Oklahoma Ice Storm, WWYD?

S

Stryver

Joined
Jun 5, 1999
Messages
566
Last Wednesday, an Ice Storm hit Oklahoma and Kansas knocking out power in NW Oklahoma and SW Kansas. Somewhere around 400,000 total were without power, mostly in rural areas, for a few days to pushing a week, and possibly longer. I was fortunate, I didn't have a family to worry about, my water still worked, as did my gas water heater. I had a little backpacking stove to cook on inside, and a BBQ grill outside, plenty of warm blankets and a sleeping bag if it had been needed. I had plenty of flashlights and batteries, unlike the rest of town who bought out every single D battery in every store that stayed open.

So, here's two different scenarios for you to ponder and react to. First, without a generator, a BOB, or leftover Y2K staches or similar supplies, describe how you would respond. The power will be out for an indefinite amount of time, rumors range from 2-4 days to 5-21 days. Rumor is the city will runout of H2O in 2.5 days. The temperature is slated to be in the mid teens for the next few nights, and to creep just above freezing during the day.

The second, and the one I found slightly frightening, imagine yourself to be suprised outside during this storm. It's raining, and the temperature is about 30 degrees. It's a solid rain, with no sign of lightening up. The water is running on the ground, but freezing on anything it hits above ground. You do not have a backpack, but have whatever small survival kit you may carry (I imagined myself with the kit in the seatbag on my bike). You are far enough away from where ever you started that you are convinced you'd die of hypothermia before you made it back. (In my mind, I was prepared for snow, but not rain) What are your priorities? In what manner/order do you accomplish them?

Lemme know what thoughts ya'll have...


Stryver
 
I'd head on over to Stillwater to find some action with the honeys...that is, er, if I weren't married. As I recall, the women were pretty slim pickins' in Enid.
 
Originally posted by Stryver
First, without a generator, a BOB, or leftover Y2K staches or similar supplies, describe how you would respond. The power will be out for an indefinite amount of time, rumors range from 2-4 days to 5-21 days. Rumor is the city will runout of H2O in 2.5 days. The temperature is slated to be in the mid teens for the next few nights, and to creep just above freezing during the day.

Well, we sometimes lose our power for a week or so up here in the winter. Just last week I was snowed in for 3 days. So this sort of thing wouldn't be a big surprise, or a big problem.

I mostly heat the house with wood in the winter anyway, so heat wouldn't be an issue. My water system will run just fine without power for at least several days, more if we conserve. Worst case, there's a year-round spring about a 15 minute hike away.

Got plenty of food, lighting, and that sort of thing.

The worst problem would be my septic tank - when the tank fills up, the pump needs power to send the liquids up to the drain field. Some conservation of waste water use would be in order. Worst case, I'd have to break out the Porta-Potty.
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Well I live right near Kansas City Kansas, and I was fine. Most of the people at my school that suffered power outages just drove to a friend's house and had a sleepover.

If my power went out in scenario one, I'd just do what you did, mostly. I'd stay at home, light a fire, store up some water and cook some baked beans for a few days.

On the other hand, it freaking rocked having a five-day weekend!
 
I have stored up food from Y2K. and plenty of propane and a propane heater. I have plastic sheeting with which I would cut off part of the house and heat the rest with a propane heater and put that near a window. so it doesn't fume up too bad.

the great thing about the propane heater is it doubles as a stove top burner.

I also have plenty of candles and a keroseen lantern.

so I would only need batteries for my weather radio.
 
Originally posted by Stryver
So, here's two different scenarios for you to ponder and react to. First, without a generator, a BOB, or leftover Y2K staches or similar supplies, describe how you would respond. The power will be out for an indefinite amount of time, rumors range from 2-4 days to 5-21 days. Rumor is the city will runout of H2O in 2.5 days. The temperature is slated to be in the mid teens for the next few nights, and to creep just above freezing during the day.
Well, I really can't see myself being in that situation ever. My home is prepared for most problems. I have natural gas for heat, a fireplace in case it fails. I can cook over the open fire or on a campstove. I could also cook on a NG bbq as long as we have gas. My concern would be that if I loose power there is nothing to power the fans on the furnaces and that the pipes might freeze. I would put lots of water into containers and then shut off the water. All in all I think we could survive easily for a week without power at home.

Now if I am out and about I have enough items with me in my truck to deal with most situations until I can get to a better location that is more prepared to address the situation.

Now if the situation arises that I am away from home and my vehicle and just have the cloths on my back then I would have to rely on what I know and improvise to stay alive.

I would prefer to never be in such a situation and I try to always be as prepared as possible.
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In January of '98 we had a pretty severe ice storm here in Maine. I was without power for over week. I had a wood stove and kerosene heater as back up, and have since added a wall mounted LP gas heater. I found the whole experience more of an inconvenience than anything else, although to talk to others who went through it, you'd think they survived the blitz! Actually, I found the worst of it to be when spring rolled around and I had to clean up my yard and prune the trees, THAT was a pain!
 
Well in '91 an ice storm got me for 11 days.Heres what I did.Stayed a few days at home heated on and off with our gas stove,let the sun shine in during the day.Many people were running extension cords to neighbors who had power.After a few days we moved in with a single friend.Wasn't much of a big deal.

In our new home we have a a gas fireplace,some heaters that run off of propane tanks,stored water and 300-400 gallons of water in the hot tub,a couple of battery lanterns many extra batteries,many sleeping bags and camping gear like stoves.Plus I put in a back up sump pump that does not run off of electric.

One thing I did not have was a battery operated radio,so I bought a am/fm/tv/weather channel one.

Good idea with the plasic to close off part off the house.I use a rod with a curtin to keep heat from the gas stove from going upstairs when i'm down stairs.work well.

I wouldn't mind a few days with out power,it would be a nice relaxing time to spend with my family,playing games, cross country skiing

:)
 
All ya'll answered the easy questions!

I found it relatively easy to live for a few days without power. I too have natural gas heating, along with the vast majority of Oklahoma, though the vast majority of gas heaters still need electricity to run the thermostat and the circulation fan. I was without a battery powered radio, and did buy one, but over all, my only worry was my pipes freezing.

One word of caution, a half dozen or more people have died in the ice storm due to carbon monoxide poisoning. All were due to combustible heaters or generators. One died in his car with a propane coleman lantern running, one had a kerosene heater indoors, one had a generator in his garage, with the garage door cracked. Be _very_ cautious with any heater using a fuel indoors. Virtually any combustible releases CO when burned.

Anyways, I was more interested in the 'caught in the ice storm hiking' scenario. I realize I may be taking away things you feel you are 'never without', but work with me, folks. You get whatever pocket or similar size survival kit, and are too far away to return to safety. Now what?

Thanks for the responses


Stryver
 
make a shelter with my sak or leatherman saw out of brush.

build a fire

make some tea and meditate until it dies down.

been in that situation before wasn't as prepared as I am now knowledge and tools!
 
Stryver,you are 100% right about co.I earn my living as a firefighter,been on many co calls.Almost didn't post about heating with my stove because of this.I cracked a window and used the stove for short periods.you still must be carefull and yes I have a co detector:)

The ones that tend to get in trouble are people who seal their house up with plastic over all the windows,and heat with open flames for long periods.But you can't really ever be to careful.

Yes the blower on my gas fireplace won't work without electric,but I get a fair amount of radiant heat.Although I would like it if they made it so one could switch it over to some battery back up.
 
since i have a generator ready to go most power outages are more of annoying than anything else, if there was no nat. gas i would just fire up the wood burning aux furnace, i can use it without electricity to heat the house but what the heck. if you have a generator or an invertor you are set. i have some propane stored to cook and use a space heater if i need it. i have 3-7 5gal. water bottles from the bottled water company around so drinking water wont be a problem for 1-2 weeks and 2 bottles more are in the office.

if in the woods wet as you describe, just pull out my kit and use the trioxane bar to start a fire, it will dry out split wet wood enough to burn and get the fire going, this would keep me warm, especially if covered by a space blanket. clean up some of the water to drink, make myself a cup of hot chocolate and settle in for the night, when morning comes will decide how to proceed.

alex
 
I'd quickly don my poncho seek out the most dense stand of pine woods I could possibly find (which isn't hard anywhere here in upstate NY.) In all my years, I've never seen it rain hard enough here to completely soak most dense thickets. I'd find the driest high spot available and set up camp. There's usually plenty of dry dead wood on the underside of the pines for tinder, kindling and fuel - but I know I'm ok with my supply of tinder and firestarters in my kit, I will have a fire. Once I have a fire going, I'd improve my position to ensure as much wind/rain resistance as possible and comfort as possible. I'd set up for water collection if my supply was short. That done, I'd dig up a quick cathole that wouldn't be interfering with my camp. Then it's time to hunker in. Check the remaining stores in my kit and put on some water to boil in my sierra cup or canteen cup for coffee or soup.

Mike
 
We had a nasty little ice storm here in southern MI as well. Thousands were left without power in both MI and IN for several days. We lost power, but fortunately for only one day. This did get me to thinking though about what to do.

We recently moved back to the family farm after the passing of my Father last May. I haven't lived in the North for some time and so I am out of tune a little with the realities of a COLD winter. The largest problem we faced with the power outage was heat to the house. Like most rural families of the 40's and 50's my great uncle (original owner of the place) got rid of the antiquated wood/coal burner in favor of the more modern oil fired furnace. This is the unit we currently have. Without power it will not ignite nor will the fan work to force the warm air into the rest of the house. To remedy the problem relative to the freezing of the pipes I have acquired a kerosene heater to be placed in the basement to warm that area. If forced to do so we could all stay down there should the situation demand it. I will be exploring the possibilities of installing a "modern" wood burner in the future as we plan to add on to the house.

We have a generator which is used to power the water pump, OR the refridge/freezer. It won't do both. More thinking will go into planning for next year; provided of course we make it through this one:rolleyes: .
 
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