Have you done your own 24-72 hour live test

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My wife and I were talking about doing our own y2k failure test next week. Cut power and water to the house. It is funny how scary that is to just go and do. We are making plans for this "special day", and yet many people may just have this thrust upon them 1/1/00. We are going to try 24 hours first then try 72. We have 7 children and have prepped for about a year. We have the "mega" generator 40Kw but only 500 gallons of diesel fuel and 150 gallons unleaded. How far do we go? Do we use the phone? The internet? Cable TV? Have any of you tried this yet?

-- a1isa1 (a1isa1@hotmail.com), December 04, 1999

Answers

a1isa1, I do not type this to be condescending, just as a reminder to take everything into consideration. If you or anyone else plans on running this test, be sure to leave the generator outside. If someone overlooks this simple fact and uses the generator indoors they will probably gas themselves to death.

-- Butt Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), December 04, 1999.

Yes, every winter our power is out from 1-3 days. It is miserable and stressful even being prepared for it. ( In some ways it is lucky for us because everyone is prepared for at least 3 days without power here and every home has fireplaces or wood stoves. Most have generators. ) Three days is not too long to go without doing laundry, vacuuming, washing hair, having hot water from the tap, etc, but when these items have to be done all the time with no power it will be a whole different picture.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 04, 1999.

alisal Hurricane Floyd decided the time we would do our test. We were ready, we thought. I live in the country so when elec goes, so does water. We had decided not to invest in a generator - money better spent on other preps. The manual punp had not been installed yet - has now. The biggest problem was water and flushing the toilet and with your 7 children that is a lot of water. My son-in-law had said he didn't mind carrying water to flush toilets, but by the end of 24 hours without running water, he was talking about digging a latrine. I cook with propane, so cooking was not a problem. It was difficult to adjust to the miminum amount of light from even Alladin lamp. If you want to tolk about this, the address is real. You are really wise to do trial run. We discovered things we hadn't thought about. Good luck.

-- Audrey Ward (aw1291@AOL.com), December 04, 1999.

We had our "live test" during Hurricane Floyd. Power was out for 48 hours. Like Y2K, we saw this coming, and had time to tweak our preparations.

A few of the lessons I learned. 1) In a crisis situation, an injury could have profound effects. I took a few stupid chances moving various items out of the yard. In a similiar situation, I will be much more careful next time.

2) A bug out check list is important. When the storm was bearing down on us, it looked like we might have to leave in a hurry. I started pulling things together, but it took FAR too long. Now I have a list, and pre packed items.

3) I had gas, but not near enough for our generator. Trying to siphon gas is next to impossible from today's cars. I did a deja news search in misc.survivalism on the topic. Some good pointers there.

4) The bought some small, AAA cell Mag lights for the kids, and a coach's wistle string to attach them to. The kids hung them around their necks. Excellent results. They had light when they needed it and it gave them a sense of control. They still want to use them, even today.

5) Personal possessions are unimportant compared to your loved ones. When it looked like the storm was going to hit us head on, the only thing that mattered was my wife and kids.

A practice run can be a very valuable learning experience. Floyd, for me, was a blessing in disguise. We suffered no damaged (other than what I did myself ;-) ). It was a good chance for us to learn a few things. All my Y2K preps were worthwhile.

Good luck!

-- Stars and Stripes (stars_n_stripes@mydeja.com), December 04, 1999.


I'd really like to, but am still prepping with little last minute things and can't afford to give up a weekend now. I've tried out all my "toys" and everything works ok, been thinking about this daily for 1-1/2 years, so I hope there won't be any big surprises. I've spent many nights with just my aladdin lamps, the woodstove and a good book; it ain't a bad way to pass an evening. We'll see.....

-- (cavscout@fix.net), December 04, 1999.


butt nugget-

Not to be condescending to you, but anyone with the foresight to get a 40KW (jeez! wish I had one of those, not that I NEED one) generator and 500 gals. diesel to run it has probably thought about exhaust fumes already. Also, you can vent the fumes to the outside with flex hose like I've done with mine. Just a thought...

-- (cavscout@fix.net), December 04, 1999.


I would strongly suggest that all persons striving for self reliance and psychological adaptation for a period of disruption and deprivation plan at least a 48 hour shut down of all utilities at home. Please set aside all secondary time wasting activities to test your plans as soon as possible. You will need several subsequent days to attend to those items that you will note that you have overlooked. My dear wife and partner assisted me in a complete shutdown exercise last January for an entire weekend when outside temperatures were about 16 degrees farenheit. We had thought that we were fully prepared before that weekend. During that weekend, we made 3 pages of notes of oversights of items and arrangements that we had not previously considered. That was in spite of many years of camping experience! Plan, act test. Plan act test. And then do it again ASAP. With all best wishes for your wellbeing,

-- Philip Spicer (sspicer@nas.net), December 04, 1999.

I'm not disconnecting anything until I'm disconnected by the power, telephone and water company. I'm going to enjoy every second of electricity, phone and water that I possibly can. I'm prepared for whatever comes down the pike. I've heard of people doing test runs (and admitting to some cheating), but when it actually happens, you have no choice but to get down to real business. But for right now I'm going to treasure the next 28 days with all the luxuries I can.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 04, 1999.

Down to two things---Can I carve out time in my plan to continue prepping? Can I finnally fill up those water barrels? Anything to not do this---I am too smart to be behaving so stupid. I'll do my first 24 hr starting at sundown TODAY. Then I will run it all week while I work 9 hrs a day---acid test for me and how I will have to do it IF. Wish me luck.

-- Really Procrastinating (puttingitoff@scared.com), December 04, 1999.

Folks:

I agree, somewhat, with bardou. I guess that testing is important [all of the government agencies do such tests] but it is not like the real thing. I've done it for real at -50F. Remember that you have to drain the water heater [and anything that holds water] as well as the lines. I suppose that it is important if you have children. If you are an adult, with common sense, it should be no problem. You will learn by doing [I did]. Just keep your eyes open and watch six:

Best wishes,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), December 04, 1999.



I think some of you have missed the point. Yeah, you bought the stuff, but does it work? The first time I ran my diesel generator under full load I had a freak failure. (Bearings in the fan belt idler pulley seized up, resulting in a burned up belt, overheated generator and a damaged radiator. i.e. FUBAR!) Sure, a warranty replacement was a phone call away, but will that be the case in January? DO NOT underestimate the effects of infant mortality in your plans. Learn from my mistakes, it's much cheaper.

-- Chris Tisone (c_tisone@hotmail.com), December 04, 1999.

My wife suggested the idea and I added that if we do a test we can only use the things we have in the home at the time. No fair going out and buying stuff to prepare for a test.

She decided to put the test off as she doesn't think we have enough to keep her in the lifestyle which she is used to...for a 24 hour test? Oh well!

I was willing (sort of) to go without my cigars for a while! Not really! Need 'em.

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), December 04, 1999.


There are also "real live" tests. We have bears, panthers and bob cats in our area. I thought I had protected my chickens. A week ago a fox got in and killed them all. We'd never had problems with foxes.

We bought a lot more dried egg.

Todd

-- Todd Detzel (detzel@jps.net), December 04, 1999.


Mr. Nugget (May I call you "Butt"?) and others...

Quick news flash: a 40kW generator would be about the size of a VW, and weigh about 3000 lbs. Now, what were you saying about running that thing "indoors"?

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), December 04, 1999.


Moved to "Site B" in the country last Monday (actually planned on moving Y2K or not). Went out on the porch to look at the stars and locked myself out of the damn house! I'm about an hour from Canada, barefoot, standing in my flannel jammies staring through the window at my nice, warm fire......

Got some "bugs" to work out!

-- Tuan (Strider X6@aol.com), December 05, 1999.



Did our test last Feb. Very important to test while the stores are still stocked and running. You will have forgotten SOMETHING. If you don't think of it 'till the lights go out for real... too bad. And if you have kids it is VERY important to have a "drill" so you are less likely to be dealing with freaked out kids in a real emergency. Keep a "diary".. have everyone write down things as they think about them. Things to buy.. things to do differently.. things to have handier (not in the depths of a DARK, COLD garage.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), December 05, 1999.

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