Southeaster DU'ers: Any luck in finding generators ...if you waited?

[KoKo]

We didn't buy our generator...should have...but didn't Stores in my area in NC are OUT...All shipped to the Gulf.

Made me wonder if our states shouldn't require that a certain amount of generators be left in stock for states in the Hurricane belt.

Is this part of emergency preparedness that might need to be addressed in the future?

How is it where you are. And, I don't even live on the Coast but inland. :shrug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Are you all stocked up on food and water? *hugs*

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[supernova]

2. I'm considering it

Mostly what we get here is hard driving rain, downed trees, and the power being out.

[KoKo]

8. I try to keep all those supplies ready every year..but we held off on the

generator. We really needed one with Fran in 96 (we were without power for 9 days) and with our Ice Storm a few years ago(2 days) which shut everything down. We should have thought of it earlier this Spring...but didn't. :hug:

[supernova]

3. I've considered a generator since we had that ice storm in 2002

Not that I've done anything about it.

It was mostly because I was unemployed for 2 years, though. As soon as I get my bank balance back up to a healthy level, yes, I'm getting one. I live out in the country and they restore municipal power days before they get to us.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. The ice storm was horrible.. just unreal. I would love to have

a nice little eco-friendly solar house with a woodstove, but alas I am still in this trailer... no solar panels, no woodstove, and not much insulation either.

------------------------------------------------------
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Then save the nation!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[KoKo]

9. We haven't found any here in Raleigh..Home Depot/Lowes. They are

waiting for shipments. All were sent to the gulf...which I can understand. And with Florida last year, maybe they just haven't been able to manufacture enough.

It would be great to have some kind of solar alternative. I guess we are all going to be thinking of ways to be independent for a awhile if the worst hits.

I have lots of soup and my coleman camp stove that uses propane so I'm in better shape than I was with Fran where we were eating soup out of a fondue pot with a can of sterno. It took forever! At least we had water and could flush our toilets. Folks on well and septic systems had really big problems.

[napi21]

4. I don't know about the effect Katrina had on stock of gens, but

I can tell you there were many many people who came here to Atlanta to buy generators right before the last hurricanes hit Florida. If the current situation is still the smae, you might have to drive to another state to find some.

[bluedog]

6. Fl here

we had our hurricane free tax week in July....and every generator was sold out.....the only ones left were in the 1000s' price range...

home depot and Sam's club....still has.out of stock listed on their sites......we also have been trying for months to get a 5000 watt.but to no avail......even the direct manufacturers are charging an outrageous price since last year......

I also am upset about the lack of supplying the stores with the much needed basic generators...

[SW FL Dem]

7. I bought one at Costco this summer

Last week I saw a few remaining. Last year, you couldn' find one anywhere. We learned our lesson.

[trof]

10. Ace Hdw. in Foley, AL has them.

We're 10 miles inland, between Mobile and Pensacola.
I think Lowes and HD do too.
About $600 for a 5-6 KW model.
We're thinking about getting one for "next time".

However...we did not lose power during Katrina.
A-Mazing.

[Secular Agent Man]

11. We purchased ours during the devastating flood of

Hurricane Floyd in October 1999. What a freakin' nightmare that was. Without power for days, took as many days to track down a generator. We finally get it hooked up and running for about 10 minutes and then our local utility company restores power. :eyes:

Now it looks like Ophelia is heading our way. :hide:

Was in Lowes this morning, but didn't notice if there were any gens.