Power out? How are you keeping warm?

[Robin Garr]

I thought the weather crisis justified putting this conversation in the main forum too.

If you've lost electrical power, are you staying home? How are you keeping warm?

We still have power here, but I'm not 100 percent confident it will stay. We have a gas furnace, but it won't work without electricity to run the system. Ditto the gas oven, which can't be turned on without electricity to run the touch panel.

However, we have a gas-log fireplace (non-vented because our chimney doesn't work, but it's supposed to be UL-approved and safe), and a gas water heater that works when power's off, and a gas range top for cooking. And parkas and lots of blankets. It won't be much fun, but I think we can hold out.

How about you? Any survival tricks for staying in a house without heat when it's cold enough to emasculate a brass monkey?

My power just went out and I'm staying warm by not being there. I realize that's not an option for everyone. But I live alone, so I'd go to great lengths to get somewhere warm and bright. Plus, thankfully, I have the added advantage of mobility.

[Robin Garr]

My power just went out and I'm staying warm by not being there. I realize that's not an option for everyone. But I live alone, so I'd go to great lengths to get somewhere warm and bright. Plus, thankfully, I have the added advantage of mobility.

Yeah, that's a good response. We're kind of tied down by our cat family, which would be tough to take to a motel. And the car is in the garage, from where we'd have to go down a fairly steep, snow-drifted hill, then back up a fairly slippery side street to get out.

may sound silly but take your biggest pots and fill them with water and let them simmer. the humidity will help.

I went back to bed this morning when I realized we had no power (I was up late anyway, so I felt especially justified). Gary did what he always does, puttered around making himself useful, and then drove to get gas for the generator and came home to settle down with a book, hoping that if we waited for awhile the power would come back before we had to resort to the generator which isn't enough in itself to power the heating here. But we have a wood stove in the basement and a ton of wood stacked up down there as well, and we keep it going all winter. So that's a huge help.

The power kept coming on in fits and starts over the hours, but I fell into a sort of black mood wondering whether we'd all freeze to death tonight with no heat. We can't really go anywhere either, what with the cats and the dogs, and although the horses are more self sufficient, I don't like leaving them.

At 1:30 Gary was still reading and so I got up with the notion of making a pot of espresso on the wood stove top, which is for sure plenty hot enough, and also heating up some lentil stew and rosemary bread (this is where all that business of making pots of stews and soups and the like and freezing it all comes in really handy, and of course we've always got plenty of frozen bread). It occurred to me once again how fortunate we are. Got most of it together to take down to the stove, and voila! The power came on.

We could have managed really well, what with the wood stove and the generator (thank god for those) and a little electric heater and our two freezers of food and a well-stocked pantry, but it occurred to me it's way more difficult to get through this sort of thing in the winter. The most difficult part of it for the horses is keeping their water trough clear of ice, which I've gotten unused to since we have an electric coil. Back in the day, I used to get up every morning and break up the ice with the handle of one of the muck rakes whilst swearing a blue streak. I did that for years and then once we got an eletric coil couldn't believe I'd spent so many years breaking up ice.

I thought the weather crisis justified putting this conversation in the main forum too.

If you've lost electrical power, are you staying home? How are you keeping warm?

We still have power here, but I'm not 100 percent confident it will stay. We have a gas furnace, but it won't work without electricity to run the system. Ditto the gas oven, which can't be turned on without electricity to run the touch panel.

However, we have a gas-log fireplace (non-vented because our chimney doesn't work, but it's supposed to be UL-approved and safe), and a gas water heater that works when power's off, and a gas range top for cooking. And parkas and lots of blankets. It won't be much fun, but I think we can hold out.

How about you? Any survival tricks for staying in a house without heat when it's cold enough to emasculate a brass monkey?

Our problem (now) is that the house got too hot. We lost power about 5am, so I lit up the gas fireplace and closed all the bedroom (etc) doors. Even on "low" the fireplace kept the Kitchen/Dining/Living areas a toasty 75 degrees. The power came back on about 3:30pm but because the area of the house where the thermostat is located was so warm, the furnace wouldn't kick on and warm the rest of the house. Never thought I'd see the day that I had to throw open the doors to the outside open in order to warm the rest of the house but that's what happened.

Our thoughts are now with those of you who still don't have power. If any of you "regulars" out there are without power (and somehow manage to read this) and you need a place to stay for the night, drop me a P.M.

Our problem (now) is that the house got too hot. We lost power about 5am, so I lit up the gas fireplace and closed all the bedroom (etc) doors. Even on "low" the fireplace kept the Kitchen/Dining/Living areas a toasty 75 degrees. The power came back on about 3:30pm but because the area of the house where the thermostat is located was so warm, the furnace wouldn't kick on and warm the rest of the house. Never thought I'd see the day that I had to throw open the doors to the outside open in order to warm the rest of the house but that's what happened.

That reminds me of living in some radiator-heated apartments in Chicago where it was either difficult to control the things or we couldn't control the heat at all because it was set for us and would sometimes have to throw open the windows in the bitter cold.

We are still out, the house is chilly, but so far not to bad, we have long underwear. We found a large tree in Shelby park had taken down a line. I just hope it is not a long time off like after the windstorm. My neighborhood was one of the last hooked up. Right now we are at Starbucks recharging and warming up. We are beginning to discuss what to do if it is a long haul. Lots of quilts, blankets tonight. We still have hot water and a gas stovetop to cook on. I have told the boys to think of it as winter camping - they were not amused………

Our power is out but we have great neighbors...one being an electrician who hooked up our house to our generator.
So... thank goodness we are warm. We live in an older neighborhood so we've checked with all of our older neighbors who thank goodness had the good sense to go to houses with power. Please check on the elders if you have the benefit of posting to the site...going to be cold tonight.
Stay warm folks.

Sarita

We lost power between 1:30 and 4 AM last night, but it's been on since then. My best friend (from Clarksville) came over to spend the night because she has no power. We made a huge pot of chili and settled in for a long night at home. My brother (up in Charlestown) is without power too, but he won't leave his house because he's worried about his birds (conure & cockatiel). He's got all the rooms shut off except the living room/kitchen area and he's using his gas stove to keep the area slightly warm. That worries me to death, but you can't tell him any different. I'm trying to find a small portablel propane heater to buy for him to use instead. Lowe's had them for a really good price, but they're sold out. Will look again tomorrow.

For anyone without heat, I have a spare room with a full bathroom. My pantry, fridge and freezer are fully stocked. If anyone needs a warm place, mine is open. Be safe.

Schnitzelburg is dark, dark, dark. We've got kind of a worst case scenario at our house, with all electric appliances. Basically we have shut ourselves in the bedroom with lots of blankets. I've been so worried about how my little cat would take this, but so far she seems just fine. Did get a hot meal thanks to some good friends today! I also seem to be addicted to texting and internet surfing on my phone...

We lost power about 0630 Wed morning (ironically, as I was watching an LG&E rep being interviewed about power outages)....power remained down until late Wednesday night, and has been running normally since....our four-legged "child", a Tibetan Spaniel who you see depicted next to my screen name, adjusted very well, as he posesses an ample fur coat....we had minor tree damage -- more clean-up than anything else -- my thoughts with all who remain w/o power.

We are still out in La Grange, although my friend who lives closer to I-71 is back up and running. I have to check my shop this morning and am terrified it's still out of power as well. We are staying with my parents, who never lost power (Springhurst area).

No power since approx 2 am on Wednesday. The hubby and I are cold, but ok. I'm terribly worried about my dogs. How long can they last, and not freeze with no heat? I'm absolutely sick with worry.

Hikes Point Looks like a war zone. All of my big, beautiful trees are broken, or down, and there are power lines down all over. We'll be lucky to get power back in a week to 7 days. Hopefully, we won't get pneumonia.