there buster Posted February 25, 2007 Posted February 25, 2007 Well, we've been without power, water, and light for about 24 hours, and they're telling us it will be another 5-7 days minimum. Ice storms have snapped power lines and brought down trees. A few miles from us, our son counted 15 snapped power poles in a couple of miles. When my laptop battery fades, I'm incommunicado for a while. Just lettin' ya know. Quote “the slovenliness of our language makes it easier to have foolish thoughts.” George Orwell
Moderators Bravus Posted February 25, 2007 Moderators Posted February 25, 2007 Sorry to hear that Ed, and hope all is well with you and your family, and that the repairs are quicker than anticipated. Look after yourself. Quote Truth is important
Dr. Shane Posted February 25, 2007 Posted February 25, 2007 That is the biggest reason I live in the tropics. I feel sorry for everyone up there that doesn't have a fire place. I suspect we will be hearing about a number of them that freeze to death because of no heat. Most gas furnaces won't work without some power. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
Amelia Posted February 25, 2007 Posted February 25, 2007 Quote: When my laptop battery fades, I'm incommunicado for a while. Thats when you need an exercise bike hooked up to a recharger. Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p>
GreatLakesGramma Posted February 26, 2007 Posted February 26, 2007 If we lose power for any length of time, we could go stay with my parents, my in-laws, or one of our adult children. We are all far enough apart that if one loses power, the others usually still have it. So far this winter we haven't lost power, though areas around us have. At least it isn't as cold now as it was a week ago. Our house is well insulated and wouldn't get unbearably cold very quickly. We could probably hold out for a couple of days. Quote Catherine God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26. "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." -- C. S. Lewis
Moderators Jeannieb43 Posted February 26, 2007 Moderators Posted February 26, 2007 I just read in the news about Iowa being the hardest hit in this last snowstorm. Will be praying for you and your family, Ed. Quote Jeannie<br /><br /><br />...Change is inevitable; growth is optional....
Dr. Shane Posted February 26, 2007 Posted February 26, 2007 Most middle class families have generators where I live due huricanes and tropical storms. Of course that means having a good amount of gasoline too. We lose power often because our population is growing so fast the electric grid has trouble keeping up. We lost power for a few hours yesterday. When we lived in the midwest we rarely lost power. I would really hate to live in a home there without a fireplace. I suspect everyone with a fireplace has lots of friends now. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
Dr. Shane Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 So how did you survive the storm, Ed? Did you have a fireplace? Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
there buster Posted March 1, 2007 Author Posted March 1, 2007 The Red Cross opened a shelter in Vinton, about 10 miles away. As soon as the roads were clear, we were able to go there and spend a couple of nights. After70 hours, our lights came back on. As I mentioned elsewhere, we stayed at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. For those who read the "Little House on the Prairie" books, they will know that Mary became blind, and went to the Iowa Braille school in Vinton. They give tours, and you can see the enrollment book with Charles Ingalls signature. It's fun for kids to see where she actually went to school. Because of the extensive facilities there, we had our own dorm-style room. They provided three hot meals a day. On the second evening, they served pork steak. When we (collectively) didn't eat all of it, they served barbecue pork the next day for lunch. It was very generous of the Red Cross and local farmers, but we didn't get a lot to eat. It was actually a great blessing. We had serious spiritual discussions with a number of the people there--both Red Cross volunteers and fellow refugees. My son lives three miles away and has three little ones under 5. They just got power back this evening. Quote “the slovenliness of our language makes it easier to have foolish thoughts.” George Orwell
Administrators Gail Posted March 1, 2007 Administrators Posted March 1, 2007 We sure don't realise how much we are dependent on until we have to go without... Glad that things are getting back to normal Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Neil D Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 I think that last friday, I made a difference in the life on one person....Maybe...possibly... We have been having a lot of snow in this area, more than the usual. And this wet snow that we have been having has severed power lines and cut off electricity to a lot of people in the area. The utility company has been working 24/7 the last 10 days getting areas powered back up. I made arrangements to see one of my 'way back in the country' oxygen patients last friday. While I had been in contact with him by phone earlier in the week, I could not get him last friday. This guy uses 02 at 4 lpm...which is double what most use it...and he can not be off it for very long [we are talking seconds her, not minutes] before he needs to be back on it. Anyways, I went to see him... I found him, in his home...without power to the house the past 24 hours..in bed..rationing his 02...on the last 2 E cylinders [they would last about 2 hours each at his rate]. And I cant get a cell phone signal due to his remote-ness..in the back country of Oregon. So, I put him on his oxygen, and left, ...Called to the office, arranged for a shipment delivered to him, and to get some big tanks delivered to him....and called the power company... Did you know that the power company will not make any special efforts to get power to those people...even if thier life depends upon it? Yep, all they said was that they were doing thier best to get power up to the AREA...And I insisted on talking to the supervisor...Still no good. They would not even offer a power generator for him... But I am told, that 1/2 hour after I left, power to his house came on...Hmmmmmmm.... Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw
Dr. Shane Posted March 1, 2007 Posted March 1, 2007 Quote: Did you know that the power company will not make any special efforts to get power to those people...even if thier life depends upon it? Sounds like they are following a lawyer's advice. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
cricket Posted March 2, 2007 Posted March 2, 2007 In the St. Louis area, the power company (AmerenUE) does make provisions for persons whose life depends on electric power. Those persons need to make the request in advance of a power outage though, as the list of priorities is implemented into the disaster recovery plan. The process of getting on the list is tedious, but worth it if your life truly depends on it. Just as the power company needs to have a plan in place, so do individuals. Quote
Dr. Shane Posted March 2, 2007 Posted March 2, 2007 Depending upon a person's mobility, it is not hard to purchase a propane generator and have one's house wired so the generator can be outside and connected to an emergency light and outlet on the inside of the house. Such a set up would cost about $2,000. However the person would have to be able to go outside to start the generator. For those with mobility issues, there are also automatic-transfer switches which will automatically start the generator when there is a power failure but the gear itself is over $1,000 plus installation. With generator and everything that would run closer to $5,000. However I am just talking about a small generator to run a small appliances like what I imagine a medical device would use. I am not talking about something to provide heat. There are much cheaper ways to heat a house like a vent-free, propane space heater which requires no electricity. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
Neil D Posted March 2, 2007 Posted March 2, 2007 Quote: For those with mobility issues, there are also automatic-transfer switches which will automatically start the generator when there is a power failure but the gear itself is over $1,000 plus installation. With generator and everything that would run closer to $5,000. Like a medicare patient is gonna have that amount of money around....Tain't gonna happen, Shane... People that I see are on each end of the economic ladder...either very wealthy or as poor as church mice.... Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw
Dr. Shane Posted March 2, 2007 Posted March 2, 2007 Most people where I live have electric heat pumps because it doesn't get cold often and when it does it doesn't stay cold for long. However heat pumps are not efficient. They use a lot of power. As a result, when it does get real cold around here, rolling brown outs are not uncommon because the electrical grid gets overwhelmed. We were without power one night for about four hours and it was 30º F outside. We had a gas furnace but the thermostat and electric blower wouldn't work without power. So we bought and installed a gas, wall-mounted, space heater which we use now. Our biggest concern here is the hurricane season. So we will be investing in a propane generator ourselves so we will be better set when the wind starts blowing. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity
Moderators Jeannieb43 Posted March 9, 2007 Moderators Posted March 9, 2007 Our biggest concern here is the hurricane season. So we will be investing in a propane generator ourselves so we will be better set when the wind starts blowing. And here in Southern California we're at approx. 1/10 normal rainfall for the season. Really really dry and barren - which makes for a possibly bad fire season. The reservoirs are completely full, however, from the deep snowpack in the mountains; so we don't have to worry about having enough water to drink. Quote Jeannie<br /><br /><br />...Change is inevitable; growth is optional....
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