Posted: 8/27/2011 6:04:41 AM EDT
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It may not be news to many here but if you need a generator get one before a major event. I have one but I was looking at craigslist for fun. They are priced at 3 to 4 times retail price. All stores are sold out. There were lines at home depot waiting for the truck in hope there would be enough generators. I have looked on forums and people are basically begging for them for medical reasons. Buy a generator when things are quiet, not when a storm is coming.
Don't forget gas. A few stations are sold out and others only have premium. Also the stations raised prices the last couple days. |
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I bought mine weeks ago and have ten gallon of gas in cans and 70 gallons in vehicle fuel tanks. We're good.
My father is a construction worker and didn't buy a generator because he could "borrow" one from work. Guess what? His boss "borrowed" it first. He does have 20 gallon of gas for a generator he doesn't have now though. I invited him to bring his perishables to our freezer...with the gas. Got to look out for one's family like that. I'm right next to Oceana so the storm will be here soon. |
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If having electricity when others don't is important to you, consider just how much fuel you might need, and what you are going to do when your neighbor asks to borrow it, just to keep his stuff cold too.
Are you going to tell the little old lady down the street to pound sand? |
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I eventually heard from a relative in Chicago who owns a Stihl lawn care/landscaping equipment business that within a week after Hurricane IKE, every Honda generator in any stores east of the Rockies had been shipped - and already sold off - to Texas.
Thankfully, Irene is weakening substantially, and sucking in a lot of dry air. That'll slow it down tremendously and also take out a lot of the moisture that would have otherwise resulted in a lot more flooding. NOAA is indicating 85-90mph surface winds and only 952 millibars pressure in the eye. Nowhere near what Ike was at landfall or 90 miles inland, but still dangerous. You'll live thru it, not unscathed, but thankfully nowhere near as bad as it could've been had it not weakened when it started to make landfall. Still, for those on the "dirty side" of the storm (the NE quadrant and east coastal areas), it will still be devastating for 10's of miles all around and inland. Folks, band together and help your fellow man, because at least this storm doesn't look like it'll totally destroy your infrastructure for a 100miles inland, so there's a good deal to hope for. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
If having electricity when others don't is important to you, consider just how much fuel you might need, and what you are going to do when your neighbor asks to borrow it, just to keep his stuff cold too. Are you going to tell the little old lady down the street to pound sand? If I am out of room in my freezer, yes. Pound sand. If I have room. Bring your stuff over. |
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Quoted:
If having electricity when others don't is important to you, consider just how much fuel you might need, and what you are going to do when your neighbor asks to borrow it, just to keep his stuff cold too. Are you going to tell the little old lady down the street to pound sand? Not really sure what your point is here. A generator can be a valuable tool in the shed. When our power was out for a week we plugged-in an extension for our retired neighbors to allow them to run their freezer, fridge, and box fans whenever I had the genny running. It worked fine. We had plenty of fuel because we plan for these types of things and don't run the generator more than we need. We didn't have to tell anyone to 'pound sand'. We did have occasion to offer hot showers, iced tea, and cold beer to family and friends. But, if you like watching the food in your fridge and freezer spoil, sleeping in 90F heat, and having limited options for running lighting and charging batteries, feel free to omit a generator from your own plans. |