The Blackout of 2003

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CMichael

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I was at work when the power went off. It was about the time that I normally go home so I went home. All the traffic lights were out. I couldn't find my normal radio station in the car.
I was getting extremely concerned. I began to wonder if we got hit by a nuke.

I finally found a new station and learned that it was widespread. And they quickly said it wasn't terrorism.

Actually what was nice is that the neighbors pulled together. I borrowed a lighter from one.

I have a grill that doesn't work but I have a propane tank. A neighbor had a grill but no propane tank so we were going to put my propane tank with our grill for Friday.

As soon as I learned about the purification plants not being able to work, I filled up all my pots with tap water, and I filled up the bathtub with water.

We were lucky. Friday at 2 pm we got power. We were one of the few in the area that had water during the whole period, although the pressure was very low.

Other areas had no water and no electricity until Saturday morning. It started Thursday about 4 pm.

Friday morning we learned that Hillers, a grocery store was open, they had a backup generator. We bought water and some canned food. Water was going very fast. We still can't drink the water without boiling it first.

I will now will take much more seriouly creating an emergency kit. I am going to but a propane heater and a good lantern. I will also keep a stock of drinking water as well as other water that can be used for the toilet. I am also going to stock up on canned food.

Thank goodness this didn't take place during the winter.

Now to make this firearms related. I was thinking of my guns if things got really bad.
 
My work was "looted" over the weekend. Power was out from the "rolling blackouts" and the alarm could not be set. My desk was pilfered and I feel violated. Missing 230.00 bucks, a digital camera, and my rolex watch (not really, but you should see what some folks say was stolen).

The police came and ordered in a finger print guy. The CSI guy walked around the office for about five minutes and stated there were no prints to take (BS). He then dusted my Subway cup I left on my desk to prove there were no prints.

I watch CSI and think that if a burgular looked thru everyones desk drawers there would be at least one print, but what do I know.

Funny thing, normally I would be called if the alarm sounds. I've never carried when I came down to check because its always beena false alarm. I think things will change if I get called again.

ehenz
 
I got power back at home about 7:00AM Friday. I already had about 40 Gals. water stored in basement, from back when Homeland Insecurity told us to buy plastic & duct tape. Have lots of ammo on hand, but did bring up the spare .45ACP. Have a bunch of canned soup, and some of those "Ramen noodles", too. And some Spam (the fake-meat stuff, not un-wanted e-mail :p) in the cabinet, too.

I keep 2 of the small (20-Lb) propane tanks filled, because I have a "turkey fryer", a regular size grill, and one of those "grill-2-go" units, too. I also have 10 of the 1-lb or so bottles for the grill-2-go.

Got info from the battery power radio, and a 5" B&W battery power TV. Gonna talk to the next-door neighbor about pre-wiring for a generator (guy is an electrician), so that I don't have to worry about food in the fridge.

The ice I had the the "Omaha Steaks" shipping cooler lasted much longer than the regularly available popular brand camp cooler of the same size.
 
That sounds wise Horn.

I stored Chef however you spell it canned ravioli and that kind of stuff. Also peanut butter and nuts is good emergency food.

I need to store water.

This whole episode let me realize how vulnerable we are and for me it lasted less then 24 hours.

I also want to store water for the toilet if needed.
 
I have about 50 2 liter bottles of water stored under the stairs for something like this. Make sure you rotate your water periodically. Don't use milk jugs as they degrade fast. 2 liter soda bottles work better. You can also drink the water out of your hot water heater if you need to, provided you keep it free of sediment.

And people always laugh at us Mormons with our food storage. Until the power goes out of course! :D :D
 
CMichael, one of the best things to add to your emergency supplies is a hiker's water purifier pump. You can drink suspect water if you pump it, first.

If you lose pressure, you have the contents of your hot water tank and your toilet tank(s), plus whatever you have stored.

I have a great method for storing about 2.5k gallons of water. Its called a hot tub ;)

I was near Hurricane Andrew. At Home Depot the day after, everyone was buying propare grills and generators. Interesting.
 
I've had the power go off for substantial periods twice over the years - 3 days both times and during the winter both times.

Do you figure it would kill me to drink the water from the 11 radiators, the pipes and the gas-fired boiler? Most of it has been in there since 1980, but some of it could be as old as 1916.

John
 
ehenz....your getting ripped off is totally contrary to what the news media of deception was describing to us on TV. They were talking "lovey-dovey New Yorkers,, bla bla " no crime...etc

This whole thing makes you think about what would really go on given say, 5 or 6 days without power and water in the dead of winter.
I imagine the "lovey-dovey New Yorkers" would suddenly have other things on their minds!

If the Y2K fiasco taught me one thing it is to be prepared.
If The High Road taught me one thing it is to be prepared.

Thanks for listening
 
I will also keep a stock of drinking water as well as other water that can be used for the toilet.
Click to expand...
Not to start any potty talk or anything :) , but there's really no need to keep separate water for the toilet. When you end up with 'grey water" from cooking, bathing, etc., just filter it through an old t-shirt or similar (to collect any solids) and pour it into your toilet tank so you can use your normal toilet instead of a plastic bag or whatever.

Obviously this is only prudent in your standard "3 day emergency"<TM>. If you're in a long haul situation you want to look at cleaning and re-using your water for other stuff.
 
Pueblo, CO was pretty much immobilized in October of 1997 by the Blizzard of 1997". Most were without power for 2-3 days. One thing I noticed was that country people fared much better than city people. My youngest daughter was stuck in town at a friend's house, and they had nothing to eat that didn't have to be cooked, except a few crackers. We had power intermittently, but our pump froze up so we didn't have water for about 24 hours. We kept the wood stove going and hauled snow in the house and melted it (we didn't have much else to do anyway). I bundled up and went out and cleared ice off the pump and we had water by 9:00 pm.

We can and freeze our own food so that isn't a problem. My wife made up a big stew and let it simmer on the wood stove all afternoon. My son in law and I, with 2 4x4 vehicles, rescued my son where he had been stuck at work without food for 24 hours, and when he walked in and smelled that stew he thought that was the best thing he had ever experienced.

We keep propane lanterns around and we now have a 1000 gal. cistern for backup.
 
Storing enough water for up to several week's flushing could be a problem.

Most sporting goods stores sell Porta-Potties that only use a few ounces of water per flush. Most models are under $60, and the larger sizes claim to good for up to around 50 flushes before the tank needs to be emptied - which you can conveniently do by pouring it down your existing toilet. Should make a great water-saver.

I heard a novel solution a few months ago: Kitty Litter. Think about it - If cats can do their business in it, why can't we? Absorbs odors and liquids, and is fairly easy to dispose of. A 25 pound bag costs just a couple of bucks, and would probably last a long time.
 
I`m sure those of you who stocked up on canned goods also have a manual can opener.:banghead: :what: :neener: :D
 
Plane would be awesome, handgun would be prety neat, but the can opener would be especially handy!
 
The can opener, Justin.....

The little folding stamped steel can opener that used to come with every box of C-rations:D

oops! Kevlarman beat me to it....

Jeez, am I old or what?:eek:

In all seriousness, consider a rainwater tank if local ordinances permit them where you live.

That and a Katadyn or equivalent water filter (make sure it filters down to .2 micron to eliminate Giardia cysts and other nasties) will see you through with water to drink, unless it's contaminated with solvents.
 
dont forget,,,

water purification tablets, available at any local outfitter, not the best tasting stuff in the world but its better than drinking contaminated water if youre in a pinch

i have my day pack always ready with basic survival rudiments, that way if i want to take a trip out into the woods all i have to do is throw a water bottle in in and some light food

theoretically i should be able to survive a few days lost in the woods with whats in it.

unless i'm in alaska and tick off a momma bear, would a 1" candle stub thrown forcefully stop a griz? how bout if it was lit?

so it also doubles as a emergency home kit as well, theres even some tp in there, which is probably what the bear would be after anyhow, with all that poopin' in the woods

:D
 
Those of you that had low, but measureable, water pressure may want to install a faucet or undersink water purification system that handles organisms like cysts and bacteria. As a backup you might want to include a backpacker's version with iodide resin as well.
 
Ive got a little HONDA Generator that will run 14hr one tank. (2 gal tank), Always have 2 10 gal gas cans filled. Which will run the frige, tv, pump for my well for water and a 10,000 gal pool.:D

Got two 30lb propane tanks on my Travel trailer with various camping supplys. ANd Most important LOTS of Ammo for the guns:neener:
 
I went a little over board, I've had since the Y2K era a Propane Generator (GM V6) that powers my home/Barn, works so well, had one installed at my business, the black out only lasted 1-2 hours here in this part of Michigan so the gen set kicked in 5 sec into it and I did not even know there was a problem until the wife called to tell me she was stuck in traffic...best investment I've made recently.....well there's that one rifle which was close.....:scrutiny:
 
Originally posted by CZ-100:

Got two 30lb propane tanks on my Travel trailer with various camping supplys.
Click to expand...

That brings up a good point: A travel trailer, slide-in truck camper or motorhome can be a blessing during a SHTF situation. Most RVs have a propane-powered fridge, a furnace, a stove, a good-sized 12 volt house battery bank, and a self-contained toilet and fresh water supply. Most motorhomes go one step further, by also having an AC generator. If you've got a well-stocked RV parked in your back yard or driveway, you'll have a lot fewer worries during most natural or man-made disasters.

RVs can also be pretty affordable on the used market: For the several thousand dollars that it would cost you to buy and install a residential backup generator, you could buy a complete "pre-owned self-reliance package". Plus, you'll get a lot of camping enjoyment out of it the rest of the time.
 
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