Thoughts on home preparations

[Sistema1927]

I have a fireplace, but it is more for show than for heat. I am seriously thinking about installing a stove, but since it is a beehive kiva (Southwest) fireplace, I am having problems finding an insert. maybe I could put a box stove hanging out the front onto the hearth, and run the pipe up the chimney.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

My mother told me she and my grandmother moved into their country house in 1940, had a nice new electric stove, my grandmother insisted on a gas stove. Then the War came. My mother remembered lots of blackouts but they always had the stove.
I have an apartment, electric stove. Being a bicyclist, I have mulled getting a bicycle generator.

 

[robrossk]

Definitely makes us all think a bit and re-assess. That alone has value to me. I plan to make sure we have some bottled water and maybe a few food items requiring little or no prep. Fortunately we have four family members relatively close in case of emergency.

 

[Rudi]

It is winter, it gets cold. Human activity plays no role. Lars had his climate guy on this week. Looks like world temps have gone down .5 degree in the last 6 mo. We are in a general cooling trend.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Creating heat using electricity takes a lot of electricity - enough electricity to warm a room will take more than batteries are going to provide. Blankets would serve you better than someone's battery powered heater, if you find one.

Yup. I doubt he can fit a Tesla Powerwall in the apartment! Resistive loads really draw power. And in an apartment I doubt any liquid fuel heater would be allowed, although you might get away with it if you had ventilation. But then you have to store the fuel....

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Solar does not work when there is a foot of snow on it & more to come. Windmills don't either when they freeze. Wood stoves always do. Just my thoughts.

 

[Recusant]

I'm afraid that many folks in Texas may have water problems even after weather warms up. The frost line for an area varies from place to place. Water pipes need to be deeper the farther north you go. In some places that could be as much as 5 feet. Hopefully Texas building codes specify that lines are well below the expected frost line. If the water line coming to a house freezes and bursts in the homeowner's front yard it's usually their responsibility to repair it.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

More rifle ammo.

 

[steelslaver]

A couple of 20# propane bottles and a small vent less heater will keep a bedroom warm for a long time. A one burner propane stove to heat food. I would use a CO detector, but you should have one anyway. At least a couple weeks worth of soup, rice, beans, noodles isn't expensive or take up a lot of room. You could slide a bunch that and packages of water bottles under the bed. If you have to you can use plastic garbage bags for you body waste. Setting yourself up to survive for 2 weeks would not be hard or expensive. Figure on moving to a small room and staying there at 50 degrees with every blanket you own. It might not be pretty, but it would beat dying like some people did.

 

[Maddog 521]

They say Texas is a warm climate but I prepared for this event. I covered up my water meter and irrigation valves with 5 to 7 inches of leaves and mulch. I also covered the clean outs the same way. I let the faucets drip and used the sun as often as I could. The only problems we had were we lost our WIFI, internet and cable TV. We were not involved in the rolling blackouts. We were lucky I guess. My SIL and my sister had frozen pipes and both were in the rolling blackouts. My daughter lives in the 3rd floor apartment and only had one electric problem. We got the water flowing at the SIL's house yesterday and she's happy again. We supplied hot showers, warm meals and plenty of cribbage games to the ones in need. I'm ready for some "Texas Heat".

 

[Puller]

We've been prepared for such events for years. This winter weather event was predicted days in advance, there was little reason for people to be unprepared to weather the event for a week or so. The only inconvenience I've experienced has been walking in knee deep snow to go out to my barn and get my spare kerosene heater to keep my garage warm for my dogs.

 

[gjgalligan]

Solar does not work when there is a foot of snow on it & more to come. Windmills don't either when they freeze. Wood stoves always do. Just my thoughts.

I never hear of the wind generators in the northern areas freezing up, why only in Texas?

 

[tops]

I have thought that if I lived in an apartment I would buy a tent or make a tent with blankets or a tarpaulin so the area I needed too heat would be smaller. In a deer stand I have used a small heater that screws on a one lb. propane bottle. It will run about 6 hours and several bottles wouldn't be hard too store. It wouldn't be as comfortable as a 5* hotel but for me it would better than being in a big room and cold. Larry

 

[gjgalligan]

For reference, please be aware that the term "100-year event" means that there is a 1% chance in any one year that an event of this magnitude can occur. Can five 100-year events occur in five consecutive years? Of course, however the chance of that occurring is minute, however, theoretically possible...

I get it but how many people spend more money on car insurance then needed? Do you need it every time you drive or just when you are going to have a wreck?
How many times have you needed your firearm to deal with unsavory people? Do you carry every time you go out?

Getting prepared for a future event is cheaper then dealing with it if it happens.
Some simple plumbing changes could help prevent broken pipes next time.
Added insulation will help against winter cold AND summer heat.

 

[quikdraw67]

I never hear of the wind generators in the northern areas freezing up, why only in Texas?

They are set up to operate in the cold weather.

Lots of windmills in NEPA. Still spinning in the cold snow and subfreezing temperatures.

 

[Onomea]

My mother told me she and my grandmother moved into their country house in 1940, had a nice new electric stove, my grandmother insisted on a gas stove. Then the War came. My mother remembered lots of blackouts but they always had the stove.
I have an apartment, electric stove. Being a bicyclist, I have mulled getting a bicycle generator.

Before moving to this house last fall, we lived in a condo for four years. The condo was electric only. We didn't like the electric range, so did all our stove top cooking on an Iwatani butane burner.

The burner costs $75, and a box of 12 butane refills costs $25. ($25 normally. Price on Amazon has doubled now, I assume due to the weather. Burner now listed at $93.)

At full blast, which is way too hot for most cooking, one canister lasts about an hour. We typically got five days or so out of one canister using it for three meals daily.

The Iwatani puts out 15K BTUs whereas average range burner is 12K BTUs. Safe for indoors. Also good for cooking steaks, etc., outside to reduce indoor smoke, or for meals outdoors.

 

[Onomea]

I never hear of the wind generators in the northern areas freezing up, why only in Texas?

"Several wind turbine experts have told Newsweek that the situation in Texas could have been avoided if the turbines had been equipped with what are known as cold weather packages, which can involve a number of precautions such as heating up turbine components and lubricants.

Samuel Brock, a spokesman for the American Clean Power Association, told Forbes on Tuesday it "hasn't been necessary" to install such kits in Texas where the climate is generally warm.

Benjamin Sovacool, professor of energy policy at the University of Sussex in the U.K., told Newsweek: "In Northern Europe, wind power operates very reliably in even colder temperatures, including the upper Arctic regions of Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

"As long as wind turbines are properly maintained and serviced, they can operate reliably in temperatures well below zero. Humans, to carry out servicing and maintenance and operation, are the most important factor, not the weather."

Iain Dinwoodie, head of advanced performance engineering at renewable energy consultants NaturalPower, said it is "very uncommon" for wind turbines to freeze, and said the operating range for "typical turbines" is between -4 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit..."

Why Did Wind Turbines Freeze in Texas When They Work in the Arctic?

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

For reference, please be aware that the term "100-year event" means that there is a 1% chance in any one year that an event of this magnitude can occur. Can five 100-year events occur in five consecutive years? Of course, however the chance of that occurring is minute, however, theoretically possible...

The Arkansas River in Western Arkansas has had three 100 year
floods in the last 20 years, and people still build in the flood plains.

 

[oldbrownhat]

...Samuel Brock, a spokesman for the American Clean Power Association, told Forbes on Tuesday it "hasn't been necessary" to install such kits in Texas where the climate is generally warm....

"Mr. Brock, would you prefer your crow fried or sautéed?"

 

[bigwheelzip]

The Arkansas River in Western Arkansas has had three 100 year
floods in the last 20 years, and people still build in the flood plains.

This homeowner on the banks of the Ohio River, across from Louisville, figured out floodplain living.