What is everyone doing in case of a power blackout / brownout?


TRO

Alcohol, white gas, and solar cooking / heating water.

Candles and flashlights for light.

Battery operated radio.

Hoping the power comes back on.

Depends on when it happens... if it happens in the middle of the night, I'm gonna go back to sleep

During the day, put on the battery operated fans and chill out with as few clothes on as possible.

Eat the stuff in the fridge first, then if the power outage starts going on too long then it's time to fire up the grill and start bbq-ing the stuff in the freezer.

(Block Party!!!!)

At night, open some windows (with screens) put the fan in the window and go to sleep just like when I stayed with my grandmother as a child.

I'll use up the battery powered lights first saving the hurricane lamps (lamp oil) for last ditch lighting because of the heat and fire risk.

One day I'll get my generator (paying off debt = first priority).

Here in FL we've had our share....usually when it is during a T storm, the 1st thing I do is look across the street to see if the FPL equipment is as it should be. What I mean is that there is what looks like a huge knife switch that acts as a safety feature. Their (FPL's) technical term for it is a 'Drop out' switch. So far, 3 of th last 3 times it was tripped and hanging down. Calling FPL and using their terms to describe what is wrong usually convinces them I know of what I speak....We usually get the truck within an hour. Then we just hang on.

If it is longer than that.....I start thinking about wheeling the generator out.....I think our next "BIG" purchanse will be the 'whole house generator'.

Not a lot of power outs here, I can’t remember ever having a brown out. The few power outages we have are short duration things. A few hours is the most it’s ever been off.


I’m an avid tent camper, I have all I need to survive without power for a long time. Winter would be a problem for heating the house But the kitchen range and pulling the kero heater out of storage in the garage, it should be doable. Also the garage is heated with wood, it can easily be kept very warm with all the fire wood I have.

I keep telling myself to work toward being less grid dependant.

I did some reading on kerosene powered refrigerators once. They are aqua-ammonia like the ones in travel trailers. Does anyone have one of these, and if so how do you like it.


Seems like it would work for non grid homes.

Assuming the blackout is mid-to-long term, like the Great Eastern Blackout of '03 (we had no power for 2-3 days where I lived) or longer...

I'm doing what samhain is doing as far as the refrigerated goods go. Not that I couldn't afford one, but I live in an apartment building where a generator would not only be a possible noise/space problem, but would arouse suspicion and be a liability for theft, etc..

As for power for my small electronic devices, I've got a Black & Decker Power to Go portable battery. This will recharge the small luxury electronics (PSP, Nintendo DS) but the digital camera battery will have the priority here, should I want to document events as they unfolded.
As for the laptop I've got a car battery and an inverter, however long that will last.

I shouldn't have a problem with lighting, at least for quite a while. I've got a buttload of battery-powered lanterns, flashlights, batteries, and bulbs, most of which I've found on clearance (name brands and good quality though). I went kind of overboard here because during the '03 blackout, I was grossly underprepared and had only ONE glowstick and one Mini Mag-Lite with half-dead batteries. By Day 2 I was sitting in the dark, work calling me and telling me not to come in, scared out of my wits!

As for cooking I've got a propane grill for grilling, and a portable stove that runs on butane canisters. I don't need to use much fuel in the latter if I'm making something as quick and simple as Ramen noodles.

I've also got candles just sitting in my desk drawer waiting to be used, even with some brass candleholders w/ finger rings that I got at an antique store and untarnished at home.

Got it covered

1. Wood Burner
2. Propane Cook Stove
3. Generator wired into the house
4. Oil Lamps
5. Manual coffee pot, can opener
4. Travel Trailer
5. Camping gear
6. Rechargeable batterys
7. Cabin in NY
8. Propane Grill

Problem is the power doesn't go out that often, last time was for only 10 hrs, I don't get to use everything that often, except at my cabin in NY no power, carry water, no frig, use coolers etc. Actually I can live quite nicely without electricity.

I didn't know that. I take one of those Walmart LED lanterns when I'm camping. They put out a lot of light for there size and seem to sip batteries.

As for blackouts, we have assorted battery-powered fans, lanterns, radio, etc and a large, 400 watt emergency power battery thingy.

In the winter we just put on clothes if we get a little cool. I love Texas!

Our freezers have lots of blocks of ice in them to help keep them cool. If it looks like it'll be a few days I'll start canning stuff, grilling stuff, and swap BBQ with the neighbors.

We were going to get a generator but Hurricane Rita convinced us otherwise. All the houses across the street lost power for six days. A bunch of them shared a generator to keep their fridges/freezers going but after three days the cost in gas outweighed the cost of food. gas prices have doubled since then. Overall, we decided we can make do without electricity if we must. Our stove and water heater are gas plus I have a ton of camping stuff. Overall, it'll be kind of sticky in the summer or cool in the winter, but nothing unbarable.

-Blast

I don’t know if propane is different then natural gas, but my natural gas water heater has no electrical connection to it at all. I just put a new one in on May 8th of this year and only hooked up water, gas line and the vent.

The kitchen range is hooked to electricity, but it’s only used for the timer / clock and piezo lighters. It will still work with no electricity if you light it with a match.