What are your hacks when the electricity goes out

[Mr. Wizard]

It’s blowin like a sumbitch in western Kansas and our electricity just went out. What are your hacks?
We run as much water as we can in the tub and use a 5 gallon bucket to pour in the top of the toilet for usage.
We have LED lights that are always plugged in and automatically go on when the electricity goes off. They are handy flashlights too.
It’s cold so the garage makes a huge walk in freezer.
Everyone adds layers of clothes.
I am soon buying a big generator and a MM plug-in to plug into my 220 volt plug in. Must turn the main breaker off so no electricity gets backed down the line and kills some poor lineman !

You guys?

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by FlaChief58

It's an annual routine for me here to be prepared for power outages.

1. Buy enough drinking water to last 2 weeks
2. Buy enough non perishables to last 2 weeks
3. Go through the generator to make sure it's working.
4. Check/charge power banks, and flashlights.
5. Make sure to have propane for the grill, camp stove and lantern.
6. Stock up on batteries
7. Fill gas cans.

When there's a storm headed our way
1. Fill tub, buckets and pots with water
2. Put anything that isn't bolted down outside in the garage/ shed.
3. Freeze as much water as possible
4. Fill gas tanks

Tell me you live in Florida, without telling me you live in Florida....LOL

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by notorious

They can be drawn in with promises of candy and soda.

And puppies. In a van. Down by the river. Or so I've heard.

[Hammock Parties]

masturbating in the dark

so pretty much like any other day

[Rain Man]

If you have a nearby fast-moving river, a 20 ft wooden wheel, and some copper wire, you can solve any electric outage problem you have.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by notorious

I have a tractor pto driven generator that can allegedly run my entire farm.

Hope I never need to find out.

Thought about just biting my lip and going the route HCF has. Whole house generator that kicks on automatically ran off of natural gas.

Mine is a Generac. We have switches on all major circuits and the computer monitors load. I pay for a checkup every 6 months and thats a bargain. Its on a 500 gal LP tank and they estimate its good for 8 days

[BIG K]

Originally Posted by FlaChief58

It's an annual routine for me here to be prepared for power outages.

1. Buy enough drinking water to last 2 weeks
2. Buy enough non perishables to last 2 weeks
3. Go through the generator to make sure it's working.
4. Check/charge power banks, and flashlights.
5. Make sure to have propane for the grill, camp stove and lantern.
6. Stock up on batteries
7. Fill gas cans.

When there's a storm headed our way
1. Fill tub, buckets and pots with water
2. Put anything that isn't bolted down outside in the garage/ shed.
3. Freeze as much water as possible
4. Fill gas tanks

6900 gallons of water in three storage tanks.
My own well.
Transfer/isolation switch at house that allows me to plug in 1 of 3 generators to power some lights and well pump.
Fuel storage
Propane tanks for bbq's, stoves.
Natural gas. Gas will keep flowing unless zombie apocalypse/ world war.
Portable solar panels.
Propane/ battery operated lanterns.
Food storage for 7 months.
Plenty of guns and ammo in case it is not just a power outage and it is the zombie apocalypse....

Oh, and 5 horses, chickens,cats and dogs. If power is out for more than 72 hours, my wife's horse dies first for meat.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by FlaChief58

It's an annual routine for me here to be prepared for power outages.

1. Buy enough drinking water to last 2 weeks
2. Buy enough non perishables to last 2 weeks
3. Go through the generator to make sure it's working.
4. Check/charge power banks, and flashlights.
5. Make sure to have propane for the grill, camp stove and lantern.
6. Stock up on batteries
7. Fill gas cans.

When there's a storm headed our way
1. Fill tub, buckets and pots with water
2. Put anything that isn't bolted down outside in the garage/ shed.
3. Freeze as much water as possible
4. Fill gas tanks

My list as well, living on the TX Gulf Coast.

I also make sure to fill my extra car's gas tank and ten 5 -gallon gas tanks to have enough gas to run the generator for 2 weeks if need be. I can't stand dealing with gas lines, because when the power's out you've got to drive pretty damn far to find working pumps, and they always have long lines. No thanks.

[FlaChief58]

Originally Posted by TEX

My list as well, living on the TX Gulf Coast.
I also make sure to fill my extra car's gas tank and 10 5 -gallon tanks to have enough gas to run the generator for 2 weeks if need be. I can't stand dealing with gas lines, because when the power's out you've got to drive pretty damn far to find working pumps, and they always have lines. Spend all day looking for gas. No thanks.

Every time there's a hurricane, it's the same shit. People freaking out, and hoarding everything from food to fuel. If more people took the time to get prepared at the beginning of the season, it wouldn't be nearly as bad.

In the meantime, I'm at home patting myself on the back for being prepared and not having to deal with the chaos.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by FlaChief58

Every time there's a hurricane, it's the same shit. People freaking out, and hoarding everything from food to fuel. If more people took the time to get prepared at the beginning of the season, it wouldn't be nearly as bad.

In the meantime, I'm at home patting myself on the back for being prepared and not having to deal with the chaos.

You nailed it - be prepared! I have my gas tanks filled with STA-BIL fuel storage additive, a couple crates of bottled water, and a couple of propane tanks. Was ready for Beryl this year when it hit. Was without power for 6 days. No problem. Since Beryl, I restocked, and was ready for Helane in case it came this way.

I learned valuable lessons from Hurricane Ike, like BE PREPARED! Because the chaos, and all the stupidity with it, can swallow you up. Fast.

[BEAVER]

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

One of the very first things I did when I bought my current house (All Electric)
was purchase a 500 Gallon Propane tank and a whole house generator. I had heard my area was notorious for power outages.

I moved into my home in June of 2020. When we moved in our utility was busy cutting trees back from the lines. Boy did people bitch about that! But in the nearly 3 1/2 years I lived here not once has my generator ran to support my house. I almost hope power would go out just so I can justify to my wife the installation of the Generator and Propane tank!

This - mine is hardwired in and automatically kicks on - maybe a 5 or 10 second delay. There is something heartwarming about having lights and power while my asshole neighbor huddles around a ****ing candle with his bitchy wife and their stupid yappy dog.

I do invite the good neighbors over of course; I'm not a savage.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by farmerchief

I used to go out to shed and load up my welder/generator and bring it back, plug it into welder outlet hanging by breaker box(always pull the meter, then everyone is safe), start the gas powered welder/generator, about 8 hrs later, fill back up with gas. We moved 2 miles north last summer, and are on a different electric company, and they have less issues.

You should not be pulling your electric meter. That is against the terms of service with any electric company. They can accuse you of stealing electricity.

[crayzkirk]

wood burning stove w/catalyst at the lake house. Doesn't help in the summer however it's great in the winter. On a well house so we can lose water. Have multiple 5 gallon jugs for drinking and can tote lake water for toilets if necessary.

my city home if there's issues, I just stay with family/friends.

[2bikemike]

Originally Posted by BEAVER

This - mine is hardwired in and automatically kicks on - maybe a 5 or 10 second delay. There is something heartwarming about having lights and power while my asshole neighbor huddles around a ****ing candle with his bitchy wife and their stupid yappy dog.

I do invite the good neighbors over of course; I'm not a savage.

Our generator ran and provided power to the house for the first time In The 4 years since installation. We had a wicked storm blow through in August that took out trees and roofs.
My next door neighbor and I were the only ones with whole house generators. The power was out in our neighborhood for 12 hours. It was pretty nice to have our power and AC.

[Holladay]

I am the last on my line, so power goes out ANYWHERE, I go out. I have well water. Propane heat. Old farm house.



When I did a major renovation, I had the electrician put in one of these so I could power the whole house with one pigtail:



An aside: Mine is a 3 way lever switch, big box 3'x 1.5". Up is connected to the grid, middle is neutral, down connected to the generator. When the electrician put it in, he connected a light bulb next to it which is linked to the grid. I use the generator in the down position. When the light turns on, the grid is back up genous!

Then bought this. Duel fuel. Remote start which I can use in the bedroom.



I had been running gas only. Trying to buy gas during the '05 ice storm, proved difficult (3 weeks w/o power). I had 6 5 gal cans and went through them in a week. Also, how long will the gas be good, even with Sta Bil? So with Helene in my mind, why not use the propane (bottled gas stays good for a long time) from my 500 gal propane that runs my house. I was thinking about trenching a hard line into my garage (+200 ft). But a bunch of trees around, not a cheap idea. The propane guy from my area suggested tapping off of the tank to re-fill my small 20 gal BBQ tanks.



I decided to use those and a bought a wheeled 40 gal tank. Not cheap, ~$200.




I decided to place the generator in one location, instead of moving the cars outside (electric garage door) to maneuver the generator outside, close to the garage door next to the short pig tail and vent. I understand that propane burns cleaner (doesn't need as much venting) and quieter. Also, it will burn twice as long. Downside is that it provides 80% of gasoline power.

So I needed 50' (heavy duty 8/4 wire) of this to run across the garage ceiling to drop down the pig tail next to the generator from the breaker box. Not cheap ~$200.



Now, just un- cover the unit, turn on propane, start it, plug in pig tail, once there is electricity, crack the garage door

I have heard about the headaches with Generac's. Also, out $6-8k. Mine comes out <$2k and my time. I don't own a farm/business to warrant the cost difference. I suppose the Generac provide better peace of mind.

edit: I put on a battery maintainer after my trial run this summer and found the battery was dead. It turns out the generator came with a plug in trickle charger!!

[Otter]

Pot belly wood stove
Cord of wood
Remington Tactical loaded with #4 buck
Pantry
Got plenty of water running in the back yard that would just need to boil
Batteries
Couple books & DVDs
Patience & stay busy


Haven't gone down the generator road just yet for some reason.