, yet most efficient fridge I could, to save some money.
For example:
Sun Frost RF19 is $3,265 (half freezer, half fridge) and uses 372 kWh/yr
Sun Frost RF16 is $3,117 (has larger fridge then 19) and uses 254 kWh/yr
Whirlpool WRT351SFYW is $809 and uses 364 kWh/yr (21.1cuFt)
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04685182000P

Not all that much difference in electical usage, but much much cheaper. Sun Frost would be good for buying smaller fridges no doubt as there aren't that many offerings except terrible "mini-fridges" for college.

---------------

Non-fridge eating and food ideas:

We've had spaghetti twice, nothing from the fridge necessary (though it is a bit plain without cheese and meat)
Buying meat sauce canned could solve the "no-meat" issue...but we dont buy meat sauce.

Quick No bake Tuna noodle casserole:
2 pouches Knorr Butter Noodles
3 cans of tuna
Fix noodles, mix in tuna, serve.
Its delicious! We used butter which could be in your fridge...but lasts a week or so just fine out of the fridge. Could substitute any oil probably or even just use water w/o an oil.

Been having cereal with powdered milk, we dont have cold water so its cold-ish. The coldish+powdered milk tastes fine on cereal but not so good just to drink. I'd rather just have water.
Kids have been eating cold pop tarts (really healthy! lol)

Kraft mac n cheese makes up decently with just water, powdered milk helps so we were doing that as well.

We have MREs and mountain house stored but haven't tapped into it yet.

--------------------

Also the clay pigeons went over well! It was a good midday activity, fun...Got the neighbors involved and they had fun too! I need another box...ha!

[Twisted Titan]

I've got 2 or 3 of those gravity fed camp showers packed away. I'm strange when it comes to personal hygene, so those types of items were always a priority. I'll probably starve to death before i go without a shower and a shave.




In a grid down situation Aside from having decent food BEING CLEAN IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MORALE BOOSTERS THEIR IS.

[Xizang]

I manage marinas for a living. You guys have no idea how far ahead of the curve most boaters are! On their boats, they are completely independent of the grid. Sailboats get free propulsion. Most have solar panels on board, which keep their batteries charged. Power invertors make AC current in addition to the 12-volt DC they have. Nearly everyone has a reverse-osmosis watermaker for plenty of fresh drinking water. Fish are pretty much abundant wherever they go. And not much shortage of water for a bath or shower. You guys need to figure it out!

[Shami-Amourae]

For those of you who had power outages, did the water, gas, and other services go out? I've heard water will go out over time if power goes out since the pumps stop working which causes the water pressure to go down. Does anyone know anything about that?

[Dogman]

For those of you who had power outages, did the water, gas, and other services go out? I've heard water will go out over time if power goes out since the pumps stop working which causes the water pressure to go down. Does anyone know anything about that? Not sure about other locations. But here when the power goes out that is all that happens on a limited local level. The other utilities still work, gas, water, etc. Electricity is used by the pumps to pump water into the water towers. And it is the head higth of the water in the tanks that supply's water pressure to the tap at home. On a larger outage, gas may or not go out, depending if your areas gas is pumped into it, it would depend on where the pump is. But here that is not a problem because the gas transmission system uses natural gas to run the pump engines.

Water could eventually stop when the water towers run empty without power, and it does take a good chunk of horsepower too get water into those tanks.

The longest outage I have seen here methinks was about 4-5 days, and the gas and water was still was working. But this is a small town 6-7k in the oil patch.

[Mouse]

I have a ms290 farm boss jobbie and it works good for most stuff. I put a 20" bar on it for bigger work. I have a 170 for little stuff because its very light and easy to use ( I call the woman saw).

If I had to do it again I would get the 362 (which is the old 361 or old 036 i think) as you can really put some work out with that saw and it's still fairly light. The 290 is a pig for the amount of power (it's heavy). I have never had any significant problems with either of my Stihls. My neighbors run the crap out of theirs and those saws are 20 years old.

I need to get a genset and some kind of a hand pump for my well......I don't really need power for anything else other than freezer and well. I have the money and just keep putting it off. Nice to get a reminder.

[zap]

LOL , I'm sorry, after years of living like that....... finally I am almost totally self sufficient ( except for propane) I would be screwed without propane, I was talking to a friend today about the old days living in a trailer house and barely having enough power for a few lights maybe a hour of tv, forget about a computer.

Once all the pipes froze and we couldn't even pump water, we went to town and brought 400 gals. up here, he went out in the 40 degree weather and cleaned up , not me I just stayed dirty/stinky. The house was hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter, (it sucked) we used a regular old wood cook stove for heat,( its still in the barn) I remember one cold morning I went to the bathroom and steam came up outta the toliet (sorry for that thought), damn it was cold and hell hot in the summer.

Jezz, I am so lucky and blessed. I am living high on the hog now !!! lol

AH the good ol days ;)


EDIT; gravity fed water!

[horseshoe3]

I should have mentioned that the Stihls that end in an even number (024, 026, 028, 036 etc.) under the old system, or have the second digit an even number under the new system (260, 360, 361 etc.) are the professional saws and have a better power to weight ratio.

Like Mouse said, the 290 is heavy. The 360 is the same weight and has 22% more power.

[big country]

Power is back as of 10pm tonight. I bought and shot another box of clay pigeons today as my 4th celebration. They sorta look like fireworks when you hit them square. Big orange burst and of course a loud report ;)

Got a list going for supplies for the next time.
Solar battery charger, solar shower, AA powered led lanterns (we have oil lamps, but they added too much heat to an already hot house, will save for winter lighting), AA eneloop batteries, AA D-cell adapters, emergency well bucket.

Also a chainsaw and Natural gas genny for in the future. Our NG comes from the neighbors well about 500ft from our house. We didn't lose gas during this outage, and the well is mostly self pressurized. The pump runs once or twice a month just to swap the well from what I can tell.

[Old Herb Lady]

YAY !!! Soo happy for you ! Five days !! Whew ! Just keep doing what you said....getting ready for the next time !

Enjoy your electricity. It will feel like an awesome luxury , I know !!
We lost power on & off today....yikes, I thought....come back on....come back on.....hold breath......back on !
Whew again !

Edit- Btw, I've never seen a storm where it's bright, sunshiney , but thundering & raining like crazy . Weird.

[Twisted Titan]

AA eneloop batteries, AA D-cell adapters, emergency well bucket.

WHAT ARE THESE?

[big country]

AA eneloop batteries, AA D-cell adapters, emergency well bucket.

WHAT ARE THESE?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eneloop

They are low self-discharge NiMH rechargeable batteries. According to that wiki they lose about 10% charge in a years time (unlike normal NiMH which lose 20% on the first day). They're also good for about 1500 recharges (If charged EVERY DAY they will last 4+ years)

They get rave reviews on Amazon and just about everywhere else I've read about them. They are made by multiple companies, but the Sanyo Eneloop seem to have the biggest following. (Duracell's brand of low self discharge are just rebranded eneloops)

[chad]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eneloop

They are low self-discharge NiMH rechargeable batteries. According to that wiki they lose about 10% charge in a years time (unlike normal NiMH which lose 20% on the first day). They're also good for about 1500 recharges (If charged EVERY DAY they will last 4+ years)

They get rave reviews on Amazon and just about everywhere else I've read about them. They are made by multiple companies, but the Sanyo Eneloop seem to have the biggest following. (Duracell's brand of low self discharge are just rebranded eneloops)

eeneloops rock. i use them all the time.

[ImaCannin]

Check out Bison Pumps .... www.bisonpumps.com

If you canned your own food, you would not have to resort to cans of tuna.... :o
http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/ImaCannin/my%20stuff/?action=view&current=cannedmeat.jpg#!oZZ22QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F %2Fs995.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf75%2FImaCanni n%2Fmy%2520stuff%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3Dca nnedmeat.jpg

Check out Sun Danzer solar powered refrigerator and or freezer. I think they cost around 1300.00. Mine is a chest style. You can buy a device that switches it from a freezer to refrigerator. After reading about that guy in Argentina, Frugal ( I think) He said the one thing that was the most handy in a power out scenario was a way to keep his food cold. http://sundanzer.com/

Glad you are safe!

[sirgonzo420]

ImaCannin!

:D

[big country]

Do you suggest that I can my own tuna ima? I love fish! Fresh tuna is prohibitively expensive, but we eat a lot of "fresh" salmon, whiting, and catfish. I don't care for tilapia but I will eat it.
I also eat Bluegills and crappie that I catch myself...never tried canning any of it. If is possible to home can fish? Does it keep its texture or turn to mush?

Also, we do have a pressure canner but I have not canned meats with it. I suppose I should!
We can from our garden....carrots, green beans, beets, and spaghetti sauce.
I guess I'll need to add chicken to that list. Once I get my coop built (In progress) and get used to the laying hens that are in a brooder right now, I'll try some meat chickens and I'll try canning them.

[EE_]

Welcome back Ima!

EE

[Awoke]

I don't know how I missed this totally awesome thread!!

I too LOLed at the Clay Pigeons, and I too own a Farm Boss and swear by Stihl.
I think the Farm Boss is 56 CC, and heavy as hell, but the next model up is more powerful and lighter, but I think it costs about $300 more which is a huge trade off.

I'm glad you have your power back, and the people of WalMart didn;t turn into a panicked horde.

Big Country, definitely consider an elevated cistern, fed from your electric well pump. There is a lot of info out there that will teach you how to install it yourself for dirt cheap, especially if you can get your hands on a holding tank for free or cheap. I am on city water so it's a non-issue, plus I have a pool, so I am not worried much, but for someone who is exclusively on a well, and elevated cistern and a backup generator is a must IMO.

Another thing I would recommend is a Solar Link emergency radio. They are about $70 or $80, and have 4 power sources: Battery, Solar, Crank, DC Adapter (Sold separately of course) but very handy, and the right model recieves Shortwave as well.

Check one out here (http://www.amazon.com/FR600B-Solarlink-Self-Powered-S-A-M-E-Flashlight/dp/B001QTXKE2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)

They are not the best, but for the money they are handy. I clip a piece of speaker wire onto the Antenna with a metal alligator clip for better reception. They also have a Weather band with a warning system alarm mode, and a flashlight, etc built right in.

[ImaCannin]

I would not suggest that anyone preserve anything that came out of the ocean anymore! Well, unless your like fluorescent green. Your canned meat might look like when you catch fire flies and put them in a jar and look at them at night. I would not even buy any more commercial canned sea food (salmon- tuna- ect). If you got clean streams where you are at, then go for canning the fish. I have had canned salmon from a lady. It kept its texture.

You can buy Turkeys online (McMurry hatchery ) . Turkeys give you 75% back , ( a beef may give you back 40 to 50% back) Turkeys forage/free range great on grass. From one of your garden pictures, it looks like you have a lot of grass. We have 21 turkeys right now. I plan on growing them out and butchering them and canning them. I will make broth or bone soup out of the bones and can it. Last year we grew 2 white turkeys, the hen weighed 22 lbs and the tom was 38 lbs AFTER they were butchered. (try finding a pan big enough to bake that dude in!!!) I did not can them, but after I cooked them, I put it in baggies and in the freezer, as I eat it most days for my morning protein. This year I will can most all of it. We may sell a few as pasture turkeys.. I think it goes for about 2.50 a lb live weight. If you want to do chickens, we have a breed called Red Rangers. They grow rather fast and are ready to butcher in 14 to 16 weeks. They are a heritage chicken as opposed to the Cornish Cross which is a hy-bred. They also forage well on grass and dont have the leg problems like the cornish. We butchered our roosters at 12 weeks and they averaged 5.5 lbs in the freezer.
we probably could have left them for a week or two, but were running out of room. Two of our turkeys are 17 weeks old and about 23 lbs (live weight).