The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

[Deleted User]

Beast from the East?

GreyQueen

The so-called Beast from the East was a pissant little affair which wouldn't have raised a moment's concern in most parts of the world.

cuddlymarm

We were in Florida a couple of years ago when they had a cold snap. Sadly one young family perished because they kept their generator inside because they were frightened of it being stolen. There were also fires because normally people who wouldn’t need that much heat lit open fires and accidents happened. The shops were absolutely ransacked too. Luckily we had done a shop and knew to wear layers but a lot of Floridians were panicking because they rarely experienced freezing temperatures.
It shows just how difficult it can be when the unexpected happens.

GreyQueen

So sad about that young family. I expect those Americans who have retired from the north east, the prairie states and the mid-west to enjoy the Floridian sunshine would have a better idea, but have probably not moved with their parka coats, snow shoes and heavy woolies.

-taff

GreyQueen said:

The so-called Beast from the East was a pissant little affair which wouldn't have raised a moment's concern in most parts of the world.

Still cold here though eh? Just wondering if this years summer is going to be as stupidly hot as it was last summer....At least some of the veg will appreciate it.

MingVase

This was the Lecht last week. When they get snow up there, the news never mentions it.

[Deleted User]

Drought of 1976? winter of 1947/48? in Kent we got 4 ft of snow overnight in the 1980's and lost the power and weren't able to get out for a week , the snow stayed for long time.  We got our first Border Terrier pup just as it happened and he wouldn't walk on the green bits when the thaw came  but would drag us up snow piles on peoples front lawns! we DO sometimes get 'big' weather events, not often I'll grant you and the beast from the east this year didn't materialise at least here in the south west but it did a couple of years ago and caused lots of disruption too.  All I'm saying is being prepared with even just the basics for a week is way better 'should' something happen to stop normal life even for just a few day than not being prepared at all., 

jk0

I think the Texas power utility is going to have to change its name now, isn't it? They are known as 'ERCOT' (Electric Reliability Council of Texas).

wondercollie

GreyQueen said:

Actually, temperate maritime countries like the UK are pretty much immune to the extremes of weather experienced over large landmasses like North America, Canada and continental Europe. Which is likely to give us a false perspective on the reality of what's needed to survive in extreme cold weather events. The state of Alberta, Canada, has been 'enjoying' -41c this past week. I think we Brits are clueless about how to manage the cold and are kidding ourselves about our preps. Good luck to anyone trying to cook on a butane camp stove once the temperature dips to 0 celcius, as just one tiny example.

I can happily report that the Province of Alberta is now mostly in the -20!   We hit -6 today and yes, I saw someone wearing shorts.  It may get above 4C on the weekend.

I have a friend in Houston and her only wish right now is to be able to flush her toilet!  Thankfully, she listened to me when I told her to get a camping stove to use in her garage for cooking and to buy extra water for her puppy.

We have a brutal two weeks at least twice every winter.  That's why we usually travel in February.  But as I've said before that's the reason I try and keep a well stocked pantry, nobody wants to go out unless they have to in the -40s.

Most of us are dreading our electric and gas bills next month.  Block heaters for the cars use a lot of energy and my furnace is on probably for 18 hours a day.  We don't get any winter fuel allowances, but thankfully, I have our gas on a "budget plan" which bases the monthly payments over last years usage.

greenbee

@wondercollie - at the moment my colleagues in Toronto are somewhat confused by the fact that they have warmer weather than the team in Austin!