These guys don’t get out much, do they? Until recently, three or more days without electricity was common in rural New England. We all survived just fine.
Self ping.
Electrical Power Outage, New South Wales, Australial
Camping at Home ?
Being from the high Plains, we always keep too much food on hand, just in case.
We here were out of electricity for a few days in a massive ice storm about 5 years ago. It was so cold outside he food in the freezer remained frozen, we used the up the food in the refrigerator and kept the other food on the front porch.
Water was still working and we had wells for backup. Gas pressure was still good so fuel and heat was no problem. Had propane bottles and a small cook stove for use if needed.
Lit ALL my kerosene lanterns, lamps, Coleman lanterns.
Survived just fine.
Now I have a back up generator and stored gasoline as the wife is on oxygen.
Panty is full for winter.
My uncle stopped at some place on the high plains of Colorado years ago. The family there had enough food for ONE DAY. He told them they better stock up with at least two weeks food as the blizzard time was approaching.
Only one radio station was working and people were on “DIAL A TRADE” offering to sell half a can of lamp oil and Coleman fuel for high prices. People were so unprepared even though the weathermen were warning of a massive ice storm.
The cat starts kicking his turds like footballs
(field goals not extra points) because the electric Ajax turd scooper doesn’t scoop and I won’t be able to take advantage of his good nature
by tossing half Tootsie Rolls in there when he’s
not around
Use toilets outdoors for BM’s. Dig a shallow hole, squat &
cover like DUB THE DOG does. - Take sponge baths in the
bathroom sink. Bathe the dirty parts. A weekly shower is
ENOUGH, with bird baths the rest of the time.
In winter, if you have wood stove going; cook on the wood
stove or cook on the grill outside. (Be sure to put your
grill someplace NOT attached to your house - FIRE HAZARD!
Use oil lamps for your light. (Get used to LESS light fast!)
Keep freezer closed; also keep fridge closed as much as is
possible.
Relax. Don’t get up so early if you don’t have to. Early
mornings are great for grumpiness and aching joints.
LOWER YOUR STANDARDS. (Dust shows up worse when you have
to use a flashlight. KEEP A FLASHLIGHT with fairly fresh
batteries installed on your nightstand.)
For bathroom usage. Don’t flush like a fanatic. Let all
pee in the commode; then flush when it gets rough.
IF IT’S YELLOW; LET IT MELLOW! IF IT’S BROWN, FLUSH IT
DOWN!
ROUGH IT!
Three days?
Pffttt.....
Child’s play.
What a rookie.
http://www.centralmainediesel.com/order/Honda-16kw-Propane-Generator.asp?page=H04599
I’m nearly finished with the process of putting one of these in that runs off of natural gas. I ordered the autostart option so it COULD be started via an automatic transfer switch, but for now will just be using a manual transfer toggle on the main breaker box and will roll it outdoors from where it is stored in my heated garage (keeps the oil and all else warm in winter), and will connect the gas a rubber 1” gas hose to a quick disconnect I installed, and will plug it into the house breaker panel via a 50amp outlet and a short 4wire/#6 copper rubber cable with Hubble 50amp connectors between the genny and the outlet when I need to run it.
Had to get my gas service upgraded from 1/2” to 3/4” and then installed a short run of dedicated 1” gas pipe from the meter that terminates in the quick connect, as this sucker takes a LOT of natural gas to run!
We lose our power a lot here in my part of Colorado, and sometimes it’s been down for days. Not fun to live in the cold and dark when you’re old.
Thanks for posting
Prepper BUMP
Lighting and heating is not genset dependent nor is cooking. I figure I'll have enough supplies to last whatever comes.
I go camping in the backyard.
Lost electricity where I live for week, due to a blown transformer.
Cooked all the meat and dairy next evening, then tossed the leftovers int he freezer which stayed cool for 4 or 5 days.
Used to have to do that a lot in OK. Lived very rural and in the winter it was pretty common to lose electricity.
Fortunately we had an storm shelter and an old fridge. We would move everthing to those when the power was out for more than a day.
Generator + Gas = water pump.
Been there done that! Winter time ice storm. It sucked!!
I keep about 15 2 liter soda bottles filled with ice in the bottom of my garage freezer. It’s enough to keep it cold for days, and provide some water in an emergency.
Big mistake. Thanks, environ-MENTAL-ists.
I lost power for two weeks once in the coldest part of winter; which meant no water, heat, and road was closed for first four days, until I cleared four downed trees from it myself. Only thing I missed was my computer; have a wood stove for heat, propane for cooking, and plenty of non-perishable foods on hand. Also a spring house that never freezes and additional bulk potable water from stream on my property, although I do have to break the ice when its really cold. All in all, i could go all year with no electric and it would be little more than a minor inconvenience. I went a full winter with no running water due to failed well that couldn’t be re-drilled til spring. Again, heat water on stove, drink spring water or stream water, but no biggie.
Day one I do nothing.
Day two I do nothing
Day three the meat (damn I love venison) is starting to thaw in my freezer.
Day four, I cook venison and any other meat in the freezer and start smoking the rest in my smoker. It will last a few weeks after smoking and if the electricity comes back on I put the smoked meat in the freezer.
Day seven I start killing deer and smoking them into jerky that will last months. I have about twenty or more deer that live on my property. I will not go hungry. I also have a years supply of carbohydrates stored in the form of rice and beans. I will survive as I have the means on my land. I have ample wood on my land to make cooking fires. I have firearms and am very adept in their use. A very large lake is close to my property so I have water and fish. I have Clorox to make bad water safe. I have salt to cure meat. I have antibiotics for disease.
I will not go hungry I will protect and feed my family with my skills. I have neighbors that do the same.
Yeah, we are preppers. Oddly enough Mormons are also preppers. They store and prepare food just as I do, but I am Catholic.
Each and everyone of us have a duty to prepare for the worst and pray for the best. The absolute best is that all our preparations are never needed. The worst is not to be prepared.
Great post. Thanks.
Ask anyone who’s been through a major hurricane.
I did nine days once, in the Maine ice storm.
Hauled water out of the well with a bucket, used the wood cook stove for heat and cooking. Scooped chipped ice up off the deck with a shovel and put it in coolers. Had plenty of food on hand, both in the pantry and freezer.
Used an inverter from my car. Now I have a generator.
Don’t stand there with the freezer door open. Drag out all your camping gear. Keep some full propane bottles for your Coleman stove.