Could you live without power

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

The question is could you? bout a month ago there was a power outage from wind knocking down trees over power lines, and all my neighbors were throwing a fit, had all their appliances electric, and no backup anything. I myself have a 700 watt generator, but it will only power a few lights a fan and charge a cellphone.

When I was in the military it was common to have zero power during field exercises excpept for the command areas, so up to two and a half weeks no power, and people flipped out, no way to charge their phones, no ac, heck no coffee pot.

Myself I am the type of person who has a percolator, basic backup power, and enough knowledge to survive without power. Others however do not, to the extent when they go camping they need a site with power outlets. So the real question is after todats conveniences could you survive without electricity?

Captain Adverse · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
The question is could you? bout a month ago there was a power outage from wind knocking down trees over power lines, and all my neighbors were throwing a fit, had all their appliances electric, and no backup anything. I myself have a 700 watt generator, but it will only power a few lights a fan and charge a cellphone.

When I was in the military it was common to have zero power during field exercises excpept for the command areas, so up to two and a half weeks no power, and people flipped out, no way to charge their phones, no ac, heck no coffee pot.

Myself I am the type of person who has a percolator, basic backup power, and enough knowledge to survive without power. Others however do not, to the extent when they go camping they need a site with power outlets. So the real question is after todats conveniences could you survive without electricity?

Hell yeah I can. I've been in the field before. I've got my cold weather gear, sleeping bag, plenty of books (real, not "tablet) to read. I know how to build and maintain fire, make a shelter, and as long as my legs still work walk anywhere I need to.

Electricity makes things convenient, but come the zombie apocalypse I can deal.

JC Callender · Mar 25, 2016

The problem here in Michigan is the winters. Several years ago, the northeastern power grid went out for a couple of days, maybe a week (my memory is a little foggy) and no one had any electricity but it was summertime. Well two winters ago it was -17 (not accounting for wind chill) and I thought that if that happened again, there would be people burning trees within hours. It would be an interesting scene.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

JC Callender said:
The problem here in Michigan is the winters. Several years ago, the northeastern power grid went out for a couple of days, maybe a week (my memory is a little foggy) and no one had any electricity but it was summertime. Well two winters ago it was -17 (not accounting for wind chill) and I thought that if that happened again, there would be people burning trees within hours. It would be an interesting scene.

well your pot kinda backs up the point, could you live without power. So mny are dependnt on the power grid for every luxury, they would not know how to handle being without power. It is like peoples lives shutdown if their ipad did not work, but 100 years ago they had none of that, and similiar cold winters there. Just like texas 100 years ago had extremely hot and humid weather, with no air conditioners, but the population did not die.

Chomsky · Mar 25, 2016

I'll never make it without my microwave ...

JC Callender · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
well your pot kinda backs up the point, could you live without power. So mny are dependnt on the power grid for every luxury, they would not know how to handle being without power. It is like peoples lives shutdown if their ipad did not work, but 100 years ago they had none of that, and similiar cold winters there. Just like texas 100 years ago had extremely hot and humid weather, with no air conditioners, but the population did not die.

Well, we can live without ipad's, but heat is the issue here. Sure people burned wood 100 years ago but every home was already set up for that. Today most homes obviously aren't.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

JC Callender said:
Well, we can live without ipad's, but heat is the issue here. Sure people burned wood 100 years ago but every home was already set up for that. Today most homes obviously aren't.

That goes to another thing, backup heat, clearly starting a bonfire in your house is a no go, but there are indoor propane heaters, to even using candles and clay pots for heat. Heck I have at times had to stand guard with no heat in the military in below zero temps. With the right thermals it is very livable, with just a jackets and normal clothes you freeze to death.

PakPuk · Mar 25, 2016

I could live without power but could everyone else do the same?

polgara · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
well your pot kinda backs up the point, could you live without power. So mny are dependnt on the power grid for every luxury, they would not know how to handle being without power. It is like peoples lives shutdown if their ipad did not work, but 100 years ago they had none of that, and similiar cold winters there. Just like texas 100 years ago had extremely hot and humid weather, with no air conditioners, but the population did not die.

Greetings, beerftw. :2wave:

:agree: My concern is that too many people today have no idea what to do when the unexpected occurs, and that's scary. I've heard it said that the government does not want to panic the public, like there isn't going to be panic if and when the SHTF? :shock:

Captain Adverse · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
That goes to another thing, backup heat, clearly starting a bonfire in your house is a no go, but there are indoor propane heaters, to even using candles and clay pots for heat. Heck I have at times had to stand guard with no heat in the military in below zero temps. With the right thermals it is very livable, with just a jackets and normal clothes you freeze to death.

True, but you don't have to heat your whole house. That's a waste of energy anyway.

No, you find a small enclosed area, perhaps your bedroom (although you'd have to insulate your windows to prevent heat seepage) and build a small smokeless fire. Of course you'd have to watch for carbon dioxide buildup, but theres solutions to deal with that.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

polgara said:
Greetings, beerftw. :2wave:

:agree: My concern is that too many people today have no idea what to do when the unexpected occurs, and that's scary. I've heard it said that the government does not want to panic the public, like there isn't going to be panic if and when the SHTF? :shock:

With todays world shtf seems to be power outages. Decades ago people grew up with alot less electronics, and many rural households even had things like washboards to wash their laundry and lanterns for light incase the power went out. The worst generation seems to be the teens of today, who grew up with computers and electronics as a necessity rather than a luxury.

Beerftws basic survival guide!!!

1- leave stored food and water for emergencies, do not rely on supermarkets, they will be flooded with people who did not prepare.

2- keep certain non electric items around, like a percolator for coffee, a propane stove incase power and gas go out, and a backup heat source for winter.

3-Keep a bag with 3 days supplies in it, if it only contains a bunch of guns and ammo, you fail. You need supplies incase you have to deal with something like a blizzard blocking you in, which means food,water etc.

4- If you think facebook and twitter are a priority in any disaster, you are doomed.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

Captain Adverse said:
True, but you don't have to heat your whole house. That's a waste of energy anyway.

No, you find a small enclosed area, perhaps your bedroom (although you'd have to insulate your windows to prevent heat seepage) and build a small smokeless fire. Of course you'd have to watch for carbon dioxide buildup, but theres solutions to deal with that.

Bonfires create carbon monoxide, which is why you do not make them indoors. Fireplaces and woodstoves are designed to contain the gas, while someone without would be better with a propane stove or the candle method which puts out too little of it to affect your health.

JC Callender · Mar 25, 2016

polgara said:
Greetings, beerftw. :2wave:

:agree: My concern is that too many people today have no idea what to do when the unexpected occurs, and that's scary. I've heard it said that the government does not want to panic the public, like there isn't going to be panic if and when the SHTF? :shock:

Hey Pg *hug* :2wave:

I know from reading your posts over the years that you're prepared! I don't know if most folks are though, especially in the freezing temps.

Captain Adverse · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
Bonfires create carbon monoxide, which is why you do not make them indoors. Fireplaces and woodstoves are designed to contain the gas, while someone without would be better with a propane stove or the candle method which puts out too little of it to affect your health.

LOL I didn't mean a bonfire. You don't need a large fire to create heat, especially if you are only trying to heat a small space. Your own body is also a heat producer, and running or exercising will not only heat you up but provide another source for the small room you've selected. The cold air in the rest of the house will help prevent food spoilage longer when the power goes out.

I'm talking long term (forever no electricity) not a couple of days without during the winter. Sure, propane is good in the short term...but that resource will run out fairly quickly in a real emergency...as everyone buys up local supplies and new supplies come in at a trickle if at all.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

Captain Adverse said:
LOL I didn't mean a bonfire. You don't need a large fire to create heat, especially if you are only trying to heat a small space. Your own body is also a heat producer, and running or exercising will not only heat you up but provide another source for the small room you've selected. The cold air in the rest of the house will help prevent food spoilage longer when the power goes out.

I'm talking long term (forever no electricity) not a couple of days without during the winter. Sure, propane is good in the short term...but that resource will run out fairly quickly in a real emergency...as everyone buys up local supplies and new supplies come in at a trickle if at all.

If it was long term, I would definately build a fireplace, Might even chop my own wood unless someone had a super generator and a 500 foot extension cord to run my electric chainsaw.

JumpinJack · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
The question is could you? bout a month ago there was a power outage from wind knocking down trees over power lines, and all my neighbors were throwing a fit, had all their appliances electric, and no backup anything. I myself have a 700 watt generator, but it will only power a few lights a fan and charge a cellphone.

When I was in the military it was common to have zero power during field exercises excpept for the command areas, so up to two and a half weeks no power, and people flipped out, no way to charge their phones, no ac, heck no coffee pot.

Myself I am the type of person who has a percolator, basic backup power, and enough knowledge to survive without power. Others however do not, to the extent when they go camping they need a site with power outlets. So the real question is after todats conveniences could you survive without electricity?

I COULD. I wouldn't like it, though.

I have a drip coffee pot as backup, so no power needed. I have a gas stove, but I would get a coleman stove if I didn't have gas. With fire, much can be done. Cook a big pot of beans and rice, stir fry, coffee, you name it. I have a clock on a battery. I have a landline, which doesn't need electricity. Toilets don't need electricity, or faucets. I'd be bored, but I would survive.

But in time, it would totally change our way of life. No electronic paying of bills, no internet, the companies will have to manually send out paper bills again.

I've done primitive camping a few times. It didn't bother me a bit. I love nature. I wouldn't like it during the dead heat of summer, though.

Goshin · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
The question is could you? bout a month ago there was a power outage from wind knocking down trees over power lines, and all my neighbors were throwing a fit, had all their appliances electric, and no backup anything. I myself have a 700 watt generator, but it will only power a few lights a fan and charge a cellphone.

When I was in the military it was common to have zero power during field exercises excpept for the command areas, so up to two and a half weeks no power, and people flipped out, no way to charge their phones, no ac, heck no coffee pot.

Myself I am the type of person who has a percolator, basic backup power, and enough knowledge to survive without power. Others however do not, to the extent when they go camping they need a site with power outlets. So the real question is after todats conveniences could you survive without electricity?

I personally could, for quite some time.

WE as a society however, could not. Not very well anyway, and not without a lot of deaths and a total restructuring. We're dependent on cheap electricity and electronic communications and computers to a frightening degree. We're at the point where most businesses do not have sufficient personnel to run without electricity and computers, and have almost forgotten how we used to do things before computers.

Inventory, shipping and receiving, figuring out what needs to go where and in what quantity.... we'd be in a mess in short order if we lost the power and commo grid.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

Goshin said:
I personally could, for quite some time.

WE as a society however, could not. Not very well anyway, and not without a lot of deaths and a total restructuring. We're dependent on cheap electricity and electronic communications and computers to a frightening degree. We're at the point where most businesses do not have sufficient personnel to run without electricity and computers, and have almost forgotten how we used to do things before computers.

Inventory, shipping and receiving, figuring out what needs to go where and in what quantity.... we'd be in a mess in short order if we lost the power and commo grid.

On the bolded, my mother a long time ago used to have job security at a liquor store, because she could do math without a calculator, and write down on paper everything sold, the sales tax of each, and keep full inventory on paper, the other employees, could not work without the register and computer doing it for them.

Goshin · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
On the bolded, my mother a long time ago used to have job security at a liquor store, because she could do math without a calculator, and write down on paper everything sold, the sales tax of each, and keep full inventory on paper, the other employees, could not work without the register and computer doing it for them.

Yessir. Also, things like shipping and receiving and taking orders and what goes where from a wholesale warehouse used to take ten clerks/bookkeepers and massive filing cabinets...I remember most places where still like that when I first started working. Now it's one or two people and a computerized ordering/inventory system, and if the computer went down they'd stand around staring at each other without a clue how to proceed. If they lost the computer AND the phones, they won't know where to ship what products in what quantity at all. It'd be a mess.

They don't employ enough people to do it the old fashioned way, and hardly anyone but some retirees even REMEMBERS how it used to be done.

beerftw · Mar 25, 2016

Goshin said:
Yessir. Also, things like shipping and receiving and taking orders and what goes where from a wholesale warehouse used to take ten clerks/bookkeepers and massive filing cabinets...I remember most places where still like that when I first started working. Now it's one or two people and a computerized ordering/inventory system, and if the computer went down they'd stand around staring at each other without a clue how to proceed. If they lost the computer AND the phones, they won't know where to ship what products in what quantity at all. It'd be a mess.

They don't employ enough people to do it the old fashioned way, and hardly anyone but some retirees even REMEMBERS how it used to be done.

I have some knowledge of the old systems, but only because the military still uses them, due to it's policy on redundancy, where everything is put on computer, printed on paper 5 times, and sent for archiving. They even have a pure paper system due to the fact internet delivery is not even possible in some parts of warzones.

But outside the military I was on the consumer end of it, I used to have to pay all my bills by mail or person until 09, Most places prior still did not have internet bill pay. I for the most part until I joined the army found internet scarce, my parents had high speed for a while, but mostly before that it was dial up pay per the minute and hour bs. Growing up for me computers were for professional documents with less effort than a typewriter(though I learned on a typewriter in school) and for games, they did not rule lives like now.

polgara · Mar 25, 2016

beerftw said:
With todays world shtf seems to be power outages. Decades ago people grew up with alot less electronics, and many rural households even had things like washboards to wash their laundry and lanterns for light incase the power went out. The worst generation seems to be the teens of today, who grew up with computers and electronics as a necessity rather than a luxury.

Beerftws basic survival guide!!!

1- leave stored food and water for emergencies, do not rely on supermarkets, they will be flooded with people who did not prepare.

2- keep certain non electric items around, like a percolator for coffee, a propane stove incase power and gas go out, and a backup heat source for winter.

3-Keep a bag with 3 days supplies in it, if it only contains a bunch of guns and ammo, you fail. You need supplies incase you have to deal with something like a blizzard blocking you in, which means food,water etc.

4- If you think facebook and twitter are a priority in any disaster, you are doomed.

Excellent post! :thumbs: The more people do to help themselves become even minimally self-reliant, the better! Is it that people don't follow what's happening so they really don't know, or if they do, they think the government will take care of them, or will they ignore it because there's nothing they can do about it anyway but hope for the best? :shock:

Goshin · Mar 25, 2016

I remember as a kid, playing games like Monopoly or cards with my sisters and cousins when it wasn't feasible to play outside.

I doubt most kids these days have ever played hours of Spades or Hearts or Monopoly (unless it was the game console version).

Captain Adverse · Mar 25, 2016

Goshin said:
Yessir. Also, things like shipping and receiving and taking orders and what goes where from a wholesale warehouse used to take ten clerks/bookkeepers and massive filing cabinets...I remember most places where still like that when I first started working. Now it's one or two people and a computerized ordering/inventory system, and if the computer went down they'd stand around staring at each other without a clue how to proceed. If they lost the computer AND the phones, they won't know where to ship what products in what quantity at all. It'd be a mess.

They don't employ enough people to do it the old fashioned way, and hardly anyone but some retirees even REMEMBERS how it used to be done.

Hardly anyone knows how to WRITE legibly anymore. All they can do is type or text. Cursive isn't being taught in many schools, and block lettering seems to be the norm these days.

Then there's Math. Everyone can use computers and calculators...what happens when the power goes...

Van Basten · Mar 25, 2016

No.

I am from Florida and have had to survive not having power for like three to four days once due to hurricanes. It was freaking awful, if it hadn't been for good neighbors, it would have been much worse.

I am a man of the 21st century, dammit.

Captain Adverse said:
Hardly anyone knows how to WRITE legibly anymore. All they can do is type or text. Cursive isn't being taught in many schools, and block lettering seems to be the norm these days.

Hardest part of the SAT was when we had to copy the statement of responsibility or whatever it was called in cursive.

polgara · Mar 25, 2016

JC Callender said:
Hey Pg *hug* :2wave:

I know from reading your posts over the years that you're prepared! I don't know if most folks are though, especially in the freezing temps.

Greetings, JC. :2wave:

*hug* Even I was shocked at the number of women of all ages that signed up for the free classes on how to safely pressure can meat, vegetables in season when they are inexpensive, and soups and stews and other foods, for future meals to feed their families! I've probably taught close to 100 myself over the past two years, and I only volunteered for one day a week! The other days were taught by other women on how to bake bread, sew new clothing out of cast off but still usable older garments and coats, etc, how to knit warm gloves and hats and other clothes for Winter, and many other skills that are slowly vanishing. NIMBY told me they have pretty much discontinued teaching Home Ec to students in his school system these days, but everyone has to eat and clothe themselves.... Go figure! :sigh:

Could you live without power

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