You don’t always need big gear purchases to be more prepared. Small habits go a long way. Keeping a few extra days of food and water, rotating supplies, charging power banks, and knowing where your important documents are can make a big difference when something unexpected happens.
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Small Habits That Quietly Improve Preparedness
- Thread starter Mcdoug21
- Start date
100% agree.
I come from a warehousing background and inventory control was what I lived and breathed. Our food at home is pretty much the same thing. Freezers are always topped off. We never have 1 of anything, we have multiples of everything. Not that I am expecting anything, but when covid hit and the world shut down we didn't have to drive to town, but I learned what I needed and didn't have 'enough' of, like salt for the softener.
Ringo
Well-known member
Two is one, and one is none, I always say, lol.
sebastianalice
New member
Simple, realistic, and effective. That’s what real preparedness looks like.
Absolutely. We had an ice storm two and a half years ago that caused the power to be out for eight days. Do I ever wish I had some provisions.
VBREFEREE
Well-known member
For me the one most important thing I have done is make prepping a lifestyle. Y2K and the Mayan Apocolypse created a cottage industry. How many people put together a BOB that is now growing hair on it, and hasn't been out of the closet for ten years? It was a fad, and the "cool" thing to do. That has turned into "out if sight out of mind".
I have made it a lifestyle I think about it in every day. I review gear constantly. I increase long term larder weekly. I will watch every new video that comes out to see if there is something I have missed. There is hardly ever a time I am not thinking about it, and even then it is in the back of my mind.
Totally agree. I picked this up from Clint Smith. "One is none. Two is one, and three is better."
I have made it a lifestyle I think about it in every day. I review gear constantly. I increase long term larder weekly. I will watch every new video that comes out to see if there is something I have missed. There is hardly ever a time I am not thinking about it, and even then it is in the back of my mind.
Totally agree. I picked this up from Clint Smith. "One is none. Two is one, and three is better."
We just got thru a major storm, multiple tornadoes & a derecho (99 mph straight line winds covering over 50 miles).
Electricity was out in 95% of my county for a couple days, 75% of the county for 7 days, 50% for about 10 days. Supermarkets closed, gas stations had no power.
Similar power outages in neighboring Illinois, northeast Kankakee, east Will, and south east Cook. Power out in most of neighboring Porter and LaPorte counties to my east. But the epicenter of damage was my county.
Hundreds of roads closed due to fallen trees, many of which were also laying on power lines. So we had roads closed with trees laying on power lines and other roads closed just because the were blocked. Quite literally if you wanted to travel by car you needed to carry a chainsaw to clear your own path.
Only thing I can relate it to is a hurricane with both damage to infrastructure and also damage to houses, fences, businesses, schools, farm fields, etc
I had no issues. Downed trees and such. Walnut tree on my garage. But natural gas whole house generator and a back up gas generator. Enough food to stay on property for a month+. Spent most of my time helping friends and family use generators, power sump pumps, etc
Electricity was out in 95% of my county for a couple days, 75% of the county for 7 days, 50% for about 10 days. Supermarkets closed, gas stations had no power.
Similar power outages in neighboring Illinois, northeast Kankakee, east Will, and south east Cook. Power out in most of neighboring Porter and LaPorte counties to my east. But the epicenter of damage was my county.
Hundreds of roads closed due to fallen trees, many of which were also laying on power lines. So we had roads closed with trees laying on power lines and other roads closed just because the were blocked. Quite literally if you wanted to travel by car you needed to carry a chainsaw to clear your own path.
Only thing I can relate it to is a hurricane with both damage to infrastructure and also damage to houses, fences, businesses, schools, farm fields, etc
I had no issues. Downed trees and such. Walnut tree on my garage. But natural gas whole house generator and a back up gas generator. Enough food to stay on property for a month+. Spent most of my time helping friends and family use generators, power sump pumps, etc
Yes, the black mayor was egged on by liberal white wimin who all cried racism.
They did forget to mention a NIPSCO crew took enemy fire at 1am while making repair assessments.
They also forgot that NIPSCO’s president and several top executives are black.
Angie_nrs
Well-known member
I wonder if they'll welcome the crews coming in to fix the mess b/c most of the linemen and utility workers I have seen are white men. Racism!!!!! 
I'm sure they'll wait until the power is back up and the roads cleared before they start attacking them for their skin color. Or they could wait until black women come in to take care of it all.
I'm sure they'll wait until the power is back up and the roads cleared before they start attacking them for their skin color. Or they could wait until black women come in to take care of it all.
As I've said several times on this board, I am not a prepper but I am a good Boy Scout.
Having lived out in the country for 30-years and been through all kind of outages and weather events, I think that it's only prudent to take some kind of precautions.
To me, living through an emergency, comes down to having power to supply the comforts that make life livable. I procrastinated about getting a whole house generator for years relying on two medium sized generators for power, until I hurt my back digging them out at 2 am one morning in the midst of a storm. We have natural gas for the Generac generator, cooktop, central heat and water heaters. So, by laying in a few stores, we can get bye quite comfortably.
There are lots of other smaller things that we have and do in order to get through emergencies, but they have been added to and refined over the years.
Having lived out in the country for 30-years and been through all kind of outages and weather events, I think that it's only prudent to take some kind of precautions.
To me, living through an emergency, comes down to having power to supply the comforts that make life livable. I procrastinated about getting a whole house generator for years relying on two medium sized generators for power, until I hurt my back digging them out at 2 am one morning in the midst of a storm. We have natural gas for the Generac generator, cooktop, central heat and water heaters. So, by laying in a few stores, we can get bye quite comfortably.
There are lots of other smaller things that we have and do in order to get through emergencies, but they have been added to and refined over the years.
Small word of caution....when Dallas had a tornado a few years back, the natural gas was turned off for safety. Those with whole house generators on natural gas were screwed! But in an ice storm or something they are the way to go. We have two gas generators. We heat with wood only and have a great wood stove for heat and cooking. I have a small inverter for my truck that can charge phones, power banks, make a pot of coffee, etc.! I mostly prep for storms....long outages and having to be home during them.
TexasGem, I still have my gas generators if need be. I also have an inverter for the truck. Our natural gas meter comes directly off a transmission line and our gas supply line runs directly across our property to the house. The only way we can lose natural gas is if they shut down and bleed the transmission line.
By the way, I lived in Dallas when Lone Star Gas shut off our gas on one freezing cold February night but there's a whole other story associated with that.
By the way, I lived in Dallas when Lone Star Gas shut off our gas on one freezing cold February night but there's a whole other story associated with that.
Looks like a colder, wetter winter for us coming up. Sounds like we are both ready for it!!TexasGem, I still have my gas generators if need be. I also have an inverter for the truck. Our natural gas meter comes directly off a transmission line and our gas supply line runs directly across our property to the house. The only way we can lose natural gas is if they shut down and bleed the transmission line.
By the way, I lived in Dallas when Lone Star Gas shut off our gas on one freezing cold February night but there's a whole other story associated with that.
Ringo
Well-known member
We are in almost the same situation. We've been using a smallish gas generator 5,500 watts I think) for years. Bit of a hassle fishing cords in through the window and throughout the house, but better than nothing. Gives us lights, internet, fridge, coffee etc. But no well pump or water heater. I have a Harbor Freight 13,000 watt Predator sitting in the box. I need to upgrade my panel and have a power transfer switch installed. The plan is to have a 220 plug on the outside I can plug it into for outages. Shouldn't have any trouble powering just about everything. We also heat with wood, so that's no issue in the winter. Not getting any younger though, lol. Eventually we'll need a Plan B.
Hmmm, you reminded me! I completely forgot that there's an inverter built into my truck.
Ringo
Well-known member
Same here but you have to have the key in the accessory position on mine. I have a 2018 Silverado though, and the charging plug stays on with no key.
There's easier ways.
Do you already have a 220 plug in your garage or shop that can handle the 13KW?
The easy way but do at your own risk!
When the power goes out, absolutely throw the MAIN on your house breaker box. You definitely need to isolate your generator power from going out of your house as it could hurt linesman.
Also throw any 220v breakers.
Assuming your 220v plug is the female, you'll need to make a "suicide cord". A cord with the male/pins on both ends. One end will go to the generator, the other to the wall plug.
Fire up your generator.
ALWAYS plug the cord into the wall first!
Plug the other end into your generator.
Voila, you have power running through your house!
I let it power the household 110v items for awhile (e.g. fridge).
Then turn on your 220v breakers one at a time in priority order.
If you have an electric dryer and hot water tank, only run one of those at a time as each pulls about 4000w.
So you can use it with the truck completely off or do you need to have the key in ACC?
My Silverado is about the same age. I was just looking online and it sounds like it's a really small inverter, like 150w. That'll run a laptop but you won't be able to make coffee with it.
That 'trick' was commonly used down here for decades... and harshly bashed by the rest of the country.
Definitely the easiest way to connect your generator to power the house. Just one big cord coming under the garage door from the generator in the driveway.
No worry about CO gas poisoning coming in from the garage either.
I have mentioned before about when a hurricane blows through, most fatalities are from CO from generators and not the storm.
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Nah, where I live, it's the most common way.That 'trick' was commonly used down here for decades... and harshly bashed by the rest of the country.
Definitely the easiest way to connect your generator to power the house.
No worry about CO gas poisoning coming in from the garage either.
I do run the generator outside. At minimum if weather is really bad, I'll connect the generator at a door entrance in an outbuilding and leave the garage door open.
Ringo
Well-known member
I've heard of using that method, basically using your 220 dryer plug. But I have been told it could still backfeed into the grid on the neutral line. I appreciate the advice, but I still want to have a power transfer switch installed, and I've been needing to update our panel for years. We're still running 100 amp service.
Ringo
Well-known member
Right, the inverter in my truck won't even run a 4 1/2" angle grinder, I've tried, lol. But yes, the old cigarette lighter style plug in my truck runs with no key in the ignition. I keep a double C-cord fast charger and use it for my phone, Bluetooth earbuds, and rechargeable headlights mostly.So you can use it with the truck completely off or do you need to have the key in ACC?
My Silverado is about the same age. I was just looking online and it sounds like it's a really small inverter, like 150w. That'll run a laptop but you won't be able to make coffee with it.
Are you thinking of getting a single throw switch (something like this)
Or one that has individual breakers (something like this)
I ask because I have a 15kw Generac transfer switch with the multiple breakers that I've never used and could give you a nice price. I think we live pretty close too.
My brother tried to power his sump pump. Burnt out the inverter. Cost to replace that inverter makes it pointless to replace.
I'll also throw this out there since we're talking about generators.
I have a 8kw Generac Guardian Series generator I want to sell.
Nat gas or propane.
Used but in VGC. Complete with pad, transfer switch, all wiring, manuals...
I don't have propane or NG so I'm not going to install it at my house. Since my house is all electric, it just won't run everything I need it to (e.g. the furnace).
Looks like this.
I have a 8kw Generac Guardian Series generator I want to sell.
Nat gas or propane.
Used but in VGC. Complete with pad, transfer switch, all wiring, manuals...
I don't have propane or NG so I'm not going to install it at my house. Since my house is all electric, it just won't run everything I need it to (e.g. the furnace).
Looks like this.
Yea, they're really no good for anything with a motor. On the older Chevy's, I think it's only 150w. Starting around 2020 models, I think they're 400w which probably still won't run a 1/2HP sump pump or even a coffee pot.
That is why I have this, in my garage, on heavy Romex, wired into a manual switch sub-panel. That is a 50amp twist lock, but I also have a 30amp converter plug so I can use both big and small gasoline generators if the NG goes out.
The sub panel powers critical and a couple comfort circuits. If using a small generator I can’t simultaneously power all the circuits on the sub panel at once, but I can rotate my load and get by with a small generator if needed. A bigger portable will power the whole sub panel.
Here's our power plant. It houses a 12kw diesel generator, battery bank, inverter, charge controllers, tools, parts etc. There's another solar array not shown here. It powers the house, fur shed and garage. The barn, chicken coop and work shop all have separate systems. I've got 7 other generators for backups as needed.
I have a transfer switch on my house, it another box with the breakers you want to run with the generator, well pump, kitchen etc, it has a pair of main breakers that are mechanically linked together, one way for the line and the other way for the generator. So easy my wife has done it when I’m not there and impossible to back feed the line.