Specific Prepping: High Winds And Torrential Rain

[Leadeye]

Adjusted the gardeners rainwater collection setup to the gutter pipes for the winter, she'll be draining it in two weeks or so anyway. Secured loose stuff like patio furniture and outdoor plants in pots. The genny will come on if the power fails which I figure it will as it's been a while since we've had high sustained wind.

 

[Cameramonkey]

A good blower is worth the $$!!

Yes. Yes she is.

(low hanging fruit, couldnt resist)

 

[snapping turtle]

I cleaned my gutters today. Looks like timing was good.

Speaking of timing, what time are we expecting the remnants to land here?

**** that would have been a nice thing to see yesterday

 

[bwframe]

 

[INP8riot]

Well...I'm going to need a bigger chainsaw! My 20" bar isn't going to cut it on this big boy. I know what tree this is and I thought to myself, I'll get the big gun when that one falls. New chainsaw day for me tomorrow! MS391 to be economical, 400 for a little more oomph, 462 for a longer bar or splurge on the 500 for a longer..member!! Came damn close to taking out the corner of my shop.

 

[indyjohn]

Thank God it missed the shop.

I've wanted a 28" 462 with the wrap around handle for years.

 

[INP8riot]

Thank God it missed the shop.

I've wanted a 28" 462 with the wrap around handle for years.

I was drooling over it too. I know I won't be happy with the 362 since I already have the 261. I just don't want to destroy that 261 over working it. Currently I'm only cleaning up the small stuff that falls so it has been perfect. But when I get into felling and gathering firewood I'm going ro need something bigger. 20 acres of woods needs a bigger saw! I may make that argument to myself. The wife will twll me to go for it but coming off of $1400+ is difficult!

 

[indyjohn]

I was drooling over it too. I know I won't be happy with the 362 since I already have the 261. I just don't want to destroy that 261 over working it. Currently I'm only cleaning up the small stuff that falls so it has been perfect. But when I get into felling and gathering firewood I'm going ro need something bigger. 20 acres of woods needs a bigger saw! I may make that argument to myself. The wife will twll me to go for it but coming off of $1400+ is difficult!

That is exactly why I still don't have one. My Farm Boss does what I need it to do 90% of the time, so a saw that expensive sitting around more often than not is hard to justify.

Here's one I saw earlier this month at RK. A 400 but it would do just as well.

 

[bwframe]

Notes from power outage 9.27/9.28...

9.27.24
Power out 6:45 PM
Back on 2:15 PM 9.28
19.5 hours out
Rain, wind continual with mid 60's temps
Small limbs down. Nothing too big to pick up.

House fridge
- door opened/closed four quick times
- freezer temp showed 32 degrees
- hot dogs - not rock hard frozen pork loin - rock hard, just showing frost.
- ice cubes still frozen but beginning to stick together
- fringe temp showing 45 degrees - everything cold, not to liking though

Garage fridge
- doors not opened until power back on.
- temps pretty much the same as house fridge.
- bacon in freezer door beginning thawing
- butter - not hard frozen
- pork shoulders - still rock hard, but frosting
- burger - hard but frosty

Nothing of concern to check in deep freezer
- Would be way different in a normal fishing year

 

[Cameramonkey]

Exciting time for me today. Data center A/B power. B power went down last night. No biggie. Still have A plus a genny. UPS overloaded last night so I had to reset and bring servers back up.

This am, total outage. Drove over and found one leg of A power only pushing 40v. Weird. forced the generator online by unplugging the sense cable.

Went back this afternoon to reset the generator since I got alerts that all my B power buildings were restored.

PLugged in the generator sensing cable to the b power and about the time the generator should have stopped, I heard a loud bang and the lights (A power) went out. HOLY !!!!! What did I do!?!!?

Went out back to find a firetruck. They had been there for a while, watching one of our power poles on site burn. They couldnt do anything until IPL showed up to kill power. (you can only spray water on live wires ONCE, apparently)

Apparently the bang I heard was the other wires shorting out and blowing the top 4' of the pole off, killing power to the entire building. The low voltage leg was one wire shorted to the pole, which started the fire.

2 hours later I went to leave and firetruck was gone, but pole now looked like a literal birthday candle. They had another run I guess and since it stopped burning...

Called IPL, to warn them about the arcing, and they said to call 911 for the fire. I did and while I was on with dispatch, AES showed up, and the firetruck was 90 seconds behind him.

 

[snapping turtle]

We lost power for 37 minutes.
540 homes no power in the hood.
I watched the outage app and when 970 went out I told the wife 5 minutes till we have power. And like a champ it was back in four minutes. I think they had to shut off the main feed to get the line back that had damage.

I did notice that my main battery backup little phone changer did not hold a charge or was dead. I thought it was good and has been pretty solid for a few years. Since I carry it a lot maybe I damaged it or let it drain off. I will be buying another one of them soon as why not have another.