[Elecraft] Reaching Across the Chronological Divide

[Edward R Cole]

Sub-Topic: survival in emergencies.

I had a good "taste"of that a few years ago when the road from 
Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula (pop 60K) (where I live) was blocked 
by avalanches for three weeks.  All store products come by truck down 
that 180-mile road (there is only one road).  Power ties were cut but 
we have local generation  plants plus a hydro-plant, so outage was 
short.  My biggest emergency was feeding my twelve sled dogs; stores 
ran out animal feed real quick.

I use to live in a small town which lost power and phones during the 
avalanche.  Convenience store's freezers thawed out and town had a 
serious supply problem.  National Guard flew in a standby generator 
for them after two weeks.  Town had one gas station so ran out.  One 
ham lived there to get the word out.

Having lived ten years off the grid in that town, I had good training 
on surviving.  I had no electric, telephone, or water. Fifteen 
gallons of chainsaw fuel was my annual heating bill.  Lights and 
stove by Coleman were propane (bout three months per 
bottle).  Freezer was a military container out in a snow bank.

So about eight years ago we bought a 6500w Honda generator to power 
the house.  We have natural gas appliances and a well so only need 
electricity to be independent.  I keep 20 gallons of fuel for the 
generator which will carry us about five days.  Only have one house 
dog so that is easier.

73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
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