todays proof for having a back up plan

[jimLE]

I'm sitting on my front porch checking my emails and all. The internet connection dropped. A minute or 2 later a woman walking by ask me if I have power. I told her I'll check. Sure thing. It's off. That was right around 11:50am central time. And it's still off. But no biggie for me. On account,except for no back up generator for fridge n freezer.i have everything thing needed for the time being. Including junk food to snack on. So the fridge n freezer stays shut.


P. S. Edit. Using cellular data for this

P.s edit again.it came back on at 11:15pm.

 

[bigpaul]

that's how most people would realise there was a problem, but without a back up system or a stockpile of stuff for this type of event there isn't much they could do except complain....a lot!

 

[SheilaT.]

I suspect that's how most of us would discover a lack of electricity, unless you go checking every five minutes It's a comfort to know you have the bases covered.

 

[jimLE]

Complain people will and do. Mainly at times like that.but yet.the only real. complaints i heard this time round.was about the heat.and yes.it was hot out.

 

[Kevin L]

I lost power for several days during our last hurricane (I live in South Florida), and it was on-and-off for several days after that.

I was actually prepared very well, but our home owners' association supposedly doesn't allow generators.

It was in the 90s, the humidity was more than 90%, and there was no air conditioning.

I had to dispose of a lot of food from the freezer and fridge, but I have a good stash of canned food, and wearing wet clothing (loose-fitting, to avoid fungal infections) actually helps a lot.

 

[Arcticdude]

A couple days ago my power went out too. I forget to recharge the battery bank. Started the generator and had power back on in 5 mins. Today I'm wiring in an auto start on the generator. It will monitor the battery banks state of charge and and automatically start the generator at a preprogrammed charge level. Problem solved. No more power outages.

 

[Danil54grl]

I lost power for several days during our last hurricane (I live in South Florida), and it was on-and-off for several days after that.

I was actually prepared very well, but our home owners' association supposedly doesn't allow generators.

It was in the 90s, the humidity was more than 90%, and there was no air conditioning.

I had to dispose of a lot of food from the freezer and fridge, but I have a good stash of canned food, and wearing wet clothing (loose-fitting, to avoid fungal infections) actually helps a lot.

They won't make an exception during/after a hurricane? Or are you in an apartment maybe that could be a reason? My sis lives in one of those places that has a home owners association and there were not to be any rvs parked there but yet they let that one slice after so many homes were flooded after Harvey.

 

[Danil54grl]

A couple days ago my power went out too. I forget to recharge the battery bank. Started the generator and had power back on in 5 mins. Today I'm wiring in an auto start on the generator. It will monitor the battery banks state of charge and and automatically start the generator at a preprogrammed charge level. Problem solved. No more power outages.

That's what we have too. Automatic is nice. Installed last year right before Harvey and the only time it has had to run is on every Wed when it runs its check. Any other time we would lose power at least once a month. . .

 

[Kevin L]

They won't make an exception during/after a hurricane? Or are you in an apartment maybe that could be a reason? My sis lives in one of those places that has a home owners association and there were not to be any rvs parked there but yet they let that one slice after so many homes were flooded after Harvey.

Thank you. I live in one half of a duplex (two family home) in a gated community.

They're Nazi-like when it comes to stupid rules. A neighbor has diabetes, and they retaliated and filed a lien over a generator because the resident wanted to keep the insulin refrigerated.

The reasoning is that there are newer forms of insulin that can keep for 30 days without refrigeration, so it was an excuse to break the rules.

In any case, don't get me started...

 

[Arcticdude]

Thank you. I live in one half of a duplex (two family home) in a gated community.

They're Nazi-like when it comes to stupid rules. A neighbor has diabetes, and they retaliated and filed a lien over a generator because the resident wanted to keep the insulin refrigerated.

The reasoning is that there are newer forms of insulin that can keep for 30 days without refrigeration, so it was an excuse to break the rules.

In any case, don't get me started...

That doesn't sound like a very good place to be. Any plans on getting your own place out of town on a few acres?

I guess you could say that I live in a gated community too. I've got probably about 25-30 gates on this place. Two gates are on my road and the rest are around the perimeter.

 

[Kevin L]

That doesn't sound like a very good place to be. Any plans on getting your own place out of town on a few acres?

I guess you could say that I live in a gated community too. I've got probably about 25-30 gates on this place. Two gates are on my road and the rest are around the perimeter.

I like your idea of a gated community better.

My circumstances are kind of limited for now, but there are still benefits associated with my living situation.

We have next to no land, but we're right up on a canal that has lots of wildlife (including lots and lots of mallard and muskovy ducks). We don't have kids in the area (a plus), so there's no gang activity. I have unlimited access to a jacuzzi, gym, computer resources, library, pool, and so on.

Being in a gated community means no salesman or religious people showing up at my door, and yet we're only a fifteen minute drive from the boonies (a huge wildlife/nature refuge that's part of the Everglades).

As an aside, we actually have lots of cocoanut trees, mango trees, nipa palm, cattail, saw palmetto, and other edible plants growing as ornamentals all over the place in our community.

My living area isn't ideal for SHTF, but I'll still make it work if I have to.

 

[bigpaul]

gated communities? no thanks.

 

[SheilaT.]

A few things come to mind to ease your situation Kevin. There are some pretty nifty portable solar systems that would help in an emergency or use a good sized inverter on your vehicle or even a large battery bank that could be kept permanently charged in the garage. I'm sure you've already looked into all of these and if you're hapy to prioritise what you run rather than the whole house it wouldn't be difficult.

 

[MaterielGeneral]

A few things come to mind to ease your situation Kevin. There are some pretty nifty portable solar systems that would help in an emergency or use a good sized inverter on your vehicle or even a large battery bank that could be kept permanently charged in the garage. I'm sure you've already looked into all of these and if you're hapy to prioritise what you run rather than the whole house it wouldn't be difficult.

That's what I am working on. Last year I bought 4 20 watt solar panels. 2000 watt inverter. I built my own wiring harness from components from eBay.

I just bought a folding 80 watt solar panel for camping and post shtf patrol purposes. I'm in the process of building my power pack.

It will have several 12v plugs, USB plugs, 800 watt inverter, solar charge controller.

It will be used to power and recharge radios and other equipment. Plus to help neighbors charge their stuff (help build a relationship).

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[Kevin L]

A few things come to mind to ease your situation Kevin. There are some pretty nifty portable solar systems that would help in an emergency or use a good sized inverter on your vehicle or even a large battery bank that could be kept permanently charged in the garage. I'm sure you've already looked into all of these and if you're hapy to prioritise what you run rather than the whole house it wouldn't be difficult.

Thank you. I'll look into it and get back to you.

 

[Proud Prepper]

I lost power for several days during our last hurricane (I live in South Florida), and it was on-and-off for several days after that.

I was actually prepared very well, but our home owners' association supposedly doesn't allow generators.

It was in the 90s, the humidity was more than 90%, and there was no air conditioning.

I had to dispose of a lot of food from the freezer and fridge, but I have a good stash of canned food, and wearing wet clothing (loose-fitting, to avoid fungal infections) actually helps a lot.

They dont allow generators? You need to ignore them or move. Home owner associations are worthless.

 

[MaterielGeneral]

They dont allow generators? You need to ignore them or move. Home owner associations are worthless.

I could never live in an association. I would choke someone out.

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[Arcticdude]

gated communities? no thanks.

Well Paul, I think you'd like my "gated community". All of my gates give me private access to several million acres of public domain lands; National Forest, BLM and State Forest.

 

[DrHenley]

My daughter has been fined three times by her HOA - "Unapproved door", 'Unapproved dryer vent" and "Unapproved fuse box."

Thing is, she didn't do any of that...they were all done by the previous owner. The unapproved dryer vent almost sabotaged the closing. I can see where these Nazis could drive an owner to arson.

 

[MaterielGeneral]

My daughter has been fined three times by her HOA - "Unapproved door", 'Unapproved dryer vent" and "Unapproved fuse box."

Thing is, she didn't do any of that...they were all done by the previous owner. The unapproved dryer vent almost sabotaged the closing. I can see where these Nazis could drive an owner to arson.

Or take a chainsaw to all of the important studs. Cement mix to the toilet and the rest of the plumbing. Hammer all of the drywall and windows and put some holes in the roof.

Then abandon the property. Sucks for your credit and you will probably have to file bankruptcy but tearing down will probably fall back on the HOA. The bank will list it for sale for a lengthy time and then abandon it when it doesn't sell.

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