Posted: 12/24/2025 1:41:58 AM EDT
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Sort of... We had a hurricane level wind storm last week. A few places west of here had peak gusts over 100mph. Ours were around 75mph. Neighbor's trees went down and took the neighborhood power with them. Took utility crews hours to respond, but all hell was breaking loose through our large state (and it sounds like WA, ID, and maybe OR and WY also had their hands full). Our power came up 4+ hours after going down. People across the street (including the neighbor) were down all night. What did I learn why my wife and I sat in the dark? I have been far too lax about prepping, and don't have enough of an imagination about things I might want/need. We've got a wood stove, a VERY small genny, lots of flashlights, lots of camping supplies, outdoor clothing, freeze dried food, etc etc. I've also got a library full of books (preparedness and every other subject under the sun). What we didn't have? Simple creature comforts. I aimed one of my LED lights at the ceiling to create some light, and we sat here... too afraid to even surf on our smart homes, because we had no idea how long the power would be out. I played music files on an old smart phone that's basically my iPod. And I read downloaded PDF files of ADV Rider (adventure motorcycle) Magazine on a tablet (with no data plan). But I wasn't grooving on any of that. I could have read books by LED headlamp. Naw, didn't feel like that either. When the power came back, we couldn't turn the smart TV on and start surfing the web fast enough. Sooooo... now my focus for a while will be on creature comforts and other non-SHTF level preps. I had been planning on buying some more flyfishing gear for myself this week. But instead I added more lighting options, and added a small room/tent heat source. Time to fire-up the prep machine again. Our issues last week weren't that bad, which was actually a blessing. Just a enough of a nudge to start moving the wheels again. Attached File |
"From hell 's heart, I stab at thee."
I was out for 4 days, 6.5 hours, but who’s counting  My generators worked flawlessly. My fridges and freezers stayed cold on my 9400w Firman. My Generac 2200 did great for lights, charging and starlink. I DO NOT have a transfer switch, which is in the process of being remedied as we speak. My electric co-op was out here today to verify the Generlink switch (that they install for free when you buy the switch) will work on my meter. I heat with wood so I’ve got that going for me but I pulled out the Kill-A-Watt to do some load monitoring of various appliances to get a feel for what I can run on (basically) one 40A circuit. My washer takes 180 watts in about an hour to run a cycle on cold. My gas dryer takes about 220 watts for an hour of running time on high heat. (Thank God I installed a gas line and bought a gas dryer). When I gut the kitchen my wife has already requested a propane double oven after I told her that this switch & our generator likely won’t run our current electric ones (she doesn’t know it but I already plumbed a tee into the gas line right below the oven in the kitchen for this exact purpose). All in all it was a good shakedown to get me thinking about a longer term or worse circumstance type of power outage, specific to my situation. I’ve already got ideas to integrate solar and wind charged battery backup to my backup power system and feed it all into the house through the Generlink. |
Liberal: Give up your guns to prevent murder.
Gun Owner: Cut off your penis to prevent rape.
Liberal: I'm not going to rape anyone!!!
Gun Owner: Thanks for proving my point.
Gun Owner: Cut off your penis to prevent rape.
Liberal: I'm not going to rape anyone!!!
Gun Owner: Thanks for proving my point.
When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
Joined:
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PA, USA
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Glad it was a ahhhaa moment vs oh shit. For others. There's a lantern by Coleman. We have 2 these are multi battery. Aka you can use aa all the way to d cell iirc. And have multiple settings. They work great. Also...head lamps...are awesome vs handheld lights. Hands free to do shit. We also have camping " light bulbs" they look like bulbs. We have them through out the house aka bath room and stairs...as they run forever and give off enough light to see where your sitting lol I mean walking Again glad you got a Lil nudge vs a kick into the deep end. I just had similar with my med kits when trying to help my brother Thanksgiving when his turkey attacked him with a very sharp knife...least that's what he told me...he's married to a Latina so who knows.. 
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i dont want my final jig in the belly of a squid.
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Looks like OP already took care of the lantern situation. For the rest of you Survival Discussers, these are very popular in the Amazon thread in Teams. Small Camping Lantern 2000LM, Portable Rechargeable Camping Lights for Kids Adult Camping up to 20Hours, Emergency Lights for Power Outages, Dimmable, Waterproof, Camping or Hurricane Essentials Darn it, sold out. They often went on sale at two for $10, and I think I saw them at four for $10 once. They're tiny, but everybody seems to love them. This looks to be the same item, currently four for $35. https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Hurricane-Emergency-Waterproof-Essentials/dp/B0F3HTMMHM |
Exposure to views that distress and offend is a form of education unto itself. -U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Reges v Cauce
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Originally Posted By PepePewPew: Looks like OP already took care of the lantern situation. For the rest of you Survival Discussers, these are very popular in the Amazon thread in Teams. Small Camping Lantern 2000LM, Portable Rechargeable Camping Lights for Kids Adult Camping up to 20Hours, Emergency Lights for Power Outages, Dimmable, Waterproof, Camping or Hurricane Essentials Darn it, sold out. They often went on sale at two for $10, and I think I saw them at four for $10 once. They're tiny, but everybody seems to love them. This looks to be the same item, currently four for $35. https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Hurricane-Emergency-Waterproof-Essentials/dp/B0F3HTMMHM One advantage those have, is they appear to be frosted, unlike the ones the OP posted. I have an older LED lantern similar to the ones the OP posted. The glare from it sucks. They aren’t as cheap, but I have the UST 30-day and the Streamlight Siege lanterns.  
Both of these use D-cell batteries and can run continuously in the low mode, for about a month, are tough, and waterproof (good for car camping). I also have several of these dual power fans (4x D-cells, or USB power). They’re actually pretty quiet, move air surprisingly well, and can run for a long time on low mode. They’re great for car camping/summer outings etc., but they can be invaluable for summer/hot weather outages, as well as cold weather outages (they move air MUCH better than the built in fans in my Big Buddy heaters). 
*** I also have a stash of NiMh D-cell batteries for the lanterns and fans. Combo of Maha, Tenergy and EBL brands. All work well, and they have way more juice than using AA rechargeables with D-cell adapters (which is why the lanterns can literally be left On for a month). OP, consider adding this, for the Big Buddy. Unlike the battery operated fan in the Big Buddy, this is a thermoelectric fan. It literally runs off the heat produced by the Big Buddy. 
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These little solar lanterns work great for lighting a room and are $20. Keep a couple in the window sill charging for when we lose power. Some models have a usb plug to charge devices as well. Solar Lantern |
"To Marines, love of liberty is not an empty phrase... Rather, it's displayed by blood, sweat, and tears for the fallen."
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James Mattis
Where There Are Sheep, Wolves Will Always Thrive
Joined:
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VA, USA
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OP, consider adding this, for the Big Buddy. Unlike the battery operated fan in the Big Buddy, this is a thermoelectric fan. It literally runs off the heat produced by the Big Buddy. www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8B85CSS Do you actually get air movement from that one? I've tried two thermoelectric fans previously and while they would spin they did not actually produce enough airflow to be felt on paper about 6 inches away. The blade design that could actually use the small amount of thermoelectric energy available spun and looked nice but did not actually move air. |
Thanks for the input guys. My apologies for ghosting my own thread.  The holidays have had me tied-up with various things. I haven't been spending near as much time here lately as I've spending over nearly all of my 23 years here. Have just had lots of "life" happening. It's actually been nice not feeling chained to my smart devices. I used to be active on tons of guitar and other forums, but have gone dark on every forum except here. I really haven't been very active here in the Survival Forum for many years... mostly just goofing-off in GD. But outside of scanning GD for some newly-unfolding world news events that I need to know... I'm not into wasting much time in there anymore. So I've wandered back into here in the SF... because geopolitical things just seem to be getting sketchier by the day. This corner of Arfcom understands the increasingly tenous nature of the world better than most people and places. I would like to say that it's "good to be back"... but unfortunately my motivation right now is far more "the time is short" than "I'm sure that everything will be fine, but I just want to tidy-up my preps for the fun of it". One way or the other, I don't think everything is gonna be fine. I'm not gonna stop living and hole-up in a bunker... YET. (Well, I don't have a bunker or the land to build it on anyways.) But when I came to Arf 23 years ago, it was to learn about preps... because I felt a very strong motivation to prep for the sake of my family. Well, that's still very true. If I was a single guy with no wife or offspring, then prepping would just mostly be for something to do. But I've got a wife, 5 kids (all adults now), and 7 grandkiddos. My kids all have their own lives and families now (and all of them live 600 miles away, in Utah). I'm not obligated to provide for anyone anymore, except my spouse. And yet, a huge part of my prepping has always been, and always will be for them. When I buy gear, it's ultimately destined to be theirs. So I still treat prepping as if they were still children who depend on me. Anyways, sorry for rambling here. Just wanted to add some context of where I'm at right now. 
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"From hell 's heart, I stab at thee."
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Dude....I think we all have an or do exactly what you are. There is times between life happenings and shit where I go dark as well...no forum's....no gaming....no TV shows... Then...I'll circle back. 20 yrs ago .......ughhhh. lol. Least yall won't see me sporting a med Alice anyore. Fuck that noise lol. |
i dont want my final jig in the belly of a squid.
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We had the power out for 2 full days after that wind event. Wife appreciated the fireplace and generator, I did have to jury rig a cord to run from one of my powered circuits to the computer UPS, so we had internet along with TV as well. Heat, a fan from the fireplace, power to the well, limited lights, the fridge, microwave, and a bunch of rechargeable headlamps….. yeah it went fine. Been meaning to actually change from my transfer switch to an interlock, and actually have all the parts to make it happen, just need to do it…. Until then I just have the well pump plus 4 house circuits, and 2 are dedicated to the fridge and microwave Only other issue was only having 40 gallons of fuel ready, as I had been burning down my stockpile to restock with fresh stuff. Our power lines had taken 3 hits in the first mile out from my place, including a direct hit from a large tree onto the pole where the power goes from over head to underground for the 8 or so houses here. I was actually quite surprised we had power back as quickly as we did with that much going on. My wife teases me that I actually enjoy when the power is out for longer periods, as I get to use my stuff. She’s is pretty much correct…. But I did not enjoy the wind itself- we had a ton of rain prior, then a bunch of wind, and have a lot of big trees. We retreated to the strongest part of the house in the basement just in case something took out the house. Wife was not too happy when I woke her up to tell her the power was out and we needed to go into the basement, but as soon as she saw how bad it was and heard all the trees and large limbs coming down in the storm she was 100% onboard. |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so you say…
