Some holes in my home prep

[2ManyGuns]

Okay, just to say I prepped for the usual weather here in Texas, just not a sustained freeze like this. I had the usual items, plenty of food, warm clothing, blankets, sleeping bags if needed, a limited amount of batteries, propane canisters for Coleman lanterns with extra mantles and several gallons of white gas for the older style. I have not run short of any items at this point, but I have come up with some additional make do ideas. I use backup ups devices on my electronics, and I have been slacking on rebuilding several that I have around the house, I just bought some new ones. So I will be replacing battery packs in these units, and use them to run low power LED lighting, and add additional battery life to the Mi-Fi device. The largest unit I have to rebuild is a Tripp-Lite Model SU3000XL 2400W , this one when in "new" condition would run my PC with 6 10K RPM drives, 4 monitors, audio sub-system and a few other things for almost 2.5 hrs. A replacement battery pack is about $170, versus $1200 for a new unit. This should provide a long run-time for low energy lighting.

I do have a small 6500W Generac also as back-up, I have had no real reason to use this yet, it is mainly kept for summer issues to run the fridge and freezer, now if need be I can just set stuff outside. I also need to replenish my kerosene supply for my back-up heater, I just let that one lapse also.

 

[2ManyGuns]

When power returned (rolling outages) ordered replacement UPS batteries, extra AA and D's as well as some extra mantles for the gas lanterns.

 

[bbbass]

I also need to replenish my kerosene supply for my back-up heater, I just let that one lapse also.

Kerosene is some spendy stuff!! Not bad if only for emergencies.

We use oil lamps when the power is out.

I looked into converting my tophat kerosene heater (Duraheat), that I used in elk camp, to #2 diesel and it was kinda confusing. Apparently running diesel in it w/o conversion gums up the wick.

It's a stinky sumbitch. I also have some of the dish type radiant heaters, but for da house I prefer the 5 block Mr. Heater 30,000btu ceramic propane heater (with fan and thermostat). That thing will drive me right out when used with generator or inverter to power the fan!!!

 

[2ManyGuns]

I used a similar kerosene (top photo) heater for deer camp, it may have a bit of an odor, but it will heat up 1000 sf with no issue. Close some doors, and I can keep enough living area comfortable.

 

[hooper]

A kerosene heater has been added to the list.

 

[kbaxter60]

And if you have some holes in your prepping, I am looking at the Grand Canyon. If a buddy had not lent us his portable propane heater, we'd of been frozen out by the blackouts. I just filled three tanks and that should last us until it FINALLY warms up in this "hot" state.

 

[skfullgun]

I also have a portable, tanktop propane heater. I won't sleep with it on, but it heated the house during the power outages.
I normally use it to keep me warm outside while I'm grilling in the colder months. She ain't exactly complementing the living room decor, but she makes it toasty!

 

[Axxe55]

Some good points and solid suggestions. I think I'm going to add one of those kerosene heaters to my list as well.

 

[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

Just talked to a friend that does trucking. The Meat industries are all shut down and loads of animals* are dying off from the freeze en route. As well, truckers are having 'gelled' Diesel at the pumps and the Gas stations are turning the trucks away. May want to stock up on meat and food for a minimum of a couple of weeks until things taper back.

 

[bbbass]

And if you have some holes in your prepping, I am looking at the Grand Canyon.

I froze my azz off at N Grand Canyon AZ in June one year with 3" of snow!!! The N Rim is elevated.

Or am I misunderstanding?

 

[bbbass]

Some good points and solid suggestions. I think I'm going to add one of those kerosene heaters to my list as well.

I got mine at a neighbor's yard sale for $5..... come on down, er up, I'll sell it to ya for only $10!!

 

[TX OMFS]

Just talked to a trucking friend. The Meat industries are all shut down and loads of meat are dying off from the freeze en route. As well, truckers are having 'gelled' Diesel at the pumps and the Gas stations are turning the trucks away. May want to stock up on meat and food for a minimum of a couple of weeks until things taper back.

Great. Ugh.

I think the lesson here is be prepared. These hot wash threads are good.

The last 12 months have showed us how close our lifestyle is to falling apart. A few days without delivery & things are screwed for weeks/months.

 

[Younggun]

Just talked to a trucking friend. The Meat industries are all shut down and loads of meat are dying off from the freeze en route. As well, truckers are having 'gelled' Diesel at the pumps and the Gas stations are turning the trucks away. May want to stock up on meat and food for a minimum of a couple of weeks until things taper back.

Yep, my work truck went down yesterday 4 miles after filling up at a truck stop. Figured the truck stop would be a better bet for good fuel but it wasn’t.

Didn’t gel in my tank, I’d been putting anti gel additive in it since last Thursday and dosing it for sub zero temps.


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[kbaxter60]

Or am I misunderstanding?

Yes. I was just using a metaphor to illustrate that the holes in my prepping were much larger.
But, glad that it gave you a good memory.

 

[mp_tx]

How is meat going bad in a freeze?


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[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

How is meat going bad in a freeze?


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I had the same thought. This is live animals heading for slaughter is my understanding.

 

[Glenn B]

Just talked to a trucking friend. The Meat industries are all shut down and loads of meat are dying off from the freeze en route. As well, truckers are having 'gelled' Diesel at the pumps and the Gas stations are turning the trucks away. May want to stock up on meat and food for a minimum of a couple of weeks until things taper back.

/
Gelled) diesel fuel? Do you mean because of the cold diesel turns into a gell and that would cause gas stations to turn away trucks? If so, one has to wonder how it is they sell diesel fuel in states like Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New York (the northern parts of which get extremely cold), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and so on during the cold months.

 

[jrbfishn]

They add anti-gel to it.

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[Axxe55]

/
Gelled) diesel fuel? Do you mean because of the cold diesel turns into a gell and that would cause gas stations to turn away trucks? If so, one has to wonder how it is they sell diesel fuel in states like Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New York (the northern parts of which get extremely cold), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and so on during the cold months.

Many of those states, start treating the fuel at the tanks the start of winter. Plus they order a winter grade fuel at the start of winter. Typically, we very seldom see temperatures like we have seen this week, so most places don't normally order winter grade fuel or treat their fuel to prevent gelling.

We typically aren't using engine block heaters as well.

 

[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

Reposting a response:

"Well first anyone that thinks meat is all good because it is frozen and thus preserved is a retard and not thinking big picture. They are forgetting a few critical steps in the process such as live animals in stockyards and live animals being transported to the slaughterhouse before it becomes packaged meat for sale. Basically, they are forgetting their nuggets and bacon were once live animals before they were packaged. The issues are as follows: - freezing conditions in stockyards, limited resources to keep livestock warm, freezing water, etc. - animals freezing during transportation and while livestock haulers wait at inbound to slaughterhouses. If anyone has ever paid attention to the open-air cages/crates chickens are transported in on trucks they will start to see the issue here. Same with cattle hauler trailers. With great distances to travel before the livestock reaches the slaughterhouse animals are dying. This becomes problematic as downed livestock is not allowed to be used for human consumption. So when you have truckloads of dead animals arriving at slaughterhouses you now have a limited supply going to the stores. - slaughterhouses are prioritizing taking livestock in and limiting shipments out as their efforts are better suited to trying to slaughter before the animals freeze to death. - meat processing plants already struggling with staffing restrictions due to covid are now also struggling with employees being able to come in due to extreme weather conditions. - on the trucking side, we are struggling to get to these customers. We are fighting like hell to get to the customers under extremely dangerous conditions, getting stuck in highway shutdowns, running into limited fuel due to fuel pumps freezing, tankers being unable to reach truck stops, you name it. We are totally f$&ked out here and doing our best. - additionally, it’s not just meat that is an issue... factories of “cola” products, juices, produce, you name it is shutting down to safety concerns for their employees. So even when we fight through blizzards and everything to get to a location for a load there is no guarantee the customer is even open. As I said, people need to think very big picture. I could go on and on but this should be enough to get people understanding the issue better. *added* One more thing, even once we get control of this situation weather wise transportation rates are about to skyrocket due to fewer products, fewer drivers to move said products, rising fuel costs, etc. This was already an issue thanks to covid and we still had not fully caught up... now add this? We are in for empty/limited shelves again. It’s a supply and demand crisis on steroids... worst part is we already know everyone is going to start hoarding even worse because the new American way is “f$&k your neighbors.”