Big wind storm

**KeithBC** · 04-03-2010, 11:50 AM

We had the biggest wind storm on four years yesterday, which knocked the power out. It's still out this morning, and the latest estimate for getting it back is tonight at 11:00 PM.

One thing we learned was not to assume that the power company knows your power is off. When it first went out yesterday morning, we called and they already knew. It came back on in mid afternoon, but went out again less than an hour later. No one on our street called. When we finally called for an update, they didn't know that it was out again. By that time, the repair crews had already left the island and they won't be back until late today.

Good things: we had lots of stabilized gas for the generator, lots of flashlights for when the generator isn't running, lots of soups that can be heated on the wood stoves and lots of food that can be eaten cold. (Yes, a Coleman stove is on our wish list.) Also good: a decent size chainsaw to clear the road and the neighbour's driveway. And a laptop computer that I can run off the generator so I can get onto the Internet.

**zakity** · 04-03-2010, 01:58 PM

It was a doozy, wasn't it? We got it pretty easy where I am. Sorry that your electricity is out.

**Imarachne** · 04-03-2010, 04:27 PM

Glad you're safe though.

**Palooka** · 04-03-2010, 10:46 PM

Glad everything turned out okay and you was prepared.

**KeithBC** · 04-03-2010, 11:58 PM

Well, I was right to be skeptical of the estimate for getting power back. Now, they're saying tomorrow afternoon. That will be more than 50 hours without power.

**militlady** · 04-04-2010, 12:33 AM

Ours only went out for a few hours yesterday. Sorry to hear yours has been out for so long.

**frugalfranny** · 04-04-2010, 01:23 AM

Curious question keith.............do you use the generator to run a freezer?

Guessing you have a freezer.............how/what do you do with it?

That is what always worries me in case of a power outage------losing the food in my freezer.............one of many reasons that I got a chest type freezer.

I don't have a generator...............but want one.

**KeithBC** · 04-04-2010, 10:53 AM

Yes, we have a freezer, and, yes, the generator runs it.

We learned back in '06, when the power was out for 8 days straight, that the freezer will hold its cold for two or three days if you don't open it. That is in an unheated room - if you have heat, it will be less. By about the fourth day, it was starting to thaw, and that's when we decided to get the generator. (Ever tried finding a generator in the middle of an eight-day power outage? It ain't easy!)

I wired the generator into the main panel so that it can power any load in the house. Obviously, it can't run everything at once. But it does run the fridge and freezer, and also powers the well pump so we have running water when it is running.

I run it about three of four times a day: first thing in the morning for preparing breakfast, flushing toilets, and re-cooling the fridge and freezer after the night off. Then again around midday until I hear the fridge thermostat shut off. One more run around suppertime for washing dishes, than a final run when it gets dark for reading lights. I have used about 5 gallons of gas since Friday.

**zakity** · 04-04-2010, 11:56 AM

Yep, generators are good things.

**frugalfranny** · 04-04-2010, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the info about the generator keith.

Much appreciated.....I have only started to do research on it...to know what kind/brand/cost /volts-watts.........to get. Need to kick it up in priority as I am suspecting we could have some serious storms this summer.........we usually do after an El Nino.

**mauimagic** · 04-04-2010, 03:46 PM

Love your approach to your living conditions Keith and appreciate the details - who knows when such information might come in handy.

How are things going today? Take care.

**frugalfranny** · 04-04-2010, 03:52 PM

Yes, keep us posted on how things are going.........

Gees.........hope it comes back on soon.

**Natalie's Nesters** · 04-04-2010, 07:49 PM

Great job on being so well prepared! Hope you get power back soon.

**frugalwarrior2** · 04-04-2010, 10:12 PM

Sorry to hear it Keith. WE had the same and were out 24 hrs., that was enough. Nearly froze our behinds off last night. We have 2 generators. We switch from the 2 freezers,the fridge and the sump. Some people can run there whole house.
Being on a small stream, our sump can over flow w/in 6 hours esp. if it's raining. We want the generator that wires to the house but can't afford it.
When we go out we have no stove,toilet,water,electic,or phone because we bundle. inevitably DH is out of town so it's me and DS struggling w/ the snow and the generator. Thank goodness we have a wall gas space heater.
Keith, our biggest short fall is water. Our dogs alone drink about 6 gallons every day or two. Don't you have a gas grill w/ a burner to cook on. I love ours. Well,except when it's raining!!

**KeithBC** · 04-04-2010, 10:12 PM

Well, we finally got power again half an hour ago, after 58 hours off. It would have been 55 hours if we'd had a competent repair crew, but they sent us an apprentice with a foreman to train him. In the early afternoon (while we were out), we heard that the crew was starting on our street. When we got home, an our later, they were still there. "Oh, good, we thought, they must be nearly finished." Wrong! They were just starting. After another couple of hours, DW sent me out to see what was going on. It was clear that the guy up in the bucket doing the work was a trainee. I didn't dare talk to the foreman - his body language said it all. they did eventually get it done, after working on it for four hours. I've seen enough of these to know that it should have been a one hour job.

I feel for the dozens of people on the island still without power. They will have to wait another day. Hydro only had the one crew working here today, by the looks of it.

Okay, I'll quit whining now. We are back to normal.