What can I realistically expect w/o electricity for a week or more?

[no_hypocrisy]

My stove-oven uses gas-propane. Will there be pilot light issues with carbon monoxide issues? If not, can I cook w/o electricity?

My refrigerator will be useless after 48 hours, so no advice solicited.

No hot water. But will the plumbing for drinkable water be all right? Will I be able to flush the toilets? Take cold showers?

[hobbit709]

1. If you can find a place that sells dry ice, a couple of pounds of it will keep stuff frozen

for a few days if you don't open the freezer.
Shouldn't be any more of a monoxide problem that regular cooking with gas.

[MountainMazza]

2. If you have city water...

You should be good for cold water. If you are on a well....your pump requires electric so no water.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. You will be fine. If the 1800s are any indication you will make it. We didn't have any

electricity or hot water for a week. I hated it. I missed the hot meal. My mother-in-law had one of those 2 eye portalable burners used for camping. It had a small propane bottle. We had propane heat. Our house was all electric. We ended up staying at my in-laws house. It was horrible. My father-in-law played those old Hank Williams tapes all day long. I was going nuts. Finally after 2 days we went back home and just put piles of blankets on to sleep. After one night of that we finally ended up at a motel in town. I wanted a clean shower and a warm comfortable bed to sleep in. My father-in-law rode our butts about it but I couldn't take it anymore. You don't have a choice but to ride it out.

[tama]

11. Ah, family tradition ;)

&feature=relmfu

[southernyankeebelle]

49. OMG, the nightmare has come through, LOL. Thanks for the memory. Is this Jr? His

pappy would sing those sad songs. You know the kind you drink your sad self silly.

[Sherman A1]

5. You might

Want to fill the bathtub for an extra supply of water. I would also be sure that all electronics are charged. If you have an old cell phone that still works charge it as you can switch the sim card back to it if needed. Cameras to photograph storm damage for insurance claims should also be ready.

[gkhouston]

6. There's a decent chance you'll have water, although there may be a boil advisory on

for the first few days. (If there is, boil any drinking/dishwashing water that wasn't purchased/stored before lost power.) After the storm passes, priority will be given to restoring power to places like hospitals and water treatment plants, and those places often have backup generators.

If you're talking about a propane camp stove, don't use it inside the house. Eat cold food until the weather dies down enough to cook outside.

[SingleSeatBiggerMeat]

7. No Electricity

My stove-oven uses gas-propane. Will there be pilot light issues with carbon monoxide issues? If not, can I cook w/o electricity? Just turn the valve on slightly and light it with a match.

My refrigerator will be useless after 48 hours, so no advice solicited. Depends where you live. If you live in the north (and depending on the season) you may have temperatures that don't get above the high 30s. If so, put your perishables in a bag, put them in a closable can, and put them outside. Nature's fridge.

No hot water. But will the plumbing for drinkable water be all right? Will I be able to flush the toilets? Take cold showers? Depends where you get your water from. I would guess that most municiple water disctricts have generators to maintain supply.

[bemildred]

8. Coleman or white gas stove, ice box of some sort, hand pump water filter, good warmies.

Also there are portable chemical toilets. Dirt you can live with.

[Kindly Refrain]

9. This:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021650157

[tama]

10. People have lived ages without electricity and still do

We don't have electricity in our summer place, just firewood and gas-propane for stove and fridge. A well and an outhouse.

I don't understand your question about carbon monoxide, gas-propane needs just a spark and if you don't have spark igniter, match (preferably long! does fine. Main thing is not to fill the whole apartment with gas before igniting . Carbon monoxide problems come from firewood as long as there are blue flames and if you shut the chimney before the blue flames die out.

Trangia or similar portable stove is also a good option for cooking.

[FSogol]

18. ^^^^Danger - Does Not Understand Carbon Monoxide^^^^^

Always use stoves in well ventilated areas.

for more info:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/news/2012archive/2012_79.htm

[tama]

22. Don't be hysterical

People use gas stoves also in city flats and millions have done so for ages (me including), no problem if the stove is not broken and functioning properly.

[FSogol]

25. Hardly hysterical, you're telling people CO only comes from wood.

Plus you don't know from their post whether they are using a gas range in a house or a propane camp stove. When giving potentially dangerous advice, you should err on the side of caution.

[tama]

31. In practical terms

the biggest threat of CO in homes is from firewood. There is much ignorance about that - I would guess much more that running a car in closed garage -, so I stressed that point, while the OP question was about CO and igniting a gas stove without electricity (implication was that OP poster is using gas stove daily with electric ignition). Lighting a match is no CO problem, as many others have said in this thread.

You saying that gas stove should be used only while apartment is well ventilated is not what your link says, it's just hysterical.

Edit to add: of course there should be enough ventilation so that there is enough air for propane to burn cleanly; which means not keeping the space hermetically closed.

[Jersey Devil]

12. lost power 5 days in last year's Halloween storm

I was lucky enough to score a generator on day two at Sears in Paramus - there were like 30 people in line at store's opening for the last 10 generators and I won out because I brought cash and their computers were down and could not accept credit cards.

[dixiegrrrrl]

46. Cash..excellent point....have cash, in small bills.

the ONLY way I got groceries when the computers went dead in our town one Friday was because I had cash.
all other shoppers were S.O.L.
and the same thing is true of post storms.
Couple of hundred in cash in small bills if you can swing it, should be one of the items in your hurricane kit.

[newfie11]

13. Having been through a week long blizzard in SD

that left snow up to the top of 4 foot fence posts and drifts to the top of the house. Feeding horses was a challenge as snow was waist deep and no snow shoes, (we live in the country). You will be fine, use common sense.

If you are in the country you will need water to pour in the toilet to flush it if the power goes out. We melted snow for this. We had and have a wood stove and propane cook stove. There is no pilot light on our propane range. The clicking when it turns on creates the fire. Some have this and some don't.

I have heard that some propane ranges do not work without power but never had a problem. If you are in town I would boil any drinking water from the tap until told it is save to drink.

As someone said get dry ice for fridge and freezer.

Hang in there and stay safe.

[no_hypocrisy]

14. I'm in the suburbs/near a small city.

I *will* be able to flush, right?

Right?

Right?

[newfie11]

15. you should be able to flush

if you have city warer. Not if your on a well and power goes out.

[Javaman]

17. sure you will...

the only time you won't be able to flush your toilet is if you suddenly have your water cut off.

If you have access to some kind of water, dump it in the tank and flush.

The best part about toilets is they are still basic tech.

[TBF]

34. Fill the bathtub now - then if your water is cut off for some reason

you will be able to use water from the bathtub to pour into the tank to flush ...

[Jersey Devil]

21. If your water is from a well you should fill buckets

because you will have no power for your pump to refill the toilet tank. If you fill some buckets you can simply pour a bucket into the toilet and gravity will make it flush

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. Depends on how your system is plumbed in. Are there any grinder tanks?

If so those take electricity. When they go down it causes the house to backup, or just run over out of the tank outside, depending.

My house is plumbed that way on half of it, and I've made the mistake of forgetting before when the power was out.

[malaise]

16. Buy a camping solar shower as soon as you can

you can get five or ten gallon ones

https://www.google.com.jm/search?q=solar+camping+showers&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=7u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US fficial&channel=np&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=7n2OUMaCJZPU8wTjtYHYBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=625

Re the water - listen to advisories - if you have decent piped water, store as much as you can in advance since the piped it may become polluted during the storm

[NutmegYankee]

19. What kind of water do you have? Public or well?

Your stove burners will be able to be lit by match/lighter, so that's good to go.

[Motown_Johnny]

20. Gas and water should be OK. This is not 100% since the suppliers could have issues

but that is unlikely.

I suggest packing the freezer with bottled water anyways. You can use it for ice for a while and once it melts you will still have some cool bottled water for a while.


Batteries for radios are a must. If there is a problem with the gas or water you will want to hear about it as soon as possible.

[Bonhomme Richard]

23. Toilet suggestion...

When you have to take a dump line your toilet bowl with one of those supermarket plastic bags. Dump in that then tie it up and put outside. Just like a doggy poop bag. It will save you a lot of stink.

[Myrina]

24. Got a Weber grill?

There's your heat & cooking. I would grill as much meat as possible now and then try to only open your fridge a couple times a day. A freezer can stay cold enough to keep things edible for a few days w/o power if you don't open it every hour.

Had something similar happen a few years back & my biggest problem was that w/ no electric, the sump pump wasnt working so instead of putting water down the drains & having it backup into the basement, I showered in the backyard with a garden hose. Brrrrr!!

[gollygee]

29. Please don't use charcoal inside

Are you suggesting people use a charcoal grill inside? That's not at all safe.

[tama]

33. Fire hazard + CO danger. Not a good idea.

[Myrina]

45. I'm not suggesting that anyone do anything

But once the flame is gone from the charcoal, you still have residual heat to do with as your skill/knowledge levels dictate.

[marions ghost]

26. Here's one thing I know

if you're power is out for days. You will want to sleep when it gets dark and get up at first light--your body resets to natural
circadian rhythm.

(I've had it happen 4 times--two major hurricanes and two ice storms)
---------------------

Catch up on melatonin production....

Actions of the pineal gland
Scientists believe that melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland, establishes the body's sleep and waking patterns. Keeping the body in sync with the cycles of day (light) and night (dark), the pineal gland functions as the body's biological clock. Scientists know that, in general, the secretion of melatonin is spurred by darkness. Known as the sleep "trigger," melatonin is secreted cyclically in response to the fall of darkness at the end of each day. In the morning, when light enters the eyes, that visual information is relayed from the eyes to the hypothalamus. The pineal gland is then stimulated to decrease melatonin production during daylight hours.

[William769]

28. During hurricane Charley we went without power for 6 weeks.

Except the worst & plan for the best.

The national Guard kept us fed & with plenty of water & ice, we survived.

[no_hypocrisy]

30. Six weeks???!!!!

[William769]

32. Yes thats not a typo.

6 weeks in S.W. Florida with no AC in the months of August & September, I learned I can survive just about anything!

[TBF]

35. My husband went through that with Hurricane Andrew in Miami -

they used camping gear for weeks. They were fortunate because they had hurricane shutters so the whole house didn't go down like some ...

[William769]

37. I lost my House during Andrew (lived in Homestead at the time)

I worked at the prison in Florida City (that was the only blessing I ever got from having that job).

[TBF]

40. It sounded like that was a particularly horrible storm

sorry about losing your house

[WilliamPitt]

36. Darkness, followed by light, followed by darkness.

Crank your freezer to the highest setting. If you lose power, it will keep your food longer.

Good luck, we're under the gun, too.

[datasuspect]

38. you might discover what it means to be truly human

[johnt_1956_55]

50. ^this

[gollygee]

39. The longest I've gone is a week and a half

It's kind of like camping and the kids oddly like it. I don't remember what strategies we've used. I've always had city water so I've never had to worry about the toilets. If it's warm enough, you can grill (outside!), or the little stove is probably OK but you could open a window a tad just to be sure. Just don't keep it on all the time to heat the house. You'll need lots of blankets and if you have an indoor space heater, put it in your main living area, and camp out there. For food, you have to just wing it. I always seemed to have a way to boil water and warm cans of soup or baked beans or whatever. If it's cold enough, put cold stuff in a container you can secure closed well (so to keep it free of racoons) and then stick it outside full of your fridge stuff.

[tavernier]

41. A lot of candle wax on the floor and in the carpets.

Been there.

[Zorra]

42. I lived without electricity for many years.

What type of heat source do you have? You will need lights also, not having light at night is not fun.

White gas or propane lanterns or kerosene lanterns. Battery powered lanterns work also. A few flashlights and candles.

If you have water, and a stove to heat it on, you can take sponge baths.

A 21 qt canning pot will give you plenty of hot water for a good sponge bath. Just be careful moving a pot full of hot water to the bathroom.

Do you have an REI store nearby? The staff at REI stores are generally very knowledgeable. If you have he cash, they can set you up with some really cool shit that can make your off the grid experience a whole lot more comfortable.

Air, water for drinking and washing, food, heat, lights, warm blankets/sleeping bags, stove for cooking.

You know your situation better than anyone. Think about how you can provide yourself/family with these things for an extended period of time.

[countryjake]

47. Little battery-powered fluorescent lights are cool, too.

After living without electricity (voluntarily) for several years with my little kid, I eventually discovered all sorts of neat little products that make living off the grid more convenient, practical, and safer.

We had beautiful coal-oil lamps in every room, and camp lanterns, too, but in order to give my young daughter the freedom to simply push a button to let there be light, I installed tiny little six inch battery-powered closet lights everywhere that she might need such convenience...right by the front door, above the kitchen sink, next to the wood box by the stove, at the top and bottom of the steps, by the tub, in the outhouse, and right next to her bed.

Long since leaving that fine utopia of a home, I still have my eight little fluorescent lights and they have been similarly hung up in every place I've lived that actually has power, as the Pacific Northwest is prone to throwing everyone into the dark fairly regularly. I've found them to be the cheapest little gadgets (and the brightest) to make weathering any long-term outage both fun and extremely comfortable.

[a la izquierda]

43. We had no power for 10 days in June/July this past summer...

as a result of the derecho. It sucks when it's hot, but when cold, not so bad (though dangerous if you're not careful).
I hope we don't lose power again (Ohio very well could). I live in a house with an electric stove and well water. We'll fill the tub tonight just in case, and luckily we have a propane stove.

[Care Acutely]

44. LED camping lanterns are GREAT. Safe, long lasting light

from a single charge.

To keep your phone up and use some small electronics think about getting a battery jumper with power outlets like this:



I ran my laptop for days and days off of something like this in Glacier National Park.

[Honeycombe8]

48. I used my gas stove (elec. ignition didn't work; used matches to light it). QUIETNESS.

The quietness drove me nuts. I had a Red Cross radio. The awesome batteries kept it going for several days. It had a windup feature, but I found you had to wind it for several minutes to get one minute of use, so that wasn't very useful. Gave me constant access to weather announcements...that radio had a weather announcement station.

I bought some awesome lights at Target. A big one with several fluorescent lights that emitted enuf light to read. I also had a small fluorescent light, as well as five or so good flashlights, and lots of candles.

Bag of ice in freezer might help keep those things longer. Try not to open the doors much.

My toilets and faucets worked.

I have a landline and a cell phone. Both worked.

I was only w/o power for several days, but it wasn't bad. The Amish live that way!

[braddy]

51. Fill every cubic inch of your freezer with water filled containers and let them freeze.

Use jugs, or Tupperware, or even cooking pots, but try to turn your freezer into a solid block of ice and don't open it, that can keep everything good for many days.

Get a lighter for your stove and keep an ear to the radio about drinking tap water, sometimes the tap water gets compromised in major storms and power outages. You can fill your fridge right now, with pots and bowls or jars of tap water, they will remain sanitary for drinking.