Most home tanks are 100G…so this equates to 3 days of electrical power. Propane here in NY is about $3.90/G. So 3 days of propane would cost about $390.00. A lot of money.

I have a 5500KW gas generator which is much more reasonable to operate. What I do is have five 5G tanks of gas and use them in rotation. You can use a fuel stabilizer which will preserve gas for about a year. If the power outage is longer than several days I can also syphon some gas from my vehicles to keep the generator going.

In the event of a power outage you would not be able to get gas from a gas station..no electricity to pump.

I also have a well and without power I am without water.

Too many moons ago, when we were still newlyweds, the ‘better half’ and I would spend at least one evening a week in “NO POWER MODE”. Aka: A no power night.

Quite simply:
- No electric lights.
- No microwave or electric range/oven. (We cooked on gas anyway.)
- No TV
- Radio only if wind-up or battery powered.
- No telephone. (did not make calls, did not answer calls)
- Nothing using standard household electric power.

The exceptions to the above were:
1.the household (220 VAC ) water pump when we flushed the toilet, Not practical for a short duration exercise like this.
2.and if my Mother in-law appeared on caller-ID since we looked after her.

The reason for this was being newlyweds, we were basically penniless, and this was a great cost-saving exercise. We read, played board games/cards, etc. We had a blast!

The blizzard ’93 proved how valuable this weekly lesson was. We were living in NE Alabama at the time and received a 4-foot ‘gift’ of snow, and no power/water for 3 weeks. It was like camping with the following exceptions: #1- The “tent” was whole lot more comfortable and warmer, #2- the chow was a whole lot better!

Ok, fast-forward 25+ years. Yes, we are doing a whole lot better financially. But the exercise and experience is just as important for other reasons.

Ever notice just many otherwise “normal” people totally freak-out if the electric goes off? How do your kids or grandkids react when the normal conveniences of modern life (IE: electric and running water), suddenly go off-line?

Nowadays, the list for a NO POWER NIGHT would also include:

-No computer.
-No MP3 player.
-No video games.

Now that I have rambled-on for a few minutes of your time, the above occurred to me tonight while sitting around a fire outside. Simple pleasures. A fire, good company, hot beverage, great conversation. NO ELECTRIC REQUIRED! But also a great exercise for people who wish to camp, or prepare for living without our ‘modern conveniences’.

Food for thought…

BTW: Our preps paid-off at our home in a Mid-Atlantic state. The 104 degree heat was no picnic, especially with no power, but it could have been a lot worse! We got our power back after only a week.

1. Your generator should be propane powered if possible. Propane eliminates problems with flat fuel and gummed fuel systems because these generators get forgotten. Get a fixed tank set up to provide emergency heat as well as a fuel source for your generator cook and fill portable tanks.

2. A minimal solar system with 2 marine batteries runs under $400 and will ensure communications and lights. You will not have to run the generator all the time with a solar backup and if sunlight fails you can charge the batteries with the generator while it is on the pump water and keep refrigeration.