Sometimes a full length broom comes in handy to sweep the snow off the hood and windshield of a vehicle. We also use a broom to sweep fresh snow from the walkways at home.
What was your prep for today?
- Thread starter scout24
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I'm assuming that he is all electric or he could use his stove for heat.
With that said, a single burner propane camping stove, might be in order.
A cup of hot chocolate, tea, or hot cup of soup, can help to take the chill off.
Stress_Test
Flashlight Enthusiast
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The stove is electric, but the house heat is gas. That doesn't work with the power off, but then I remembered that his hot water heater is gas-powered. I think that stays on regardless of electricity, so he could always do hot water bottles and stuff like that.
Stress_Test
Flashlight Enthusiast
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Ooh, I forgot another thing to check that should've been obvious:
Check the anti-freeze in the car to make sure it's adequate for single-digit temps! It so rarely gets that cold around here that I never think about that normally, so long as the fluid is decently green!
Check the anti-freeze in the car to make sure it's adequate for single-digit temps! It so rarely gets that cold around here that I never think about that normally, so long as the fluid is decently green!
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Yesterday I added air to my tires to compensate for the colder weather ahead*
Added 6 seconds of air to each tire because I already new my pressures, so they're about 33 front & 32 rear for winter (cold starting pressures)
Bought this compressor maybe 7 years ago for $109 & had to make/get the hose stuff separate... so about $140 total
It's made in Taiwan and works great
*my guess is 4~5 pound difference from 80F to 0F
Yesterday I added air to my tires to compensate for the colder weather ahead*
Added 6 seconds of air to each tire because I already new my pressures, so they're about 33 front & 32 rear for winter (cold starting pressures)
Bought this compressor maybe 7 years ago for $109 & had to make/get the hose stuff separate... so about $140 total
It's made in Taiwan and works great
*my guess is 4~5 pound difference from 80F to 0F
With wind chill temps dropping to -9 F. over the weekend, I went around the house to make sure that each of our windows are tightly closed. many have two clamps, and a few only had one clamped. That will conserve heat.
I have a couple 9' x 12' thin plastic painter's drop cloths. If the furnace can't keep up, I plan to use one to seal off the bay window in the living room. It is a little drafty, but the dog likes to sit in the bay window's sun during the day.
I have a couple 9' x 12' thin plastic painter's drop cloths. If the furnace can't keep up, I plan to use one to seal off the bay window in the living room. It is a little drafty, but the dog likes to sit in the bay window's sun during the day.
ilikeguns40
Enlightened
Charged all batteries last night. Getting generator setup so I can run my furnace off that in case power goes out
Rossymeister
Enlightened
Topped up 18650s and Eneloops. Got the big buddy propane heater out of the garage and prepped. Its currently 0F degrees, we have rolling blackouts in neighboring counties. We have been lucky to not have any here just yet. Got the handheld transceivers charged up and ready to go.
What kind/brand of transceivers did you go with? and why?
Rossymeister
Enlightened
Yaesu FT60r is my primary radio right now. I like it because i can use AA batteries in it if im not able to charge it. Ive been using it to monitor local power outages, water main breaks, and wrecks, traffic and road conditions.
Somebody gave me a UV-82 earlier this year. I havent really messed with it much, since it was so hard to manually program.
Somebody gave me a UV-82 earlier this year. I havent really messed with it much, since it was so hard to manually program.
Is it more effective than using your cell phone?
As a prep, I'd like to be able to communicate with family members in a 50 mile radius, in a real SHTF scenario.
scout24
Flashaholic
FT60r is a workhorse. Nice choice. Stay warm!
Rossymeister
Enlightened
Eh, debateable! Dont really have any local live news stations living in a small town. Unless you count facebook or the local newspaper.
What type of radios do you have?
I have a CB radio with weather, a few FRS walkie talkies, and AM FM radios.
I have a digital antennae for my TV, and being only 10-15 miles from NYC as the crow flies, I get a bunch of stations.
But in a real SHTF situation, like if NYC got Nuked, I'd be a hurting puppy.
I have a digital antennae for my TV, and being only 10-15 miles from NYC as the crow flies, I get a bunch of stations.
But in a real SHTF situation, like if NYC got Nuked, I'd be a hurting puppy.
Rossymeister
Enlightened
Awesome! I remember using cb back in the 90’s. Good memories!
Well we started the rolling blackouts this morning. Ive got APC UPS’s hooked up to the lights, tv and internet in 2 rooms. Im showing about 4.5 hours of runtime on each of them. If you ever have a chance to invest in a couple, i highly recommend it!
Its currently 3F outside. Inside temp hasnt dropped much. Got the big buddy heater on standby if we need it.
Hope everyone stays safe out there.
Merry christmas everybody!
Well we started the rolling blackouts this morning. Ive got APC UPS’s hooked up to the lights, tv and internet in 2 rooms. Im showing about 4.5 hours of runtime on each of them. If you ever have a chance to invest in a couple, i highly recommend it!
Its currently 3F outside. Inside temp hasnt dropped much. Got the big buddy heater on standby if we need it.
Hope everyone stays safe out there.
Merry christmas everybody!
scout24
Flashaholic
Poppy- FT60R is a 5 watt handheld 2 meter/70cm radio. Less effective than your CB with a decent antenna. 2m/70cm start to shine with 25 watt plus mobile or base stations, with good antennas as high as you can get them. But they're still limited talking radio-to-radio ("simplex") and do much better using existing repeaters if they still work. Repeater viability would be questionable at best in a real shtf scenario. I wouldn't, and don't, count on my local repeaters being up and running if things go sideways. Sattelite, homing pigeons, or smoke signals unless you want to get licensed, buy HF ham gear, and put up NVIS antennas to work the 80 meter band.
The only issue I see with smoke signals, Poppy will need to go outside
Pocket hand warmers and a bottle of lock de-icer to start out with.
Something I'm ashamed to admit I had not done already, check the foundation vents around my house. I found 3 open 😱.
They were not near pipes but it only took about an hour to notice the difference in how cold the floors felt in a positive way.
They were not near pipes but it only took about an hour to notice the difference in how cold the floors felt in a positive way.
thanks scout24 for your interest, and sharing your knowledge.
I think I'll just put this idea on the back burner for a while.
To make this work, I'd need equipment not just for me, but each of 5 other family members. Satellite equipment and a service, just makes it cost prohibitive, unless there was a REAL SHTF scenario. Then I'd be wishing that I had it.
Even a HAM setup would require a roof top antennae etc. Although getting a license would not be a problem, I am sure that I would not use the equipment often enough as a hobby to justify the expense.
