... do you light candles or turn on the flashlight, or use oil lamps, etc? What do you use for light? How many of each do you own?
When you lose electricity in a storm...
05/17/2013
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We have 2 battery powered "lanterns." They are good size and light up a room fairly decently. We also have several flashlights- enough so that everyone has one. The trick is to makes sure we always have batteries available.
We don't lose power too often and when we do it's usually no more than a couple hours. We've been pretty lucky in that way.
We don't lose power too often and when we do it's usually no more than a couple hours. We've been pretty lucky in that way.
05/17/2013
Quote:
I use candles. It would be just my luck to have a bunch of flashlights and no batteries. Ha!
Originally posted by
Wicked Wahine
... do you light candles or turn on the flashlight, or use oil lamps, etc? What do you use for light? How many of each do you own?
05/17/2013
We have experienced 1 electrical outage in the 25 years that we've been in San Diego - and I was out of town at the time! We have some candles and flashlights - but its fair to say we're not prepared for an outage.
05/17/2013
We have lost power for an extended time on three occasions since we have been in our current home. Once during a winter ice storm we simply stayed with family for a few days. Then I decided to purchase a generator. It came to the rescue when we lost power for almost a week after hurricane Isabel and hurricane Irene. We also keep plenty of candles, flashlights and batteries standing by just in case we need them.
05/17/2013
Being I was without power for almost two weeks due to Hurricane Sandy, I learned that a surplus of those LED flashlights with the superlong batteries and candles were my best friend.
05/17/2013
Mr. John
Quote:
For the most part, we do not lose electricity due to storms. However, we do lose power from time to time due to roving brown-outs, and sometimes blown transformers. For those events, I have a large emergency storage crate. The crate contains 5 battery operated fluorescent lamps, a combination emergency hand crank radio/light/and cell phone charger, along with multiple flashlights. We also store in the same crate a large quantity of replacement batteries. Eventually, I want to have a natural gas operated back-up generator system.
Originally posted by
Wicked Wahine
... do you light candles or turn on the flashlight, or use oil lamps, etc? What do you use for light? How many of each do you own?
05/17/2013
When I lived in Eastern WA, we didn't lose power often. The one time we did, it was late at night so my partner and I lit a few candles and went to bed shortly after (after extinguishing the candles, of course). Here in Western WA, the large trees cause a lot of broken power lines so my parents invested in a generator. In the winter, power lines snap a lot so we always turn the electricity and space heater on in living room and the family congregates in the living room for the duration of the storm.
Except for that one time our power was out for 5 days...
Except for that one time our power was out for 5 days...
05/17/2013
We lose power frequently and have our candles in place for easy lighting. I have three gas camping lanterns in the big rooms and a woodstove for winter....
05/17/2013
Sometimes the storms here in FL are powerful enough to cause some outages. My mother is always on everyone to "have flashlights!", even if it's the middle of the day.
Myself, I'm mostly with the candles - although after having the power cut a couple of times over the past few months has dwindled down my candle supply.
When I move in with C, I'll be investing in LED candles, plus LED lanterns for the bathroom and kitchen. He's already got the grill thing down pat, and I just need to figure out how to keep cool if we have a hurricane blow through (the few days after a hurricane are the hottest).
Myself, I'm mostly with the candles - although after having the power cut a couple of times over the past few months has dwindled down my candle supply.
When I move in with C, I'll be investing in LED candles, plus LED lanterns for the bathroom and kitchen. He's already got the grill thing down pat, and I just need to figure out how to keep cool if we have a hurricane blow through (the few days after a hurricane are the hottest).
05/17/2013
I've bought a bunch of battery-operated Tap lights two years ago, and only had to use them once briefly.
05/17/2013
We have a battery powered lantern for emergency, and a couple hand held led flashlights that have come in handy on a number of occasions since the neighbors trees often hit the breaker causing our power to go out for a couple hours during a bad storm. If the power is off for a number of days, usually due to a hurricane, we have a plethora of candles we'll use as well.
05/17/2013
We use candles, but keep flashlights handy if we have to walk around. Too dangerous to walk around with the candles because of the cats (I swear they try to trip us).
05/17/2013
Quote:
It's kind of nice -- a couple candles go in every room and it makes everything look different and feel special.
Originally posted by
Wicked Wahine
... do you light candles or turn on the flashlight, or use oil lamps, etc? What do you use for light? How many of each do you own?
05/17/2013
I don't know how many I own but I use a combo of candles, flash lights and battery operated lights.
I usually end up reading by the soft light.
I usually end up reading by the soft light.
05/17/2013
I just used the storm as an example, I should have just put "when you lose electricity". Anyway, I have back ups for my backups! I have different flashlights & lanterns & plenty of batteries which I rotate. I also have Xmas window LED candles with timers & they are great. Then I have oil lanterns, like the Amish & I make my own oil jar "candles" out of old olive in glass canning jars w/a wick set up - if they ever spilled, they self extinguish. I have cats and wax candles are tricky, so I would use them protected in a glass hurricane. I have crank rechargeable flashlights & storm-radio combo thingie. What I don't have & need to get is a solar powered barrety recharger for my laptop, I have a smaller version for my cell phone.
05/17/2013
We loose power here over pretty much everything. Wind storms, down pours (we don't really get "rain" we get flash floods), sand storms, willy nilly reasons too.
When the power goes... it goes. Winter time it's not too bad as you crawl under the blankets and just snuggle up with a bedmate or a book and just snooze and play lazy. In the summer time it is worse. We mainly use fans over here not so much air conditioners and that fan is needed for a good nights sleep. So we just take a damp beach towel and use that instead of our regular blankets and that pretty much can keep you cool for the whole night.
I don't worry so much any more when the power goes out, I am very very used to it. I worry more when the water stops running. Sometimes we get a notice saying the water will be off for a weekend and to fill up your buckets. Then it's not too bad, but when it is a sudden loss it can really ruin your whole day. No shower, no flushing... doesn't sound so bad I know. But imagine it goes off in the morning and not back on till long after dinner. In the middle of the summer in the desert.
When the power goes... it goes. Winter time it's not too bad as you crawl under the blankets and just snuggle up with a bedmate or a book and just snooze and play lazy. In the summer time it is worse. We mainly use fans over here not so much air conditioners and that fan is needed for a good nights sleep. So we just take a damp beach towel and use that instead of our regular blankets and that pretty much can keep you cool for the whole night.
I don't worry so much any more when the power goes out, I am very very used to it. I worry more when the water stops running. Sometimes we get a notice saying the water will be off for a weekend and to fill up your buckets. Then it's not too bad, but when it is a sudden loss it can really ruin your whole day. No shower, no flushing... doesn't sound so bad I know. But imagine it goes off in the morning and not back on till long after dinner. In the middle of the summer in the desert.
05/17/2013
Quote:
Oh great topic!
Originally posted by
Wicked Wahine
... do you light candles or turn on the flashlight, or use oil lamps, etc? What do you use for light? How many of each do you own?
When ever there the slightest storm at all, I kind of freak out into safety mode. It all started when I was little like 3-4 and there was a tornado, rare we ever got any but it touched down and I'll never forget that I the 3-4 year old lead my entire family to safety. I knew what to do and no one taught me at all, but I had gathered up everything in a little suit case, snacks water, flashlights batteries, candles, matches and then told my dad to my parents mattress over us as we waited for it to pass in our bathroom. Also something I started as a kid and also do to this day is put rubber bands on all the door knobs, not sure why I think it will help with lightening ? I'm not sure why I even began that but I still do it. Any storm I am ready,and very serious about safety. My boyfriend laughs at me and thinks Its a funny show when storms are happening. But you never know how dangerous it can be. I own a lot of candles big small and the little ones. Flashlights I use those bring led ones, I have a giant led lantern and then led flash lights.
05/17/2013
Usually I just use a flashlight or walk around in the dark since I know where things are
05/17/2013
Everyone's phone flashlights come on and then we light candles, and use the laptops for music haha. It's never out long thankfully.
05/17/2013
Candles, lots of candles. I love the ambiance.
05/17/2013
Quote:
That's an amazing story, especially for such a young child! I was a precocious child, too & can't explain how I knew half the things I did, either! Everyone, it seems, makes fun of preppers, which is what you are with your storm preparedness steps; that is until they are grateful for it when it comes in handy!
Originally posted by
.kaycat
Oh great topic!
When ever there the slightest storm at all, I kind of freak out into safety mode. It all started when I was little like 3-4 and there was a tornado, rare we ever got any but it touched down and I'll never forget that I the 3-4 ... more
When ever there the slightest storm at all, I kind of freak out into safety mode. It all started when I was little like 3-4 and there was a tornado, rare we ever got any but it touched down and I'll never forget that I the 3-4 ... more
Oh great topic!
When ever there the slightest storm at all, I kind of freak out into safety mode. It all started when I was little like 3-4 and there was a tornado, rare we ever got any but it touched down and I'll never forget that I the 3-4 year old lead my entire family to safety. I knew what to do and no one taught me at all, but I had gathered up everything in a little suit case, snacks water, flashlights batteries, candles, matches and then told my dad to my parents mattress over us as we waited for it to pass in our bathroom. Also something I started as a kid and also do to this day is put rubber bands on all the door knobs, not sure why I think it will help with lightening ? I'm not sure why I even began that but I still do it. Any storm I am ready,and very serious about safety. My boyfriend laughs at me and thinks Its a funny show when storms are happening. But you never know how dangerous it can be. I own a lot of candles big small and the little ones. Flashlights I use those bring led ones, I have a giant led lantern and then led flash lights. less
When ever there the slightest storm at all, I kind of freak out into safety mode. It all started when I was little like 3-4 and there was a tornado, rare we ever got any but it touched down and I'll never forget that I the 3-4 year old lead my entire family to safety. I knew what to do and no one taught me at all, but I had gathered up everything in a little suit case, snacks water, flashlights batteries, candles, matches and then told my dad to my parents mattress over us as we waited for it to pass in our bathroom. Also something I started as a kid and also do to this day is put rubber bands on all the door knobs, not sure why I think it will help with lightening ? I'm not sure why I even began that but I still do it. Any storm I am ready,and very serious about safety. My boyfriend laughs at me and thinks Its a funny show when storms are happening. But you never know how dangerous it can be. I own a lot of candles big small and the little ones. Flashlights I use those bring led ones, I have a giant led lantern and then led flash lights. less
05/18/2013
Sit in the dark and cuddle!
05/18/2013
I.. masturbate? d=
05/18/2013
probably candles. Though it hasn't happened for a while at my place for more than a minute or so.
05/18/2013
Quote:
Wow! someone is very well prepared! Those led candles with the timers sound like a really good idea, as do the oil jar candles you make. I think when the next time i clean out the pantry i'll make a point to gather "hurricane supplies" such as candles and flashlights together and maybe see what i can add using this as a guide. I know for sure i'd like to get some crank rechargeable flashlights, and i think maybe i'll put together a little oil lamp kit!
Originally posted by
Wicked Wahine
I just used the storm as an example, I should have just put "when you lose electricity". Anyway, I have back ups for my backups! I have different flashlights & lanterns & plenty of batteries which I rotate. I also have Xmas window
...
more
I just used the storm as an example, I should have just put "when you lose electricity". Anyway, I have back ups for my backups! I have different flashlights & lanterns & plenty of batteries which I rotate. I also have Xmas window LED candles with timers & they are great. Then I have oil lanterns, like the Amish & I make my own oil jar "candles" out of old olive in glass canning jars w/a wick set up - if they ever spilled, they self extinguish. I have cats and wax candles are tricky, so I would use them protected in a glass hurricane. I have crank rechargeable flashlights & storm-radio combo thingie. What I don't have & need to get is a solar powered barrety recharger for my laptop, I have a smaller version for my cell phone.
less
05/18/2013
Quote:
I'm only prepared because I am pretty much housebound & also can only depend on myself, no sending someone to the store to get batteries! The power went out for so long before, that the city water sanitation & pumps couldn't function, so no water either for that week or so. They have YouTube videos on how to make your own wick support for these oil candles, but, honestly, it was easier & cheaper for me to buy a DIY kit from Lehman's (They prefer olive oil, but any veg oil will do, except avoid corn & canola oil they don't work well at wicking & you might not want to use some oil that might be GMO.)
Originally posted by
bratcat
Wow! someone is very well prepared! Those led candles with the timers sound like a really good idea, as do the oil jar candles you make. I think when the next time i clean out the pantry i'll make a point to gather "hurricane supplies"
...
more
Wow! someone is very well prepared! Those led candles with the timers sound like a really good idea, as do the oil jar candles you make. I think when the next time i clean out the pantry i'll make a point to gather "hurricane supplies" such as candles and flashlights together and maybe see what i can add using this as a guide. I know for sure i'd like to get some crank rechargeable flashlights, and i think maybe i'll put together a little oil lamp kit!
less
05/18/2013
we have no candles but we do have 4 flashlights and two led lanterns, and an endless supply of batteries.
05/18/2013
I don't recall ever losing electricity as a result of bad weather.
05/18/2013
We use a generator, it can become expensive though if its out for a week like it was last summer.
05/18/2013
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Unique posters: 26