Would You Survive?

Welcome back!! We all missed you.

I was without power for 4 days and I was actually enjoying myself. I told the kids we could "camp" in the house and we wouldn't have to worry about the bugs like the outside. However, my husband could not live without the internet or the TV so we ended up sleeping at his parents' house for those 4 VERY LONG days/nights!!!!

For a week I could manage...and quickly be reminded to not take anything for granted. Glad you're ok. I forgot that you lived in the area.

We had somthing similar happen to us, but we were only without utilities for 7 days.

We survived. I got my grill out and we smoked meat and ate out of our freezer and pantry. I fortunately had plenty of food, water, charcoal, candles and oil lamps. We read books and played games. We could have gone on for a month, but I'm glad the utilites were on after 7 or 8 days.

Good luck to you and yours.

I'm married to and Eagle Scout...as long as I have him, we will survive. Not that I can't do it on my own, but he is the rational/calm one. I would survive by strands...he would keep me sane.

Absolutely. Sometimes we do it on purpose. But we also have plans and supplies and generators and a solar array so that we "make do" with a few more comforts than others might. When Isabel rolled through, we lost power for about a week. And there was another time when we lost water (main break) very suddenly. It was good to have a plan. Last winter the snow knocked out our area and we took in the family next door (a toddler and a baby) because we have a fireplace to keep us toasty.

I'm personally thankful whenever it's "just" power because losing the whole house...THAT would be tough.

I used to do it every winter when I was a kid.
I lived on a farming island far from the city. Every winter we would experience floods/high winds/heavy rains/freezes which would result in no electricity, no water, etc. Sometimes it was a week, sometimes a few days, sometimes intermittent.
We cooked on camping gear, always had a stocked pantry, stored our food in the oustide freezer (and would hope it would stay cold), have no tv, no cells, no computer, etc. I have everything I need to survive an emergency situation, so I know I could tough it out.
I am glad to hear you're doing ok!

We'd survive.
Based on what the neighbors said happened during Isabel I was expecting to be without power for a week or more.
I was shocked when it was fixed after 24 hours.
I've got 90 days of my thyroid medication.
We had all 3 bath tubs full almost to the brim - to use to flush the toilets or to take half a bucket out of it so we could wash up every so often.
We filled 3 propane tanks and made sure the grill didn't blow away.
We filled up the gas tanks in the cars and have plenty of canned food (and a manual non electric can opener), peanut butter and other food you can eat without cooking (love granola bars!).
We've got plenty of candles and oil lamps (and lamp oil).
I had the freezer packed in ice.
We still have several cases of bottle water and bottles of juice and Gatorade.
We played cards and board games and read a great story out loud.
We were prepared for a week or longer.
We're still fairly prepared, and I'm considering buying a generator (as soon as they are restocked) because the hurricane season isn't over yet and Katia looks like it's on more or less the same path Irene was on.

Yes. I have camped for months at a time doing field work (wildlife biology). Also, I lived for 7 years for a cabin with no running water in Alaska. I could definitely survive a week without those things! No problem! Another time when I lived in a normal house in Juneau we had an avalanche take out the power lines that ran from our power supply (hydro power two inlets away) to town. To give the town electricity they switched to diesel fuel which was 5X the price!!!!! For an entire month we unplugged everything. We cooked on our bbq grill and camp stove. We did not use our dryer but instead hung up clothes (this is Tongas National Rainforest so we had to hang them inside!). We used candles and flashlights. Our kids loved this!!!! We only used our wood stove for heat. We made huge changes just to not pay $500 a month and instead pay our original monthly amount! Anyway, people are tough, smart and resilient. Personally I think a challenge like this is fun! Not only do I survive but I thrive!!!! :)

I am so glad to see you here. I have been wondering where you were and if you were OK.
Do you only have one car? Did I miss something?
Are you on REC? or Dominion? They say power should be on by Fri or Sat. Yuck

We have a cabin in upper MI that has no running water and no electricity so I can do it. I love doing it in the summer IN MICHIGAN but not in VA where I am supposed to have electricity.

I ran away from Floyd when it hit NC to Chicago, but I had a van, he had the other vehicle and stayed.
We lost power for a week after Isabel, I stayed put in Fredericksburg.

Hang in there dear.

R.! (((hugs)))

Oh R. I am so glad you all are alright! Welcome Back!!

I could survie a week like that. When I was little we lived in the middle of the desert 45 miles from Las Vegas we had no running water or power or central heat or air. We used a generator and kept our perishables in an ice chest. We also hauled our own water. So I could tough it out.:)

We were without power for four days after a big storm. It was wicked hot but other than that not soooo bad. Of course we still had gas so hot water. My hair looked kinda freaky mind you from no hair dryer.

The hardest thing for me was that moment where I knew I had to toss the food. I had two fridges and a deep freeze, that hurt!

I think I could go a week but I would be soooooo glad when it was over.

Oh if you see any Ameren trucks running around that would be us. They of course had a long news story about what our guys (sounded like soldiers) would be going through. Ya, okay, cause the terrain there is so different from Missouri. You do put your electricity on poles and use wires right?

R.:

I'm sooooooooo glad you are back!!! You've been missed!!!

I knew you would survive...you got it going girl!!!

Yes, I believe we would survive too...have only had to go 4 days without electricity here - our Coleman stove and gas grill were our best friends!!! Still want to get a gas stove though!! LOL!!!

Please let me know what you need!!!

So great to hear from you! We have all been hoping that you guys are all well. We miss you! What can we do to help you from afar?

As for us - we'd survive, maybe? My husband's a real outdoorsman, so although we don't have camping gear, I feel completely safe as long as my hubby were here. Granted, we have all electric right now, but we do have a generator. Eh I dunno. My parents live 30 miles away, and it's so much easier to be around others and help eachother out, so I might prefer to go there. They have a pool, so at least I could rinse off. I am glad you got your hair washed! There's nothing grosser than 3-4-5-day-old unwashed hair.

For the first few days I'd go batshit crazy... then I'd calm down and start to try and see what I COULD do.

Keep truckin' R.!

On Nov.19, 1996 we had what was called "Ice Storm". I was only 22 and I was staying at my Mom's for the week b/c she was in AZ visiting my sister. A major power line was knocked down in her yard and I was without power for over a week. I had to bring in wood and keep a fire going so I could keep her dog and cat alive! I slept on a mattress in front of the fire with them. It was tough. We survived. It would have really been difficult with little ones!
I can't say it was as severe or scary as Irene, but it was not fun!! SO glad you and your family are safe and surviving!!!

You never know how strong you are until being strong in the only choice you have.

We did a week two winters ago without power. Fortunately, we had a generator, but many of our friends and neighbors had nothing, nor could they get out because of 30+ inches of snow.
That said, yes, we could survive.
We have a wood stove.
We have a gas grill.
We have a hot water tank that's full of water -- when our power goes out, there is no water...
Providing we could drive, we could go to the gym or a friend's to shower.
Life is good.
LBC

Wow! I'm glad to hear your family is OK :) You are a tough momma to get through this hard time, good on ya. I don't know how I would survive without my morning cup of tea! Or my beloved smart phone... or laptop. Yikes, the things we take for granted!

My full empathy, R.. There was a huge windstorm in Oregon years ago that put lots of people in the dark for several days. Our local neighborhood came online after about a week, but we were out much longer.

Because a neighbor's tree took down the line to our house, and we are way back off the road, the electric company didn't get to our individual home until the very end of the repair process. We lived without electricity or running water from our well for two weeks and two days. We also gave away most of our frozen food before it spoiled.

We did have a phone and a car, a woodstove, and were able to cook some simple meals. Sympathetic neighbors let us use their home to take showers a couple of times. Sheer luxury! But we also have experience camping, and I'm sure that helped a lot.

Hope your power comes back soon. It's harder with little kids in the house. I feel sympathy for all the parents trying to keep little kids clean, fed and happy.

A couple years ago we lost power due to a tornado for 3 days......we survived, but at that time it was just my husband and me. Not sure we would have survived with kids!! Kudos to you for hanging in there and trying to look on the bright side of the situation.

I hope things return to normal for you soon and you keep your sanity. :)

Just remember, years from now, this will be one of those family stories you guys will bring up from time to time. You are making memories......even if they aren't the kind you'd prefer! LOL.

my family is local so i'd go to their place. but if they weren't i'd use it as family bonding time. why are you bothering to shave your legs though? it's not like you're going anywhere. flashlights and cereal would be my friend and with no power i think its bed time when the sun goes down anyway. i'd be thankful for this cooler weather we are having too. time to play outside and read some books it sounds like:) in many ways it sounds awesome.

I would definitely try to get to at least some ones house....You survive better in groups.

The more heads to think together and think smart the better.

I would have to be picky about who we choose. It would probably be my Mil and FIL...and my Parents. They live around the block from one another. My FIL has alot of street smarts...my dad was in the military so he has war smarts...survival...My mom is a teacher and MIL is a creative thinker.

I am sure my little sister and her boy friend would find their way to us....She is not really good for much right now....But he can be a heavy mover if need be.

I couldnt imagine being in what you are in right now.

We had a wind storm several years back...Knocked power out to millions for a long time...By day three our caravan was about 15 strong and we all put money together and got hotel rooms...By the time we were in the hotel each room had about eight people in them...we sleep four to a bed in some rooms.....It was an amazing sight seeing so many families come together just to be able to sleep in a room room...Mind you thin wind storm happened in one of the coldest Winters we had had in ten years...so we frozen fast...The only thing we had going for us is food was staying fresh outside......I was also eight months pregnant..so now that I think back to it...was was a pretty big ordeal.

Glad your home is ok and that you seem to have a good attitude towards it. Kudos!
Yet another thing we have in common that gave me a little tickle: we asked for camping gear for our wedding gifts too! (I bought my china years before when I'd sworn I was "never" gonna get married).
Yes, I could survive. Even if I don't want to. I lived in a village for 6 weeks where there was no electricity or anything else. Granted, someone carried my water for me (I carried the backpack, but we had helpers carry water), and they "cooked". We went to bed when it got dark, and found out much to my chagrin that roosters crow BEFORE the sun comes up. It was an adventure when "somewhere else" though. It is NOT fun AT ALL if it's your house and you know in the back of your mind that you should be able to have your luxuries.
Hurricane Katrina left us WEEKS without power, not a lot of roads, cell service was very iffy. We had no idea how bad it was until later. We did not have a generator. Truth be told, I left because I got hot and hated the world, and went to TX to stay with my bf for 5 days. But then work resumed and it was around the clock (pile driving into the levees, digging ditches to divert water, etc) so I came back home before everything was fixed. I went to a fitness center in Baton Rouge (45 minutes from home) to take proper showers and used a laundromat nearby. It was special. Those old timey corded phones, you can get them at Walmart for $4.97. I have one in my emergency box as a backup (portable phones don't work with no electricity, and cell service, you don't always know about. phone lines may be down, but at least it's just one more option). My dad and grandpa live 5 hours away, and out of reach for hurricanes. We would leave for convenience's sake just because we can now. We've gone so long without options that I wouldn't feel guilty about using one now that I've got it. It's not so much the food, water, lights, phone, etc (I have gas, camping stuff, charcoal, camping stove and fuel, LOTS of lanterns and lights....but AIR CONDITIONING. I want air.) I'm a wimp like that. :P

Survive? Yes. Happy to be alive? Yes. Ready for a shower and a hot meal... yes!

We survived Hurricane Andrew years ago when it tore apart South Florida. It really isn't fun and it's tough, but after it's all over you're pretty damn proud of yourself!

I live in the South - we had Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and before that I lived through several hurricanes that left us without power, etc. for anywhere from two days to week or more.

So, yeah, used to it. I am always thankful when I have a gas range, and the gas stays on, then I use every pot in the house to get a 4 inch deep bath. Woohoo!

But, I have to admit, after several storms, and especially after Katrina, I was more than happy to pack up and go stay with friends. LOL

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We did 3 days of no power this week and 10 when I was a kid, so I know we would be fine but boy does it suck when you're in the middle of it! I do feel bad for people on well water - no water would really put me over the edge, cold water was bad enough. I really feel for the people in Vermont and upstate NY who are literally cut off from all help. When the National Guard has to airdrop supplies to your community, you're in trouble. At least I could drive to places that had power.

I would hate every single minute of it and not be in very good spirits probably. We would not have a phone and I'd have to go and sit someplace to charge up my cell phones and being without power for 16 hours was terrible this last time it happened and 2 weeks before that it was for 12 hours. I was so grateful we had water the whole time.

I hope it all gets back on for you very soon.

We thought we were going to get obliterated by Irene down here in Newport News, so we actually drove up to Richmond last Friday to stay with friends during the hurricane. How ironic that we ran out of power saturday morning up there but our power never even flickered at our house?! Our Richmond friends ended up coming and staying with us this week until their power was back in the West End area. When Isabel hit, we were out of power for 3 whole weeks in Yorktown so we were expecting the same or worse down here. After the storm on Sunday my husband and our friend spent the day cutting down and clearing out trees all around their neighborhood (their house is on a very old street with a lot of elderly folks). I hope you get back to the modern ages soon :)

I'm a wimp. Not sure I'd do as well as you have. (and glad to hear all is well!) I've always said I'd be the first one voted off on "Survivor." California suburbia girl all the way and I hate camping. I'd be trying to get to a relative's or friend's house for sure.

NO, not for an extended period of time. Last year when we were hit with a tornado and many neighbors lost their homes we were only out power for 1 day and we went to my MIL who lives about 45 minutes away from us but I already felt like a nomad and I worried about the kids the most, but they were fine and really clueless. Now that my youngest DD needs breathing treatments daily I wouldnt risk being without power for too long and we really do need to look into an affordable generator but they are sooooo expensive. We have a few neighbors with some and I know they would let us use their power if needed. One amazing thing during times like this is how everyone pulls together.

You will need another vacation by the time this is over...a real one without inlaws and babysitting anyone ;-)

Yes, I believe I could.

We lost power for 3 days due to an ice storm about 5 years ago. We survived just fine and enjoyed the adventure. We cooked in the fireplace with my cast iron dutch oven.

Of course, it's a lot different concerns in winter than summer (freezing/burst water pipes). And no one was hurt so it was more an adventure than a disaster. But our friends across town were out of power for 8 days and their house got smashed (hole in the roof) from a dead limb that broke under the ice. They stayed at a hotel for several days.

I freaking love that game!! Probably wouldn't like to live it, though. We are at the edge of tornado alley. We've been spared, so far. I think I could survive and tough it out, but I don't think I'd be very good at it. I hope things start coming together in your neck of the woods. I'm sorry you got hit so hard!!

Luckily, I was taught some things as a child & my hubby was too. I really don't want to find out if I had to 'survive' this way but if we HAD to due to bad circumstances, I think we'd do okay til the food ran out. We know what to do but I just wish that more parents would teach their kids survival skills to keep as they grow older. You truly never know when you might need these skills! I think everyone should know how to build & start a fire, fish, build a shelter, hunt using snares, even planting & growing a garden...all these things are, IMO, something I feel is important to know. Maybe the school system should think about including things like this as a class. That would be cool.

Necessity necessitates. Yes we would all survive. My daughter was
without everything for a week thanks to Irene. However, as she said she
still has a place to live unlike some people who have lost everything. I live
by "it could aways be worse."

No - you didn't get hit harder than most! Take a look at all the flooding in NC and also further up north. Some people even had tornadoes. Many of these people lost their homes! Others are completely cut off except for using ferries.

During Isabel we lost power for 9 days. All I wanted was a bag of ice, and we couldn't even get that!

Our house is total electric. We did have water. We cooked on a gas grill. We didn't have a generator and so lost everything in the fridge and extra freezer. By the time the power was restored, we had a bumper crop of mosquitoes due to the water standing in various places.

So, yes, I could do it - but I never was so grateful for a hot bath as when the power finally came back!

R.,
Glad you are able to make it through and let out some of your thoughts on here.
We have been camping for long periods of time,but that is our choice. We also live on a dead end street and we are low priority for PEPCO. So, through many thunderstorms, ice and snow storms we have lost power from 2 days to a week.
We are grateful to be on city water, have a woodburning stove, a propane grill with a separate burner, and a gas stove. I will only live in places that have gas stoves!
We have access to a generator as well, which saves our sanity.
Also have a non portable phone. We have invested in solar cell phone chargers and flashlights, crank radios that also charge our cell phones.
We are also looking at solar panels for our home. The companies are telling us it's now as cheap as the regular power companies.
We lost our power for 3 days this time; and also are grateful for this past week of perfect weather