A friend of ours got his power back on at 3:00 am yesterday. He lost it again this afternoon. Still thousands with no power around here. We are lucky...I think.
Lucky, yes But I bet if you were with out power, you'd be just fine. Knowing you are prepared a lot more than the average person. Looks like some of our cold air is moving East & South. Headed somewhere in your direction. We are to be 27° on Sunday. Don't think the ice is going to melt any time soon.
Being prepared like a Boy Scout is a good thing.. Today a guy at work says repeatedly you heat your WHOLE house with 1 wood stove?!?! Did you have to cut holes in the floor etc he asks? Nope it just works and my whole house is 70+ degrees and the heat NEVER runs.. He walks away shaking his head then comes back and asks well how much does it cost for the wood? I reply around $550.00 a year but I got enough wood last winter for close to a year extra.. Not sure he believes me lol.. We ALL know the truth..
Willing enlightenment is a doorway to the open minded. Intentional Ignorance is the trip wire of the weak minded... More and more this is proven to be true. Most people don't take the time to prepare then are in a mad dash to survive when catastrophe hits them no matter the cost to others. This last week has not only made me see the good side but has really brought out the bad side of people around us! Today in Home Depot I saw a couple supposedly grown men fighting over an extension cord ( I mean fighting. ) when the clerk asked what I was looking for and I said closed cell foam she didn't know how to respond Because I was the first person in 5 days not looking for a generator or something electrical. We could live off grid for a very very long time and let me say that's a major relief to know that we have that security blanket around us. Often I get asked why we use a wood stove and then am called paranoid or crazy behind my back.... We can cook, wash and stay warm as well as our emergency food supplies, candles, lanterns and oil.... I'd rather be both than have my family frozen and hungry! Sorry for the lecture people have been driving me insane the last few days RANT over.
Even though we're in the middle of a heat-wave, this thread has kept me focused on my generator upgrade project. I posted a while back that I had upgraded to an 8000 watt portable generator. Since then I've been acquiring the necessary hardware for a fully legal transfer switch connection to the household wiring. I started that installation today. When I'm done, I will be able to run everything except the dryer and electric range. After I finish the wiring, I'll build a house for the generator so it can live at its duty station full-time. After that, I've got my eye on a big oak that has uprooted along the highway. Hope no else gets to it first.
Lost power in the summer for 2 weeks 1 time, Borrowed my brother-in-laws generator, Ever since I bought my own I have not needed to use it, But I'm ready gosh darn it. I will never abandon my house, Just do what I gotta do
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/east-coast-heavy-rain-snow-thi/21396189 So far it's south & east of us.
Get the Oak first. Buck it and take the logs home, then go back to the genny. That's if there really is a chance of loosing the wood. In NJ, there is no need to hurry for wood aince the Irene, Halloween snow storm and Sandy three way attack hit us.
I have to get a permit from Caltrans (highway department). They're not easy to catch at the office (generally out sleeping in their pickup somewhere) and not cooperative when I do find them.
Sometimes "paranoia" is just right thinking. Years ago we were helping clean out an old closed church and I found a bin in the basement where they threw all the old half burned 100% beeswax liturgical candles. I came home with a Rubbermaid bin full of them. Score!
I'm starting to see more power outages popping up around us, we have some wind (not much) but the ice is coming off the trees big time, I did see some branches coming down in my neighbors backyard when I was plowing.
Right on Ray. It sounds to me like that guy was doing some very good questioning. With you help, he may end up putting in a nice wood stove. But be sure to get him taught on the fuel needs first.
