Ice Storm

[iowagirl]

The ice storm is moving in here in the next couple of hours. I hope everyone that has already experienced it is safe. They are saying its the worst ice storm in 15 yrs. They didn't say specifically how it is because from what I've read of the forecast it won't be as bad as the one 10 yrs ago.

What do you do to be prepared for things like this? I felt like I should have been doing something. I already have firewood in out of the weather, gas for the generator and kerosene for the heaters for worst case scenario if I have to run those. Already have plenty of groceries and can cook in the fireplace or on the gas stove if I lose power. I have plenty of books to read if I get bored. I brought work home with me so if I'm stuck here with power I can get some work done and of course there is always things to do at home.

I also got chores done and things will be good for 2 days unless the power goes out and I have to deal with water. So the eggs freeze, its not like a day or 2 without them will be a big deal. I have 12 dz in my refrigerator right now.

My son couldn't wait to tell me they already cancelled school for tomorrow. He also informed me that if we lose power he won't be able to play video games, and that is like the end of the world apparently.

[Syonyk]

What do you do to be prepared for things like this? I felt like I should have been doing something. I already have firewood in out of the weather, gas for the generator and kerosene for the heaters for worst case scenario if I have to run those. Already have plenty of groceries and can cook in the fireplace or on the gas stove if I lose power. I have plenty of books to read if I get bored. I brought work home with me so if I'm stuck here with power I can get some work done and of course there is always things to do at home.

Well, you're pretty far ahead of an awful lot of people.  Apparently "prepare for a storm" is normally handled by going to the grocery store and buying all sorts of junk food and milk.

I also got chores done and things will be good for 2 days unless the power goes out and I have to deal with water. So the eggs freeze, its not like a day or 2 without them will be a big deal. I have 12 dz in my refrigerator right now.

If it's that cold, just take them out of the fridge - they'll be fine a bit warmer.

As for not playing video games, I don't suppose you've told him about the generator, have you? ;)

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We just stock some water, but we're on a well and I would have to do some work to get a 240V generator hooked up to run the well pump.  I'd probably just pop the breakers for it and wire the generator straight to the pump leads...

One nice thing about an all electric house (including water) is that I only have one utility bill, but it also means that I'm more vulnerable to power outages - I can't do anything without power, and I don't have the generator capacity to run more than a few circuits right now.

This is one of the reasons I'm planning on solar panels that aren't reliant on grid for producing energy - I'll have a battery bank down in the crawlspace.

Since the house is wired for propane (not hooked up to it, but wired for it), I'm considering replacing my heat pump coils with a propane furnace as well.  This would get me the ability to heat on solar and battery if I needed to.

[iowagirl]

I also got chores done and things will be good for 2 days unless the power goes out and I have to deal with water. So the eggs freeze, its not like a day or 2 without them will be a big deal. I have 12 dz in my refrigerator right now.

If it's that cold, just take them out of the fridge - they'll be fine a bit warmer.

As for not playing video games, I don't suppose you've told him about the generator, have you? ;)

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I meant the eggs in the chicken house.

Yes he knows about the generator. I just heard him ask his friend if they had theirs ready so they could still play games. I heard him say they didnt have one. Mine is a small one the will take care of any small needs so games are out. :)









We just stock some water, but we're on a well and I would have to do some work to get a 240V generator hooked up to run the well pump.  I'd probably just pop the breakers for it and wire the generator straight to the pump leads...

One nice thing about an all electric house (including water) is that I only have one utility bill, but it also means that I'm more vulnerable to power outages - I can't do anything without power, and I don't have the generator capacity to run more than a few circuits right now.

This is one of the reasons I'm planning on solar panels that aren't reliant on grid for producing energy - I'll have a battery bank down in the crawlspace.

Since the house is wired for propane (not hooked up to it, but wired for it), I'm considering replacing my heat pump coils with a propane furnace as well.  This would get me the ability to heat on solar and battery if I needed to.
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[RetiredAt63]

We've already had freezing rain twice this month, including 8 hours with no power the day after one of them, but it looks like this storm will go south of us.  I am rural, on a well.  Prep - lots of water to flush with, lots of drinking water in the fridge, lots of cooked foods (barbecue is buried).  Candles and oil lamps at the ready, with matches handy.  LED flashlight where I can get my hands on it in the dark, with freshly recharged batteries.  Windup LED flashlight ready (can charge cell phone from it too).  Heat set a bit higher than usual, especially at night, so the house is starting to cool from a higher initial temperature.

I used up most of my sand keeping my front walk (to the garage) safe, I need to buy more.  I also opened the garage doors a bit so they would not freeze shut, the wet snow grabs them once the temperatures go back to well below freezing.

I have a sump, and have a backup pump on a battery.  I could hear it going regularly during the power failure, very reassuring.

[katsiki]

It sounds like you're ready!!  Here we don't have that problem but do have hurricanes.  We usually stock up on the basics, water and have a small generator to keep some basic items running.

Stay safe!!

[Metric Mouse]

How'd you fair? I know KS got hit pretty hard.

[iowagirl]

Main roads I guess are in pretty good shape but lots of ice out there. The temps have made it to 32 here but its still raining. Up here it shouldn't get any warmer and not looking like any sun will be shining thru today so not much melting going on. They don't maintain the roads out here for ice only snow so no hurry to try it out. I'm going to get some work done from home today because I'm behind due to other issues that arose at work. Good things some things are portable.

I'll step out later and check on the chickens. Hopefully things get under control enough to get me out of here tomorrow, not that I mind staying home.