Lessons learned from 9 days without power.

**Irish** · 03-02-12, 01:42

This is not my story. However, I think there's a lot of valuable information and insight that can be garnered from reading it. Good information for the uninitiated and some good reminders for everyone. A couple of things stood out to me.

- The entire subdivision was totally black, except for my house. It looked like Christmas from the outside. The entire subdivision was totally silent, except for my house, where the blaring sound of a generator permeated the silence. I realized that I had a big red and white circle on my back!

- Traffic was backed up two blocks to get gas and it was a mad house! They were out of ice, milk, bread, bottled water and other commodities.

- More and more of the hardcore subdivision neighbors are stopping by and asking for bottled water and ice. My six plastic ice cube trays are getting a work-out round the clock. I can’t make it fast enough and we’re down to four cases of bottled water.

- I found out that the village sewer system and pump stations do not have emergency back-up power. Long story short, sewage is backed up and can’t be pumped. This can cause a back up in your drains / toilet and possible sewage explosion.

- Upon returning home I really wanted a nice cold glass of ice water, but my wife had just emptied all our cheap plastic ice trays for someone up the street. She told me that the woman who asked for the ice was borderline rude and even asked when the next batch would be ready. People around here seem to be getting more demanding rather than appreciative.

- Under stress, hardship and extreme environments, people change, and in my experience not for the better.

**Irish** · 03-02-12, 01:46

Another good story about a guy in Seattle who went without power for about a week during the blizzard in January. Some really good info in his story.

**Javelin** · 03-02-12, 02:18

Originally Posted by Irish

This is not my story. However, I think there's a lot of valuable information and insight that can be garnered from reading it. Good information for the uninitiated and some good reminders for everyone. A couple of things stood out to me.

- The entire subdivision was totally black, except for my house. It looked like Christmas from the outside. The entire subdivision was totally silent, except for my house, where the blaring sound of a generator permeated the silence. I realized that I had a big red and white circle on my back!

- Traffic was backed up two blocks to get gas and it was a mad house! They were out of ice, milk, bread, bottled water and other commodities.

- More and more of the hardcore subdivision neighbors are stopping by and asking for bottled water and ice. My six plastic ice cube trays are getting a work-out round the clock. I can’t make it fast enough and we’re down to four cases of bottled water.

- I found out that the village sewer system and pump stations do not have emergency back-up power. Long story short, sewage is backed up and can’t be pumped. This can cause a back up in your drains / toilet and possible sewage explosion.

- Upon returning home I really wanted a nice cold glass of ice water, but my wife had just emptied all our cheap plastic ice trays for someone up the street. She told me that the woman who asked for the ice was borderline rude and even asked when the next batch would be ready. People around here seem to be getting more demanding rather than appreciative.

- Under stress, hardship and extreme environments, people change, and in my experience not for the better.

Holy crap good info. And only 9 days ... and there was still a WalMart within close distance too!

Something to think about with the sewer though. Never even contemplated that.

Thanks!

**Ghost__1** · 03-02-12, 02:58

Originally Posted by Javelin

Holy crap good info. And only 9 days ... and there was still a WalMart within close distance too!

Something to think about with the sewer though. Never even contemplated that.

Thanks!

I know you are joking about the Walmart thing but just to add to that I wouldnt recomend anyone counting on stores to help them when the time comes. I speak experience from NC and SD.

I was in the mall when some tornadoes touched down in the Ft Bragg/Fayetteville area and when the power went out the stores pretty much kicked everyone out. Granted that was directly after the tornadoes however during any sort of natural disaster I think the stores try to avoid the litigation of possibly being sued for injury or death.

When a huricane was scheduled to hit Texas a few years back rumors circulated about not being able to find water, milk and other needed things for up to 200 miles inland.

Also I know of a few circumstances that when the Walmart in Spearfish, SD lost power they proceded to ask the customers to leave and turned around everyone in the parking lot.

I'm not in any way trying to pick on Walmart and am merely using tham as an example. I also can't speculate as to what would really happen in the situation posted above but I would personally rather play it safe.

**Javelin** · 03-02-12, 03:21

You think you could put a muffler on your generators and somehow blackout windows/use light discipline?

Just wondering how that would work. But now that you are the go-to guy believe me they will probably be back. We are creatures of habit unfortunately.

**Ghost__1** · 03-02-12, 03:31

Originally Posted by Javelin

You think you could put a muffler on your generators and somehow blackout windows/use light discipline?

Just wondering how that would work. But now that you are the go-to guy believe me they will probably be back. We are creatures of habit unfortunately.

Years ago when I was working as an electrician apprentice we built a Log home out in the sticks where a guy had an actual room built in his basement for this purpose.

It was quite interesting really. It was about 5'x5' concrete room with sound reduction foam and it had a muffler routed outside and a switch that in the event of power loss from the line would automatically switch when the generator was started.

As for doing something like like post construction/ remodel I think it can be done. You could most certainly build an out building on your property. It wasn't a personal story from Irish though so who knows what the guy would do.

**RogerinTPA** · 03-02-12, 06:57

Exactly. The guy is an idiot for lighting his house up that way.

Originally Posted by Javelin

You think you could put a muffler on your generators and somehow blackout windows/use light discipline?

Just wondering how that would work. But now that you are the go-to guy believe me they will probably be back. We are creatures of habit unfortunately.

**Norseman** · 03-02-12, 10:35

Irish, Thanks for posting those up. I always like to hear first hand reports of real world events, this type of info is invaluable.

The one thing that amazes me though is that the genny did not just up and grow legs.

Strong argument for maintaining light AND noise discipline. Glad I live outside normal urban settings, a private well and septic system can be a good thing!