I had a friend whose son was a electrician & hard wired a generator to run the kitchen & utility room circuits. When I evaced before Rita & Ike I went to his ranch just noth of Huntsville. He had a huge log home. I glamped there.
So glad to hear from you and that your household made it ok.Wanted to post to say that we finally got power back on and therefore water, too, at 8:10PM last night. Finally got cell reception Wednesday night, IIRC. Had no structural damage to the house itself, nor to my 24 x 24 storage building I built in 2007. My barn (with my horse inside it in his stall) had only minimal T-111 siding damage to the south end of it, which was amazing considering the cluster of 3 big oaks that fell between the barn and my chain link fence across the back yard.
My 91 year old Mom and I are worn out and weary, but otherwise OK now. We lost power and water Sunday night at 7PM. It didn't really get scary until I heard on the radio about midnight, that we were going to start getting hit by the eye wall 100mph+ winds in about 15-20 minutes. I heard the front door making creaking and rumbling sounds about 15 minutes later, and when I checked on it...the deadbolt and door knob lock throws were literally being pushed very hard back and forth against the lock throw holes in the door jam. So from 12:25AM - about 3:30AM I was braced up against my front door (alternating which hip and leg, shoulder, and arm I had pressing against the door with everything I had) as it would push inward on the door with each strong gust. Boy, did I wish I was a man at that point, and had more strength than I did! Have some bruises now, but they're going away. Absolutely could not allow that door to come open, or the roof could've given way from the inside out.
Got some sleep finally from about 4AM-7AM. Then up and waited for still pretty gusty winds and some rain to quit, so I could set up the generator and get it going. Problem then was getting more gas for the generator and/or more cans to put it in. Drove all over town Monday late afternoon and during the morning Tuesday trying to find some. Nice neighbor brought over 5 gallons to last another 10-12 hours. With no power in most all areas...even the few stations that did have gas in their underground tanks, couldn't get it out. After waiting an hour in a line at 1 little station Tuesday night...was able to get 7 gallons. Wednesday late afternoon was able to get 7 more gallons after only a 30 minute wait. Thursday late afternoon I found 2 more gas cans at Lowe's in a nearby town, so got more then to last through yesterday.
The big trees down in the barnyard and 1 in the front yard were the only real damage done, so we were very lucky. Those will be taken care of ASAP when tree companies aren't so busy. Went out this afternoon and took some photos of them that will probably be needed later. We made it through unhurt and so did all of my animals. It could've been much much worse. So we're very thankful at this point. But...I can honestly say that this one, out of all the others I've been through (including Charley, Frances, and Jeanne in 2004), was the worst nerve-wise.
Next...we'll see what Maria has in store for us possibly in the next 7-10 days.
Now I need to go back and read pages 36-52, where I left off before writing this. Glad to see that so far, in the pages I've read...everyone who has reported in seems to at least be OK.
Where are you goung this time? And how is your hand?
We have that here. Apartment, rv, & mobil home dwellers especially. The Cities & State are worling yo get landlords to ease up deposits, etc, to help people get bavk into a home.DH was telling me about an article he read about the thousands of homeless people in shelters in south Florida. Many if them were homeless before Irma and many more are now homeless because they are poor, their homes were destroyed and they don't have any money or insurance to rebuild.
This is so utterly awful. Reminds me of Katrina.
They were awesome! And very erlcome to come back under better conditions!
Very happy for you! With wind like that tjere could have been tremendous damage if that door came open.Wanted to post to say that we finally got power back on and therefore water, too, at 8:10PM last night. Finally got cell reception Wednesday night, IIRC. Had no structural damage to the house itself, nor to my 24 x 24 storage building I built in 2007. My barn (with my horse inside it in his stall) had only minimal T-111 siding damage to the south end of it, which was amazing considering the cluster of 3 big oaks that fell between the barn and my chain link fence across the back yard.
My 91 year old Mom and I are worn out and weary, but otherwise OK now. We lost power and water Sunday night at 7PM. It didn't really get scary until I heard on the radio about midnight, that we were going to start getting hit by the eye wall 100mph+ winds in about 15-20 minutes. I heard the front door making creaking and rumbling sounds about 15 minutes later, and when I checked on it...the deadbolt and door knob lock throws were literally being pushed very hard back and forth against the lock throw holes in the door jam. So from 12:25AM - about 3:30AM I was braced up against my front door (alternating which hip and leg, shoulder, and arm I had pressing against the door with everything I had) as it would push inward on the door with each strong gust. Boy, did I wish I was a man at that point, and had more strength than I did! Have some bruises now, but they're going away. Absolutely could not allow that door to come open, or the roof could've given way from the inside out.
Got some sleep finally from about 4AM-7AM. Then up and waited for still pretty gusty winds and some rain to quit, so I could set up the generator and get it going. Problem then was getting more gas for the generator and/or more cans to put it in. Drove all over town Monday late afternoon and during the morning Tuesday trying to find some. Nice neighbor brought over 5 gallons to last another 10-12 hours. With no power in most all areas...even the few stations that did have gas in their underground tanks, couldn't get it out. After waiting an hour in a line at 1 little station Tuesday night...was able to get 7 gallons. Wednesday late afternoon was able to get 7 more gallons after only a 30 minute wait. Thursday late afternoon I found 2 more gas cans at Lowe's in a nearby town, so got more then to last through yesterday.
The big trees down in the barnyard and 1 in the front yard were the only real damage done, so we were very lucky. Those will be taken care of ASAP when tree companies aren't so busy. Went out this afternoon and took some photos of them that will probably be needed later. We made it through unhurt and so did all of my animals. It could've been much much worse. So we're very thankful at this point. But...I can honestly say that this one, out of all the others I've been through (including Charley, Frances, and Jeanne in 2004), was the worst nerve-wise.
Next...we'll see what Maria has in store for us possibly in the next 7-10 days.
Now I need to go back and read pages 36-52, where I left off before writing this. Glad to see that so far, in the pages I've read...everyone who has reported in seems to at least be OK.
I take it no natural gas in the neighborhood. We had it up in Virginia and the restaurants in the shopping center behind us has it but not in our neighborhood. I haven't talked to the gas company yet byt, i doubt they'll run it uder the sound wall to the back of the house. I like natural gas, propane not so much. You'd think they're both the same and as far as use goes they pretty much are, however, natural gas is lighter than air and propane is heavier. Propane will settle into low spots and basements and build up to an explosive concentration quicker.First, thanks for the links!
I really would like the tank buried. We don't have a large lot and I have to say, I'm not a fan of the look of a tank sitting out. I don't know if the city would even allow that.
I have hubby researching small generators right now. The thought if his grumpy .... if we lose AC again... just ugh!
He could be looking at whole house though. Who knows what he is up to in there
I'm going to suggest you get a 2x4 and cut it into two pieces to go across the door to act as braces. Pre-cut, pre-fit, pre-drill, and have them and the screws necessary for installation to the door-frame ready to go the next time.
It's easy if one knows what one is doing and avoids extension cords. You need a throw switch, one way it's power company power the other it's on the generator
This is called "backfeeding" down here and you can run as much with this system as your generator will allow. DH plans to do this with our genny…much more convenient than hooking up cords everywhere.
ECF should have a "Superlike" option. Great list of neat ways to kill yerself, somebody else, or set yer house on fire.
