Well 28 hours with no power after the powerful Midwest storms. Our neighborhood is pitch black except for three homes out of 60. All have generators, lots of extension cords, lots of cans of gasoline etc etc. All are members of the Pioneer Auto Club. They can probable be prepared for a blizzard or a flood too ! And they can restore cars, boats generator, engines, planes etc etc.
It is too bad so many of the younger generation have not learned the basic skills to survive
BASIC tool, mechanical and elect rial skills why are they not taught in school? What has happened to shop classes ? Non existent
Sorry to hear of the death and destruction in the midwest with all those tornados. I hope everyone can recover quickly and resume a normal life. I guess I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The midwest is in my thoughts and prayers.
Back when I lived near Watertown NY we had a Ice storm back in 1998 that devastated the area. There wasnt a power line up for 100 square miles. Even some of the main 765KV lines were down from the weight of the ice. I was lucky and was already heating with wood and cooking with propane. My light came from car batteries and 12 volt car light bulbs and kerosene lanterns and my water came from hooking up an old piston water pump to one of my hit and miss engines. I did it that way for 13 weeks until they got the power lines back up in my area. I was the the only one on the whole street that had a working hot shower. Refrigeration came from nature.
We also had a ice storm several years ago here in Arkansas. It broke 22,000 light poles and took out the main transmission lines also. We were only out for 12 days, but some people were out almost a month. We heat with wood, have a well, and also a generator. With the bar-b-q grill, a wood cookstove on the front porch, and kerosene lights to use as needed, We made it very well. Most of the "country" people made it OK. It was the city folks that had it bad. I also agree that we are not teaching our kids the basics of survival. We do not need to be "end of world preppers" but should have all the basic needs for a week or two at least. Our prayers go out to all the people affected by the tornados.
I don't mean to make light of the storms nor their effects, but aren't Model T'ers prepared and resourceful by necessity?
After our big ice storm several years ago I had no power to the house from the end of February to the end of April. Cooking in the fireplace got old pretty quick, and I ate in town a lot. But at least I still had a house. It's pretty rough having your shelter wrecked with winter coming on.
Not prepared.
The first year I lived in Denver (10 years ago) I woke up one morning and it was -6 degrees outside, snowing and the power was out. I found a Lowes that was open and still had power. Bought a 5000 watt generator and when I got home the power was back on. It has never gone out for more than a couple of seconds since. I am on the last power pole of the feed to my subdivision. The generator is ready to go and all 4 running T's have fresh, full, fuel tanks along with two extra 5 gallon cans. I know what circuits go to the heater, refrigerator, TV and land line. I may never need the generator but if the power goes out I have 50 gallons of gas and will be warm in the house for a long time! I also have a Coleman lantern and stove ready to go with 6 gallons of fuel for them in the shop. I agree that T guys are a cut above.
I think I planned it right. I live up the street from the Harley Davidson plant. If I lose power, they lose it too. To restore their power, they have to restore my power.
I remember as a child using the gas stove to heat the house. No electricity, but we had heat and phones. Longest time was about a week. I now have a house with a fireplace, so I should be able to make it a while. And I know enough to drain the water system if the house starts getting really cold from lack of heat. I can melt snow for water as long as the dog did not get to the snow first.
And if we experience an E.M.P. above one of our cities, our little Model T s will be among the few running autos out there.
Got a Generac last year and am now researching the best water filtration system available. Have many stock tanks, no underground water.
George you are correct. The Model T WILL be one of the few if any cars running after a strong EMP Wonder how long the elite politicians will take to "borrow?" them? From my readings on EMP tests, perhaps the mid 1960's and earlier cars with simple distributors may also work
In 2004, when three hurricanes came right through Bartow Florida, the residence of Bartow were weeks without power. Fortunately for my family and I (and my next door neighbor), I had recently bought a Honda EU3000is generator, which I highly recommend. We were able to power 2 refrigerators, 2 microwaves, 2 televisions, 8 lamps and 4 fans with that generator with power to spare and the thing ran as quiet as a mouse. For weeks, whenever I would drive through the neighborhoods on the way to my house, the area surrounding me for miles was in total darkness until I turned down my street and my house and my neighbors house would be lit up like beacons. 9 years later, my neighbor still feels beholden to me. for running extension cords over to his house. LOL! Jim Patrick
Remember this?
That was Stan Hoekstra, an active guy on this Forum at that time. Where is he now?
rdr