Hurricane Preparations

[nehog]

The effects, here in northern New England were much less than expected. We did get a lot of rain, the lights are out (probably be out for a while but the damage is minimal, my survey didn't find any wires down or damaged.) Daughter lost one tree (can see that it was not healthy now that it broke off) and that's the only tree down I see too...

I'm sure that other areas did get hit much harder, but at least we're going to survive. (BTW, I have survived some major hurricanes and other storms, so I know what to expect.) It will, however, be nice to shut off that generator when it happens we get power back!

 

[subarub4]

And this is what flooding does

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/

 

[Cryptic1911]

Well this wasnt a major hurricane, but it did do alot of tree damage, took down a shitload of powerlines..
710,000+ without power here in ct. We have been out since 6am est this morning.. Hoping its back tonight, but we may be lucky if its even back tomorrow

 

[OccupantRJ]

I'm in good shape here. Spent the whole day raking up a huge trailer load of pine twigs and cones from my yard, and had to run the generator for about 26 hours to keep the fridge, freezer and water pump going. Power is back on at my house, but reports are that some nearby towns will not get restored until Thursday or Friday My workplace is in one of those towns. There was a couple of large barns across the road and a few houses down from me, but now there is only one. A neighbor across the road from me lost about 20% of his shingles. No high water for me this time, thank goodness. I have had my generator for 15 years, and although I don't use it as much as other tools, it sure has been a lifesaver. I hope that all of the rest of you come out of this alright. Best luck to you all.

 

[nehog]

Well this wasnt a major hurricane, but it did do alot of tree damage, took down a shitload of powerlines..
710,000+ without power here in ct. We have been out since 6am est this morning.. Hoping its back tonight, but we may be lucky if its even back tomorrow

Cousin works for CP&L and they've call in everyone to help.

 

[6768rogues]

13 piece hurricane survival kit: A 12 pack of beer and a candle.

 

[subarub4]

the water level was a lot higher.. it went down some after I went back a few hours later.

 

[nehog]

Almost 7 AM, still no power, just the rumble of the diesel generator to keep me company. Hope, hope it is back on by lunch time.

 

[mackrmnn]

This is what happens in central Va when hurricanes come through. I lost a Jeep but the house and Garage were spared!

 

[IH82BL8]

Power still out. My wife guesses it will be back on tomorrow, I'm guessing Wednesday. It's great having a generator, but the novelty has worn off.

 

[subarub4]

I'm mad I never got to use mine.. now I gotta put stabil in both the tank and gas can...

 

[draglink]

Power still out. My wife guesses it will be back on tomorrow, I'm guessing Wednesday. It's great having a generator, but the novelty has worn off.

I'll be at least a week with no power. House generator keeps both fridges going, plus all lights as needed, but no AC. We are sleeping in the motorhome, its self contained generator powers everything in motorhome including AC....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[OccupantRJ]

I'm mad I never got to use mine.. now I gotta put stabil in both the tank and gas can...

Just drain both and use it in the car. You'll have enough advance hurricane warning to get gas gathered up ahead next time. I have had my generator for 15 years, and store it dry like this. Run it with the gas shut off till it quits, then drain the tank by removing the hose before it enters the carb.

 

[PassnThru]

This is what happens in central Va when hurricanes come through. I lost a Jeep but the house and Garage were spared!

That's a bummer. Even worse, I think you're going to have a hard time selling it now.

 

[cowboyjosh]

Power still out. My wife guesses it will be back on tomorrow, I'm guessing Wednesday. It's great having a generator, but the novelty has worn off.

I know right. I have big whole house 40 kw Kohler units. What wears on me after a few hours is how much $$$$ my gas bill is seeing that the generator at idle is a little over 200,000 BTU's, 585,000 if its full load.

 

[cafyrman]

That's a bummer. Even worse, I think you're going to have a hard time selling it now.

Ask for the Carfax!

 

[nehog]

Starting day three with no power! Arrrrgggggggg...

 

[mackrmnn]

That's a bummer. Even worse, I think you're going to have a hard time selling it now.

Gieco will be buying it now.

 

[StanBo]

I saw you guys mentioned the water powered sump pumps. Do any of you have feedback on them?

We lost power while we were sleeping and thankfully my daughter noticed her alarm clock wasn't lit and woke us.

So we got a couple inches of water. Could have been worse but I had to tear out our carpet.

Thanks

Stan

 

[ibedayank]

I love the over-reaction.

I was flying kites during the last hurricane.

Its like having a snow day, but no one is going to freeze to death.

Granted I live next to the power plant, and I have never lost power.

So maybe I am spoiled.

tell that to the many outside of houston that had their homes wiped right off the island leaving nothing but the concrete pad/foundation behind after IKE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hurricane_Ike_Gilchrist_damage_edit.jpg

 

[ibedayank]

I just hope that noone died this time and yall get cleaned up quickly and things back to normal

 

[SuperSocket]

I know right. I have big whole house 40 kw Kohler units. What wears on me after a few hours is how much $$$$ my gas bill is seeing that the generator at idle is a little over 200,000 BTU's, 585,000 if its full load.

If you truly need a 40KW unit, then I don't think the gas bill should bother you at all....


40KW is for quite large homes... that is 200A at 240V for emergency standby power.

 

[ibedayank]

If you truly need a 40KW unit, then I don't think the gas bill should bother you at all....


40KW is for quite large homes... that is 200A at 240V for emergency standby power.

and how much would it take you to run your servers? if your the right okie from HARD....

 

[Recoil Rob]

Came home on Sunday to find a few trees down in the back yard, the ground was so wet previously that the root balls just popped. Power has been out since Sunday morning, the rumble of generators are pervasive. I got mine 7 years ago when a friend moved out of her house. She had bought it after a storm about 12 years ago but had never used it. I changed the oil and noticed the hour meter read .2. It's been going strong since them about 12/hrs/ a day to keep the food cold.

The biggest problem is my neighbor who never prunes trees. One of trees was rotten and fell onto my power and cable lines. The power lines snapped off the pole and since it's only affecting one house it will probably be the last thing they repair. Luckily though the cable line is still hooked up so I have intermittent TV, Internet and phone. If it hadn't been for that tree falling I'd be OK.

BTW, my plan when this is over is also to run the generator dry, drain the tank, change the oil and store it until next time.

 

[mackrmnn]

I just hope that noone died this time and yall get cleaned up quickly and things back to normal

Last report that I heard there were 23 deaths attributed to Irene

 

[cowboyjosh]

If you truly need a 40KW unit, then I don't think the gas bill should bother you at all....


40KW is for quite large homes... that is 200A at 240V for emergency standby power.

I could get by with less, but i want to be able to run whatever during an extended outage. In Colorado our outages are usually due to wind, lightning, or wet and heavy spring snow. In Arizona, we lose power for whatver reason on mostly nice, sunny, days.

I like to error on the side of big generators especially in houses like mine where its unfeasible to wire a "critical load" panel and the whole house is on the generator.

 

[buildmyown]

Well made it out alright lost power cable phone and internet for 51 hours. No property damage I did loose a ton of trees at the back edge of my property a bunch of 100 foot pines a few oaks and maples. Had to be straight line winds the swath is 20 feet wide and an acre long no big deal it will all be firewood for the next few winters. The damage in my area is realy random drive down one road and you would never know there was a storm drive down another like mine and it looked like a war zone.

 

[Jack90210]

Last report that I heard there were 23 deaths attributed to Irene

That's OK. All the tough guys are OK; they were all out flying kites during the storm.

 

[G_P]

don't forget prescription drugs its hard to get refills when they can't verify because of zero phones. cash is king. and take your important papers with you like your insurance papers etc.

My father tried to get his scripts refilled before Irene and the docs wouldnt because it was a week early. then when he called at the normal time their systems were down and they could not help him. He had to call around to over a dozen docs to find one to refill his BP meds. He ran out of pain meds for his foot and is pissed about it but can deal with it with Ibuprofen he just cant get around so well.

I can see a doc refusing to fill pain meds early but BP pills? I dont think he is trying to get high by lowering his blood pressure! (he does not abuse the pain pills either he actually had an extra 2 days worth left)

 

[gunguy]

Thought this was kinda cool if you need to have a fair amount of water for the duration. For less than $20, it's hard to beat.

http://www.waterbob.com

Jim

 

[quick60]

I love the over-reaction.

I was flying kites during the last hurricane.

Its like having a snow day, but no one is going to freeze to death.

Granted I live next to the power plant, and I have never lost power.

So maybe I am spoiled.

Overreaction? I bet the 20 plus peole who lost family members in this storm especially the woman that lost her 11 yo son when a tree fell through their house and pinned him beneath it will overreact when the next hurricane comes.

I boarded my windows, bought tons of food and water, extra fuel, etc. and sent my family to Charlotte NC. Only thing lost was telephone line and a few branches. You bet your tail I will "overreact" again when the next one comes.