Hurricane season preps

[Timber Wolf]

Well I guess I am (mostly) ready. I am late getting there this year according to the “authorities” but I am kind of a late bloomer anyway. That and I stay ready as it is just how I roll. Tonight I ran the generator and put some fuel additive in it (and the lawn mower and truck). Have plenty of food in cans, dried, frozen, etc. I am not laying in a bunch more gas as I have 6 gallons of non-ethanol that needs burning up anyway. The last Hurricane (Michael) we were without power for a week, and I burned a total of 4 gallons in the little Honda. I ran it all night to keep the fridge cold, power my CPAP, and for lights and TV. Some days I ran it at lunch so the kid could nuke something to eat. Dinner was cooked out back on a propane camp stove. This past year I put (back) in a Natural Gas stove so we can cook in the house like rich folks. Hot water is Natural Gas also so we can get clean occasionally. But I still keep several full propane bottles on hand so old school is always a back up. The vehicles stay above a half tank usually anyway, and I have a company car 3 miles away in an emergency. And that leaves water, I do not store water. My Mother called me last year concerned about water storage. I replied “Mom, how many times since we have lived here (45 years in a hurricane prone area) have we lost City water?” “Uhh, never”. Yep. I have a few gallons in the camper, and several clean jugs ready. If I get worried I will fill some jugs but until then I ain’t storing water. Might have to drink whiskey but there it is.

 

[Glucker]

A lot of people were without water after Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast in 2008 IIRC, some for quite awhile. I always keep drinking and utility water on hand, myself, along with all the other necessities of course. Make sure the home insurance is paid up.

 

[Nbrew875]

Living along the NC coast we've gotta be prepared for hurricanes as well keeping propane on hand is one of or most used preps due to the face that the generator and cooking tools will run off of it.... Keeping Gas on hand is another big one but during Florence I probably under used my generator because when the power came back on and I still had 15 gals on hand

 

[ByronF]

Id think about a dual fuel conversion to run a generator on propane. Gas sucks because it gets old, catches fire, jugs get busted, water intrusion. However, you'll need to derate your expectations for the generator on propane.

Propane is also the tits for emergency cooking since its so much cleaner than kerosene cook stove, and all wood will be soaked.

100# tanks are awful heavy. 20# are awful small. The 40# tanks seem perfect, and I dont have any.

You have plywood pre-staged for window coverage? When it's about to blow it seems folks always bitch about plywood gougers.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I have been looking at a tri-fuel (Natural Gas, Propane, and Gasoline) conversion that looks promising. I could run Natural Gas here at the homestead and Propane when camping, saving Gasoline for those odd times. It would simplify my fuel storage. Actually no more than we loose power I could get by with just Propane and Gasoline. https://www.hutchmountain.com/collections/propane-natural-gas-conversions

 

[Timber Wolf]

Thinking further about the water issue, I have a couple of thoughts. Although it is true we have never lost water here, I also own property 15 miles North that is on a separate water system. Kinda far to haul water but it could be done. Also, I have a “rain barrel” under a down spout in the back yard. Not potable water but could certainly be used to flush the toilet, water dog, and wash hair after heating. I also have the ability to store another 225 gallons in an IBC Tote and could tie it into the rain barrel. I also have a 12V water pump set up with hose fittings. I purchased it to make a flush system for the Rinnai water heater, but it could move water around as needed anywhere (which is why I went with a 12V version).