What IF

Esther · #1 08-11-2009, 09:35 AM

Have you ever played the what if game?

I keep thinking about a post that JA made sometimes back about being more concerned with an attack that would take kill all electronic devices.

Just suppose we lost all of our electricity. Could you survive? If so, how could you do it.

We have become a nation totally dependent on electricity. If you drink coffee do you have a way to make coffee that does not require electricity?

I know being without electricity during Hurricane Ike it was difficult for us without a generator since our water is on a well that requires electricity.

Cindy · #2 08-11-2009, 09:44 AM

Our house is all electric, although we do have a fireplace and a wood burning stove. We still need electricity for doing laundry, hot water, fridge, etc. We have survived a few days during ice storms, but not for a longer period of time. I think we do need a generator.

commonsense · #3 08-11-2009, 09:48 AM

As a city kid, it's a lost cause without electricity. Nothing would function.
We'd have water; but not hot water. Even though water heater is gas,new models use an electronic igniter not the old pilot light.
Electric range, refrig, freezer........there would be nothing.

Well, I do have battery operated camping lights, radio, flashlights, bottled water, manual can opener for the canned goods in the pantry< but it would be cold> .
Most of our household and the city would be shut down without electricity.

Not very prepared am I. We don't even have an outdoor grill.

Esther · #4 08-11-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by commonsense

As a city kid, it's a lost cause without electricity. Nothing would function.
We'd have water; but not hot water. Even though water heater is gas,new models use an electronic igniter not the old pilot light.
Electric range, refrig, freezer........there would be nothing.

Well, I do have battery operated camping lights, radio, flashlights, bottled water, manual can opener for the canned goods in the pantry< but it would be cold> .
Most of our household and the city would be shut down without electricity.

Not very prepared am I. We don't even have an outdoor grill.

ya gotta git a grill, ya can't camp without a grill.

n david · #5 08-11-2009, 10:00 AM

Don't need a grill here in AZ ... it's 110+ degrees here. Just throw some steak, hamburger or eggs on either the hood of your car or a clean section of asphalt and you're golden!

Tina · #6 08-11-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esther

Have you ever played the what if game?

I keep thinking about a post that JA made sometimes back about being more concerned with an attack that would take kill all electronic devices.

Just suppose we lost all of our electricity. Could you survive? If so, how could you do it.

We have become a nation totally dependent on electricity. If you drink coffee do you have a way to make coffee that does not require electricity?

I know being without electricity during Hurricane Ike it was difficult for us without a generator since our water is on a well that requires electricity.

Yes, we could survive. In fact, we had a practice round several years ago when we were without electricity for two weeks due to an ice storm.

We have a gas grill & deep fryer, charcoal grill, coleman camp stove, coleman lanterns, wind up lights, wind up radios, back up heat source, lots of other survival type stuff including ways to sterilize water.

I often make "sun tea" and could easily make coffee and most anything I wanted to cook without electricity. I can make "fried" cornbread fritters to substitute for real cornbread-- and we're even going to attempt to build a outdoor oven that could be used for baking. How's that for learning to survive?

We have a pool and live near a river-- so there's our emergency water sources for laundry & bathing.... LOL

Also have a pretty good supply of water put away, that is regularly rotated.

You should read the Last Light book series by Terri Blackstock.

This thread gives me a sense of dejavu. Seems we've discussed this before....

commonsense · #7 08-11-2009, 10:11 AM

Twelve years ago we had an Oct ice storm and had no power for a week. We did survive but..........
Everything in freezer and refrig had to be thown away.( Ins pd less the deductible)
With no lights I used candles and later discovered soot on many surfaces.

We did have hot water for showers since we still had our old hot water heater. (showers by candlelight )
Even though it was Oct it wasn't "warm" so we survived by borrowing a kerosene heater from church friends. (The electricity was restored to many areas immediately and many other areas waited 2, 4, 7 days..)

Since this lesson in disaster the electric company has totally revamped their response plans!

commonsense · #8 08-11-2009, 10:17 AM

We had to eat out.
We did still go to work--- where they had electricity.

(it would be harder now...could not use internet, charge cell phone etc)

Timmy · #9 08-11-2009, 10:17 AM

We're on a well. Electric pump. We're dooooooooomed!

Tina · #10 08-11-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

We're on a well. Electric pump. We're dooooooooomed!

You'd just have to work hard to rig up a way to draw water from that well.

It can be done. I remember when I was growing up, our well pump went out and we had to do that for a couple of days till the pump could be replaced. It wasn't fun, it was work-- but you could get to that water if you were desperate enough.