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A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?

 
Tiamat2012

User ID: 1314013
United States
11/01/2012 11:14 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
A good tip.... if you have a generator and are out of power for days... get to know your circuit breaker well so you know exactly what is not needed and what is thus lessining the demand of power from the generator = less gas cost. If you don't know what to do once you get a generator... you better figure it out before your power goes out. If you set it up incorrectly... you can burn your house down.
psyoptics

User ID: 11919225
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11/01/2012 11:15 PM

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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
Powdered milk. Light weight bags. Sold in grocery stores. Milk doesn't spoil in powered form. Reconstitute with bottled water.

Good will stores are great for prepping and it's cheaper. Candles, candle holders, oil lamp, battery radio. Best thing I found is a new glass coffee percolator pot you can use on gas burner! I have to have coffee in the morning.
 Quoting: abeliever

i would also say if you are going the powdered milk ways....
stock up on flour...salt....sugar, little baking powder and soda...make your own bread. bread will not last long but the ingredients will.
a good video editor can make anyone say anything the editor wants.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 23367695
Canada
11/01/2012 11:15 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
sorry meant to add pic of butane stove

[link to i00.i.aliimg.com]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23367695


are the stoves that use the green propane bottles ok for indoors?
 Quoting: Bluemoon55


no
Desert Fox

User ID: 8786935
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11/01/2012 11:17 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
People with generators must remember to keep gas preservative in the gas in the generator, and the stored gas. You must start the generator every three months at the very least, and put a load on it with an electric heater or toaster, ect. Let in run till fully warmed up, If you do not do the above, your generator may just be a good boat anchor when you need it.
:TOMABANEFOX:
It's more humane this way ya know, or burn on totem pole. Choice is yours.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 23367695
Canada
11/01/2012 11:17 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
sorry meant to add pic of butane stove

[link to i00.i.aliimg.com]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23367695


are the stoves that use the green propane bottles ok for indoors?
 Quoting: Bluemoon55


Absolutely.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


not without good ventilation
Rob the hogggggggggggg
User ID: 24961440
United States
11/01/2012 11:19 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
Did anyone notice in the movie 2012 New York was flooded first now only a month an 21 days New York is flooded 0.0
Desert Fox

User ID: 8786935
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11/01/2012 11:19 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
sorry meant to add pic of butane stove

[link to i00.i.aliimg.com]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23367695


are the stoves that use the green propane bottles ok for indoors?
 Quoting: Bluemoon55


no
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23367695


Yes they are don't lie to the poster. Not for long term heating without ventilation, but cooking is fine, and heat with a fresh air source.
:TOMABANEFOX:
It's more humane this way ya know, or burn on totem pole. Choice is yours.
psyoptics

User ID: 11919225
United States
11/01/2012 11:20 PM

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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I would be most worried about the criminal element in the cities, and have adequate firearms at hand. Shotgun preferred.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


Do not forget the lowly slingshot and glass marbles, as they are silent but effective.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Lmao, David?
 Quoting: Patrick Bateman


LMAO Dimwit

Would you use a noisy gun when a silent slingshot would suffice?
 Quoting: SilverPatriot

i have cross bows and learn how to use them.
just stock up on arrows...don't need the expensive one....you only need it once.
they are very deadly and very quiet.
some even have sights and are pretty small.
a good video editor can make anyone say anything the editor wants.
Tiamat2012

User ID: 1314013
United States
11/01/2012 11:21 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I was out of power/cable/internet for 3 days. Food was not a problem. One thing i noticed is we had no water(water pump wasn't working or so we thought). On the third day of having no power/water "we" decided to buy a new water well pump(one that goes about 100' deep). New pump and control box cost us about $850. After all the working pulling the old pump out and replacing it with a new one, the rest of the day was spent messing around with the relay/control box. After a full day spent messing around with it all it was figure out that the control box was not gettinenough power from the generator(meaning $850 down the toilet). Ended up running a 220v line, hardwired from the generator to the control box and bam it worked! Then... pretty much 2 hours afterwards i went to shut the generator off for the night and went to go switch the main breaker(grid-switch) on. As soon as i laid in bed the power/cable/etc.. came back on.

3 days in the darkness wasnt too bad, even tho i didnt prepare beforehand... we were very well prepared. Had enough gas for the generator to run it 2+ days. It was a definite wake-up call because we heard it could take up to 2 weeks to get power back but that was all just an estimate. On the other hand... If the power went off and never came back... completely a different story. I know of a local family that lost their house due to a fire because of their generator(don't mess with a generator if you don't know what you are doing... you will burn your fucking house down).

Overall no damage done to the house/property but as for my town, it's a different story.
 Quoting: Tiamat2012

i know ....
for some odd reason my block in brooklyn did not lose power...we did not have 1 tree fall....heck we did not even loose anything more then big twigs????
1 block in any direction had large branches falling on houses and cars...even whole trees ripping up sidewalks and streets!
why spare us, my block?
just be thankful!
 Quoting: psyoptics


Sometimes you get lucky. My area was not "too" bad but i guess it was bad heading towards the sub-station. They had to make sure they hadd all the connections up before turning the power back on. The very night of the storm i had my generator as soon as the power went out and checked my local power-supply website(www.nyseg.com). At that time... there were about 80% of the county without power. Typing this right now there is still 44.6% of the county without power.

I just wonder what most of the people did in my town/county without a generator because i know there is a hell of alot higher percentage of those that dont have one than those that do. All the food in their fridges must have slowly started to rot. I'm glad i have my "Honda EG 3500x"(20 year old generator that starts everytime on just 1 pull).
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 12012521
United States
11/01/2012 11:22 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
Nobody in affected area on line?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 19964681


The people living in places that still don't have electricity also don't have any internet.

My power was out for two days.

Two days doesn't seem like much, but when it gets cold at night, and you have to turn off the lantern so the batteries don't go dead, and you have no idea when, or IF, the power is going to come back on, it really sucks.

Those people in the city, or in the town 5 miles north from me, that don't have electricity, my heart goes out to them. It really does.

Try turning off your computer, turning off the lights, and the heat, and just hang out for awhile.

In the dark.

Just try that for a few hours.

It's very educational.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26705050


And boring...
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 26776851
Mexico
11/01/2012 11:22 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
Try turning off your computer, turning off the lights, and the heat, and just hang out for awhile.

In the dark.

Just try that for a few hours.

It's very educational.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26705050


oh my I wonder how the world survived without the internet and lights? Maybe they looked up and realised the beauty of the grandiose universe and how insignificant we actually are... Also if you got food and water, sit tight and read anbook and get the candles going, they provide heat too dont you know.
waterlily

User ID: 19961452
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11/01/2012 11:22 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
For water we have a well and a couple of generators to run the pump. We have plastic food barrels, 50 gal each that we have water in. We would just use the generator to fill the barrels and fet a small amt of drinking h2o, not leave it on all the time. We got the barrels at a ranch supply store, and they already had been punched for a faucet near the bottom, so in the past we have set them on a plastic milk crate so we could use a good sized container under the faucet and used them that way. I just did a google search on

used plastic food barrels

and came up with several sources. You have to keep chlorine in the h2o to keep algae, etc from forming. The h2o is good for washing up, flushing, etc, but we have well and bottled h2o for drinking.

If you have a place for a couple of these they are worth the $$ and more.

We have lights out every winter for a while, but so far never very long. But we grew up where power outages could be for days, so it is not a big stretch for us to think that way.
*********** WaterLily ***********
" Do I dare
Disturb the universe?"
-- T. S. Elliot, Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

*************************************
“We are as ignorant of the meaning of the dragon as we are of the meaning of the universe.”
-- Jorge Luis Borges
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Pompey made his preparations for the war at the end of the winter, entered upon it at the commencement of spring,
and finished it in the middle of the summer."
-- Cicero, De Imperio Cn. Pompei
Tiamat2012

User ID: 1314013
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11/01/2012 11:23 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
People with generators must remember to keep gas preservative in the gas in the generator, and the stored gas. You must start the generator every three months at the very least, and put a load on it with an electric heater or toaster, ect. Let in run till fully warmed up, If you do not do the above, your generator may just be a good boat anchor when you need it.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


lol dude so wrong.... as long as you have an oooold as generator as i do, you don't need to do that. Mine is built to last, 20 years+ old and starts with 1 pull every time.
Jefiner

User ID: 26443814
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11/01/2012 11:24 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I have lived through several power outages in the Northeast during blizzards, ice storms, etc. The worst was an icestorm in upstate NY which left me and my 5 year old son without power for three weeks, along with a pine tree on the roof. All this with an electric house and well. (the now ex DH was working at a job out of state.)

What made life better? Wood stove and kerosene heater. I was able to keep the house easily at 60 degrees. We just wore lots of layers. Bust out your camping gear. I tucked us into sleeping bags under quilts, and with the two cats, we were toasty. I see a lot of references to propane stoves, but I had much better luck with my two dual fuel Coleman stoves. I did set them up outside to cook, and brought them in to the garage after they were cooled.

Water was the biggest problem, because my home was on a hillside and dependent on the electric well. I used water from the hot water tank to drink, and collected melt water from the gutters to flush the toilet. If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down. Laundry was at a minimum because when it's that cold, you just don't stink up as fast or as much. Baby wipes were an asset.

I did have a beer or two the first day, but I soon realized I needed to keep my game face on, so alcohol was put aside. To conserve candles and flashlights, we got up with the light and went to bed with the dark. Stories, songs, puzzles, along with the usual chores did help pass the time. I never had to deploy it, but there was a twelve gauge parked by the door.

I wonder at the constant use of generators. If you run them for four to six hours a day, that should be enough to keep the freezer frozen and the fridge cold, along with charging up all the peripherals. I have a 2000 watt Honda, and the thing is thrifty and quiet. However, if you need power to run all the Halloween decorations, sound system and multiple big screen tvs then be my guest. Going thrifty will stretch out those gasoline reserves. FWIW, I use premium gas treated with Stabil and I've never had a cough out of the genny, even with year old gas.

And I'm a big believer in waterbobs. People may moan about the cost, but 100 gallons of fresh water is worth a lot when you are thirsty . . .

Prayers for those who are struggling--
I would prefer not to.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 1507912
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11/01/2012 11:28 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
Heres one!!!!


"Hi ______
I live between Trenton, N.J. and Phila, Pa. along the Delaware River. I lost power on Monday night @ 6:00 pm. Power came back on, Wednesday evening @7:30 pm. We had a lot of high winds, but, surprisingly little rain, @ 3".
I went to the store on Sunday, in the morning and again in the evening. Nether store had any selection of bread but everything else was available. I have enough for food a few weeks, but I suddenly had to have grapes, which was the reason for the trips to the store.
I was fortunate enough to own a 4000 watt generator, which I used the whole time the grid was down, to run the refrigerators and the TV.
So what did I learn?
I, and a whole lot of people, are not prepared for life with no grid. Sorry to say "I though I was ready", but, I clearly failed this test run! I wish everyone the "Best Of Luck" in the future, Not too many people will make it. The first weeks will be very difficult. That is very clear to me.
The shock of not having the 24/7 luxuries, will be overwhelming for most of us.
Something as simple as not having access to a cup of store made coffee was a shock to me. (Wawa is the local franchise in the area for gas and coffee.) Wow, what an eye opener! "
 Quoting: Mukk1234


I think it might be harder if you live in the city or close to them. You can raise more in the country side. You can also have a fireplace or a wood burning heater that can be used for a stove.

Cold water on a barrel, in cold weather can keep food from spoiling. Just put the food in a tight container. You can keep water in a cistern. Lights can be candles and conversation is entertainment. Quilts and a hot brick rapped up in a thick cloth can warm a cold bed. Just make sure you keep food on hand. A radio, make it a two way, is one luxury that you can get, you don't have to have it, but it is real handy.
Desert Fox

User ID: 8786935
United States
11/01/2012 11:29 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
People with generators must remember to keep gas preservative in the gas in the generator, and the stored gas. You must start the generator every three months at the very least, and put a load on it with an electric heater or toaster, ect. Let in run till fully warmed up, If you do not do the above, your generator may just be a good boat anchor when you need it.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


lol dude so wrong.... as long as you have an oooold as generator as i do, you don't need to do that. Mine is built to last, 20 years+ old and starts with 1 pull every time.
 Quoting: Tiamat2012


No not so wrong, gas goes bad fast, been there done that, and they generator needs exercised to maintain good working condition.
:TOMABANEFOX:
It's more humane this way ya know, or burn on totem pole. Choice is yours.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 3029708
United States
11/01/2012 11:31 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I am N. of NYC, in the affected area (still without power with downed trees all around) but not the worst affected area.

Generator, installed with switch to run the circuits in the house, with gas cans, and filled the gas cans in the week before the storm.

Saved our asses.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3029708


In long outages those generators suck a hell of a lot of gas. Best to run them for short times to make the gas last. 24/7 running you will need to own a gas station.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


I am using about 10 gallons a day for my whole family, which requires me to go to the gas station every day because I have only 2 5 gallon cans. I also have a 3 gallon can. I want to buy more cans but they are basically unavailable, sold out all over the east coast according to Home Depot.

People who don't have them are able to get generators at Home Depot but they cannot get gas cans. Wonder how they'll fill the generator -- siphon from their car into a glass bottle, then pour into the tank, repeat 100 times ??

But I live in a rural area and pump my own well water, and it's very important to have running water to maintain civilized quality of life. Also heat now that it's gotten cold. So for the duration I'll have to spend the money.
PsychoticSanity

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11/01/2012 11:32 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
We just did the best we could to prepare. We stocked up on water. We cut a lot of wood for the woodstove if it got too cold. We buttoned down the house. We bought and got a lot of ingredients, instead of just food. Since we bake a lot of our own stuff anyway. We usually are self reliant, and that seems to help a good bit.

I would stress that to anyone and everyone. Try to be as self reliant as possible. And remember that a time once existed when there was no electrical power. We just try to be as self reliant and "natural" as possible. Kind of hard to explain, I guess.

We were only an hour from the coast and were supposed to get hit really bad. Fortunately, it did not turn out as they predicted and we got off fairly easy. I only hope everyone else was as prepared and is okay. I haven't been able to do a lot of reading on the storm or anything yet because I've been out of power and the internet and just got it back.

Peace, everyone! Best wishes and I hope you're safe!
"Heresy is only another word for freedom of thought."

“I’ll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just
the determination to do a job that you know has to be done.”

"You must be shapeless, formless, like water."

"Let each man hear his own music and live by it.
The drums roll one way for one man, I guess,
and another way for another. You have to listen to your own."
SilverPatriot

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11/01/2012 11:32 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I would be most worried about the criminal element in the cities, and have adequate firearms at hand. Shotgun preferred.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


Do not forget the lowly slingshot and glass marbles, as they are silent but effective.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Whoa!!
 Quoting: waterlily


If necessary if the SHTF why would you give up you position with a muzzle flash and noise when a silent glass marble to the head will do the trick.
SilverPatriot

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11/01/2012 11:36 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
...


Do not forget the lowly slingshot and glass marbles, as they are silent but effective.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Lmao, David?
 Quoting: Patrick Bateman


LMAO Dimwit

Would you use a noisy gun when a silent slingshot would suffice?
 Quoting: SilverPatriot

i have cross bows and learn how to use them.
just stock up on arrows...don't need the expensive one....you only need it once.
they are very deadly and very quiet.
some even have sights and are pretty small.
 Quoting: psyoptics


Bow and arrow is a good choice however, a slingshot is as silent and less obvious and a glass marble to the head will do the trick cheap and effective.
Desert Fox

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11/01/2012 11:36 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I am N. of NYC, in the affected area (still without power with downed trees all around) but not the worst affected area.

Generator, installed with switch to run the circuits in the house, with gas cans, and filled the gas cans in the week before the storm.

Saved our asses.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3029708


In long outages those generators suck a hell of a lot of gas. Best to run them for short times to make the gas last. 24/7 running you will need to own a gas station.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


I am using about 10 gallons a day for my whole family, which requires me to go to the gas station every day because I have only 2 5 gallon cans. I also have a 3 gallon can. I want to buy more cans but they are basically unavailable, sold out all over the east coast according to Home Depot.

People who don't have them are able to get generators at Home Depot but they cannot get gas cans. Wonder how they'll fill the generator -- siphon from their car into a glass bottle, then pour into the tank, repeat 100 times ??

But I live in a rural area and pump my own well water, and it's very important to have running water to maintain civilized quality of life. Also heat now that it's gotten cold. So for the duration I'll have to spend the money.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3029708

You might save a lot of fuel by just running it for like 15 minutes every couple of hours. Gas may run out as people fight over it.
:TOMABANEFOX:
It's more humane this way ya know, or burn on totem pole. Choice is yours.
MaryAlananB

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11/01/2012 11:36 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I lose power here often, sometimes for several days. July 1st 2011 there was a derecho that took out power over half of Minnesota. I had 20 guests for my annual 4th of July party already here. Fired up the little generator. Made sure I had lots of ice and all drinks in coolers. No opening the fridge just to get a coke.

I ran the generator to power fridge and freezer and a couple lights. Managed to cook for 20+ people for 5 days straight with no utility power. We had a blast playing outside during the day and at dark I set up my telescope and took advantage of zero light pollution. Tents and sleeping bags, a few camped out on my floor (all hotels were shut down in the area). I have a rain collection system for gray water and in a pinch I can filter it for drinking if needed but I had stocked up on bottled water for the party.

Turn your power off for an entire weekend as a test of your preps, you will see your weak spots fast.

I nice lighting system is the battery operated led puck light s for closets. I have them scattered all over the house and if power fails just tap one.
Anonymous Coward
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11/01/2012 11:37 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
A good tip.... if you have a generator and are out of power for days... get to know your circuit breaker well so you know exactly what is not needed and what is thus lessining the demand of power from the generator = less gas cost. If you don't know what to do once you get a generator... you better figure it out before your power goes out. If you set it up incorrectly... you can burn your house down.
 Quoting: Tiamat2012


Legally you are required to have the switch put in by a certified electrician and it must be a switch that prevents backflow of power into the power lines. That way your generator won't be electrifying lines that crews are trying to repair -- that would be a safety risk for them.

Unfortunately this switch installation parts and labor is usually $1000 or so.

We run everything but try to have discipline about what we run. But I've been happy with my 6.5 kW little unit, I can run everything we need, several computers, a TV, even dishwasher or clothes washer.

I don't want to minimize the cost, but trying to manage a family on just a few circuit breakers is something I don't see how to do. We need internet connectivity for our business anyway.
berniemom2012
Deplorable CatRWall

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11/01/2012 11:37 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
Nobody in affected area on line?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 19964681


Guess ur gonna have to wait till they get their electricity back... and find a warm dry place to plug their laptop into.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1148772


This. The people I know who were hit hard have no power, gas, electric, heat, internet, etc.

A good question though.

One of my mother's friends in Jersey is staying with a neighbor who has a generator that is working and providing heat. She was able to charge a cell phone and call my mom tonight. She drove about 2 miles to a gas station to get some simple supplies today and it took over 3 hours. There was a 2 hour wait for gas, and someone got knifed trying to cut in line while she was there. And she lives in a nice area.

I can only imagine what the hood is like. It is pretty fucked up a couple blocks off the main drag in AC on a normal night, would not want to be caught there now.
 Quoting: Patrick Bateman


Wow.
Desert Fox

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11/01/2012 11:38 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I would be most worried about the criminal element in the cities, and have adequate firearms at hand. Shotgun preferred.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


Do not forget the lowly slingshot and glass marbles, as they are silent but effective.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Whoa!!
 Quoting: waterlily


If necessary if the SHTF why would you give up you position with a muzzle flash and noise when a silent glass marble to the head will do the trick.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Uh, yes. I have more than one shot.
:TOMABANEFOX:
It's more humane this way ya know, or burn on totem pole. Choice is yours.
Desert Fox

User ID: 8786935
United States
11/01/2012 11:40 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
A good tip.... if you have a generator and are out of power for days... get to know your circuit breaker well so you know exactly what is not needed and what is thus lessining the demand of power from the generator = less gas cost. If you don't know what to do once you get a generator... you better figure it out before your power goes out. If you set it up incorrectly... you can burn your house down.
 Quoting: Tiamat2012


Legally you are required to have the switch put in by a certified electrician and it must be a switch that prevents backflow of power into the power lines. That way your generator won't be electrifying lines that crews are trying to repair -- that would be a safety risk for them.

Unfortunately this switch installation parts and labor is usually $1000 or so.

We run everything but try to have discipline about what we run. But I've been happy with my 6.5 kW little unit, I can run everything we need, several computers, a TV, even dishwasher or clothes washer.

I don't want to minimize the cost, but trying to manage a family on just a few circuit breakers is something I don't see how to do. We need internet connectivity for our business anyway.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3029708

Best just to use extension cords if you don't have the anti feedback switch.
:TOMABANEFOX:
It's more humane this way ya know, or burn on totem pole. Choice is yours.
SilverPatriot

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11/01/2012 11:41 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
sorry meant to add pic of butane stove

[link to i00.i.aliimg.com]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23367695


are the stoves that use the green propane bottles ok for indoors?
 Quoting: Bluemoon55


Most of the heaters are useable indoors however you will need to look up your particular stove system there are kerosene stove/heaters combos that are rated for indoor use.
berniemom2012
Deplorable CatRWall

User ID: 6493463
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11/01/2012 11:41 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I have some tips I've never bothered to share with anyone.
I will do so now. By the way, my water was cut off for one week after flooding.

WATER!

I always see doom movies where people go up and turn a tap and say... whoop, no water. That's not right, what you are seeing is no water pressure. In most setups it's likely that there is a large tank of water somewhere in the basement just sitting there, enough to get you through whatever situation you are in. If you have on demand water heating you are likely SOL though. Take a look in your building or house... do you have a hot water tank? There's your water.

Pooping.
I was going out and buying/collecting water to flush my toilet. It worked fine, but in a full doom scenario I would use a bucket with a lid you can seal and save the water.

Whenever an earthquake hits or a typhoon is on its way, I fill the bathtub.

For boiling water and cooking food I strongly suggest coal. A small piece of coal will get the job done in one of those small burn buckets you can cook over, so a big bag will last you. getting a coal fire lit without dumping more fuel on it takes a bit of practice.

If you are cooking pasta/rice, you don't need to keep the water boiling the whole time. Once the water hits the boiling point any additional heat is just wasting fuel.

A single solar panel and a battery, marine is better, is beyond useful. Those small solar garden light things can be used to charge up AA batteries that you can then use in flashlights and such.

I could go on but I'll stop there for sake of length.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 24866361


Hey DO go on! This is good stuff. I'm taking notes...
SilverPatriot

User ID: 10518597
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11/01/2012 11:42 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
...


Do not forget the lowly slingshot and glass marbles, as they are silent but effective.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Whoa!!
 Quoting: waterlily


If necessary if the SHTF why would you give up you position with a muzzle flash and noise when a silent glass marble to the head will do the trick.
 Quoting: SilverPatriot


Uh, yes. I have more than one shot.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


More than one shot of what?

Last Edited by SilverPatriot - Memorial on 11/01/2012 11:44 PM
Mkguyver

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11/01/2012 11:43 PM
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Re: A question? Preppers in the Sandy area. What worked and what didn't?
I am N. of NYC, in the affected area (still without power with downed trees all around) but not the worst affected area.

Generator, installed with switch to run the circuits in the house, with gas cans, and filled the gas cans in the week before the storm.

Saved our asses.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3029708


In long outages those generators suck a hell of a lot of gas. Best to run them for short times to make the gas last. 24/7 running you will need to own a gas station.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


I am using about 10 gallons a day for my whole family, which requires me to go to the gas station every day because I have only 2 5 gallon cans. I also have a 3 gallon can. I want to buy more cans but they are basically unavailable, sold out all over the east coast according to Home Depot.

People who don't have them are able to get generators at Home Depot but they cannot get gas cans. Wonder how they'll fill the generator -- siphon from their car into a glass bottle, then pour into the tank, repeat 100 times ??

But I live in a rural area and pump my own well water, and it's very important to have running water to maintain civilized quality of life. Also heat now that it's gotten cold. So for the duration I'll have to spend the money.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3029708

You might save a lot of fuel by just running it for like 15 minutes every couple of hours. Gas may run out as people fight over it.
 Quoting: Desert Fox


We run our generator during outages long enough for the refrigerators to cycle on and off a couple times, This seems to keep things cold and frozen. Then for showers, i set everyone up to cycle through in order to save fuel. For back up water we have a 10k/gal pool.





GLP