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All-TigerNet [5944]
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Preparedness levels
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May 6, 2025, 10:21 AM
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We had a pretty lame ice storm last night and don't have power for a bit. Got the camp stove out and made breakfast and coffee. I can probably do that for like 8-9 more meals before I get tired of it and take the family to a hotel somewhere. I reckon after 2-3 days I'll want a break from all this if I stay powerless.
How long could y'all go right now with an unexpected power outage before you'd cave and leave the house?
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TigerNet Grandmaster [209834]
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About a hour.***
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May 6, 2025, 10:22 AM
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [104008]
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Just went a week after Helene
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May 6, 2025, 10:22 AM
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but it depends on temps mainly.
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TigerNet Legend [147815]
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16 days after hurricane Hugo.
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May 6, 2025, 10:28 AM
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We had just gotten married and bought our house, so we were pretty close to camping anyway. Not sure about now, but RH Sis and Joonyer both have whole house generators and only live minutes away, so doubtful I'd bother with a hotel. Add in one dog and three cats and I'm pretty sure we'd mostly tough it out other than leaving the house for a shower.
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Clemson Icon [27036]
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I just had a dream about this.
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May 6, 2025, 10:33 AM
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We could probably go about a week before food became an issue.
I want to be able to survive long enough, with the family, in the wilderness to be able to start thriving.
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TigerNet Champion [118602]
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Right now? A day.
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May 6, 2025, 10:36 AM
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But as we approach the peak of hurricane season, I would imagine we could go a little longer and we would be more prepared.
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Orange Immortal [64248]
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I went 8 days back during COVID
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May 6, 2025, 10:36 AM
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whenever the Seneca tornado went through. April 2020, one month into the COVID pandemic. No power for over a week. Fortunately I had very little damage on my property other than power out. And weather was nice, it was Springtime.
What sucked worse then is there wasn't anything in the stores either (the ones that were even open), remember the great toilet paper shortage along with everything else. All the shelves were bare.
Wasn't really anywhere I could go either because of COVID, all the shutdowns, everybody was quarantined. Restaurants were closed.
Grilled all the meat in my freezer immediately and ate that for a couple days. Then just ate canned soup, saltines and peanut butter for rest of the week. Fortunately I had a good amount of nonperishable food in my pantry.
Wouldn't want to do it again, but it was OK.
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2020/04/16/tornado-nearly-1-400-without-power-oconee-county-seneca-sc/5144342002/
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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As long as I can keep the propane tanks refreshed.
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May 6, 2025, 10:38 AM
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After we had an ice storm here and a friend was out of power for at least a week, I decided to prepare for an eventuality in which we'd have no power for a while. So, I got a tri-fuel generator (gas, propane, LNG) and a backfeed to run basic electrics. Eventually I'd like to get a hookup directly to the LNG, and just run the generator directly off of that.
Figure we can heat up hot water on the grill if needed.
I'm assuming food will still be accessible at the store, but if we're talking about a full-on infrastructure breakdown, we have those buckets of emergency rations that should last us about 6mo if we don't have to feed the inlaws (at which point we may be fed by them if you know what I mean -- RHtig does).
COVID and the closeness we came to systemic disruption with fire/police/medical also prompted me to build a decent medical emergency stash, treating everything from infection (fish antibiotics), breaks, and even GSW to the chest. And picked this up since my medical training is basically being an Eagle Scout, which only gets you so far:
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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I say this as a man with survivalist aspirations.
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May 6, 2025, 10:39 AM
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The reality is my wife would have us driving to her inlaws in Fort Mill within two hours of losing power.
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Clemson Icon [27036]
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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If you got the space for it, and most people do if they're smart about it,
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May 6, 2025, 10:52 AM
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light-prepping just makes sense. I started before COVID when North Korea EMPs were in the news, but COVID was definitely a game-changer. I don't think people appreciate how close we got to emergency system failures, where you are essentially on your own. Some of that was government's creation; nevertheless, it showed that it's a reality you need to plan on. Even a few buckets of emergency rations from Costco and a WaterBOB can be the difference between sustained living and dire straights.
The only time I've ever fired up our generator is to test it every so often, but dangit if that $800 investment won't pay for itself instantly as soon as we need it.
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Clemson Icon [27036]
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Yeah... I dont need power.
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May 6, 2025, 11:00 AM
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I need something to start a fire, and a way to purify water (or a spring). Then I want to learn skills for food gathering. I believe I could build a shelter well enough.
We hiked half the AT, and we also went to the riverhouse majority of the weekends for the past 2 years. A vast majority of that time was without power and water. We even slept on the porch just to stay out of the contractor's way.
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TigerNet Immortal [171615]
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Until I got old
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May 6, 2025, 11:05 AM
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and it quit snowing just about every winter, I would go in the woods once a year with just 2 matches and a pot and start a fire in the snow then boil water just to prove to myself I could. Started when I was about 10 or so. Only ran out of matches the first time.
Now it’s more about tolerating the heat and humidity than dealing with cold.
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Clemson Icon [27036]
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This is stuff I want to do with my kids.
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May 6, 2025, 11:10 AM
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Teach them how to survive... teach them how to think.
One of the times at the river, I taught them how to start a fire without a lighter.... but we had an old appliance (power cord) and a car battery. Ripped the cord out, curled two ends, hooked the other end up to the battery and started sparks in our tinder bundle. It was fun. And hopefully they learned that you can be creative to get where you need to be. See what your assets are and go from their... if only we had a wheelbarrow and holocaust cloak.
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [104008]
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What's he gonna cook if he can't catch a fish out of the river?***
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May 6, 2025, 11:13 AM
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Clemson Icon [27036]
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There are other ways to get fish out the river besides just fishing.
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May 6, 2025, 11:25 AM
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I know several ways in theory... but like I said before, I want to develop the skills beyond theory.
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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YEP. Considered this as well if the propane ran out.
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May 6, 2025, 11:07 AM
[ in reply to Yeah... I dont need power. ] |
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We have one of those patio fire pits that could be used for cooking. Stream in the back yard to get water, either to boil, or use Life Straws. And obviously the deer just hang out my office window so I don't even need my creedmor to source food; just a big rock.
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TigerNet Immortal [171615]
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Good book
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May 6, 2025, 11:07 AM
[ in reply to As long as I can keep the propane tanks refreshed. ] |
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I have a bunch of tanks because I learned from my FiL that folks at a yard sale will sell you an old propane grill for 5-10 $ to get rid of it and usually the tank is 3/4 to half full.
Keep the tank, put the grill on the road, profit.
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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I think I'm up to five tanks.
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May 6, 2025, 11:09 AM
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And have to tell myself "NO" whenever I see and old fart basically giving them away. Once I get my new shed set up and I can get them out of the garage, I may up my limit again.
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TigerNet Immortal [171615]
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Until the food runs out
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May 6, 2025, 10:49 AM
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I’ve managed to collect enough propane tanks to run my cook stove for a couple of weeks at least
Got a large enough solar panel to keep the phone charged
But if it gets above 85 I’m gone
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Tiger Titan [48745]
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I gots a generator. Went without for 7-8 days during Helene
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May 6, 2025, 10:51 AM
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and I could actually live like that indefinitely, or as long as I can get fuel (gas) to keep the genny running.
Without that? Not long. Not long at all.
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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I got a free generator from this moron's yard once.***
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May 6, 2025, 10:53 AM
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Orange Elite [5383]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Did 7 days after Matthew with no power at home - but everyone around me had
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May 6, 2025, 11:04 AM
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power after 3 days or so. Our line to the house was knocked down, so those are the last ones to get fixed. I liked it better when everyone was without power...
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Top TigerNet [30805]
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Out for 3 days back in Jan ... twas frigid ... almost reached the breaking point
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May 6, 2025, 11:06 AM
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I still had to work so that was a reprieve of sorts.
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Orange Immortal [65228]
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Did 4 days back in February. I showered at the gym and we ran our gas logs.
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May 6, 2025, 11:15 AM
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Not terrible but I was cold for a few days and we lost all the food in the fridge.
Foodwise I am fine with peanut butter and bananas, peanuts, and raisins for a good amount of time. But NGL, I missed my tea.
Message was edited by: ATL PAW MAN®
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Heisman Winner [81837]
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Our power was out for 12 days after Helen. Had I not had to work,
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May 6, 2025, 11:19 AM
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I'd have been fine. That happened at a time when the temperatures weren't awful and the ground water had not cooled yet. Had that been January or July, a different tune would have been sung.
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All-TigerNet [5751]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Indefinitely
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May 6, 2025, 11:41 AM
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That's why the good lord made whole house generators
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CU Medallion [20289]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Preparedness levels
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May 6, 2025, 11:42 AM
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I have two portable generators, an outlet to plug one in so I can provide power to the house. 10 gallons of "standby" gas, and fans and food... AND Coffee! Ready if I need it to be and can go for days
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All-In [10895]
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3 days
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May 6, 2025, 11:49 AM
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Do it all the time for hurricanes. When we lose power, we also lose water which sucks.
Bathing in the pool also not fun
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Oculus Spirit [44022]
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You know you're supposed to bathe after you go to the pool, right?***
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May 6, 2025, 11:52 AM
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Ring of Honor [22317]
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Need additional info. Are any local bars open ?***
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May 6, 2025, 11:50 AM
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