NOTICE: POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED IN MY AREA

POWER STILL HAS TO BE RESTORED TO SOME AREAS AND MAY TAKE UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY.

THIS WAS A RECORD BREAKING WINDSTORM AND MUCH DAMAGE IS STILL BEING DISCOVERED.

MY EXPERIENCE DURING THIS POWER OUTAGE IS TO HAVE ONLY THE BEST EQUIPMENT THAT WILL LAST FOR EXTENDED PERIODS WITHOUT FAILING.

GENERATORS ESPECIALLY NEED TO RUN ON SEVERAL TYPES OF FUEL, PROPANE BEING THE PREFERRED FUEL TO PREVENT GUMMING UP THE GENERATOR AND EASE OF STORAGE.

HEATING SOURCES SHOULD BE CATALYTIC PROPANE HEATERS OR WOOD FIREPLACES WITH PROPANE HEATERS BEING EASIER TO LOCATE AND CONTROL IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE HOME AND OFFICE.

WATER NEEDS TO BE STORED IN QUANTITY AND BE ABLE TO BE PUMPED TO ALL AREAS FOR BATHING AND TOILET NEEDS AS WELL AS KITCHEN USE. THE PUMPS CAN BE 12 VOLT WHICH CAN BE RUN FROM A SINGLE BATTERY THAT WILL HAVE TO BE KEPT CHARGED BY THE GENERATOR OR A SOLAR PANEL.

YOUR CAR OR TRUCK BATTERIES CAN RUN A SMALL INVERTER FOR SMALL ELECTRICAL NEEDS. A DIESEL MOTOR IN A VEHICLE CAN BE USED AS A GENERATOR IN AN EMERGENCY USING AN INVERTER.

A SMALL 12 VOLT DC TV CAN BE USED TO KEEP INFORMED AND A GOOD BATTERY OR HAND CRANKED RADIO IS HELPFUL. BOTH CAN BE PORTABLE AND USED IN YOUR VEHICLE.

IN A SERIOUS DISASTER, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CB RADIO AND A HAM RADIO WHICH REQUIRES A LICENSE TO OPERATE AND A GOOD DEAL OF LEARNING TO USE.

PERISHABLE FOOD STORAGE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY USING ICE CHESTS OR 12 VOLT DC APPLIANCES. IN GOOD TIMES YOU CAN MAKE ICE IN MILK BOTTLES AND KEEP IN YOUR FREEZER WHICH WILL BECOME WATER AFTER MELTING. IN COLD CLIMATES YOU CAN SIMPLY KEEP YOUR FOOD OUTSIDE AND PROTECTED FROM ANIMALS.

A PROPANE BAR B QUE CAN BE USED TO FOR COOKING AND IS EASIER THAN WOOD FIRED, BUT WOOD WOULD BE EASIER TO OBTAIN BUT HARDER TO CONTROL OVER TIME. 

*BOTH SHOULD BE USED OUTSIDE AND NEVER INSIDE FOR HEATING AS SHOULD ALL DEVICES THAT PRODUCE EXHAUST FUMES. FOR INDOOR PROPANE AND KEROSENE HEATERS CROSS VENTILATION OF OUTSIDE AIR SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

OBTAIN A USED RV PROPANE STOVE TOP THREE OR FOUR BURNER WHICH IS VERY PORTABLE TO USE FOR COOKING OR HEATING WATER FOR PURIFICATION OR BATHING.