I went through Milton down in Tampa. I have 5 solar generators with expandable battery's and a gas/propane generator. Lights were out for a week. I ran fridges freezers microwave, instant pot, air fryer oven etc.. Worth every penny! Lots of panels never needed my gas generator. Charged items for my neighbors as well. In Florida they are a must have!
Thanks for coming to make these videos. I'm revisiting my level or preparedness after this hurricane Helene stuff. I use to say I'm prepper adjacent....adjacent but I think I can drop that extra adjacent. Ha I'm probably the one who made the comment about solar. :) Growing up in New Orleans and being in the poorer part of town, we lost power too often so even now that I live up north, having power is very important to me.
Yes! I live with my son. I've been prepping since 2015 but had been studying for several years prior. I have go totes in my unattached garage. Where I live, my primary disaster worry is tornadoes and house fires. We're up north. Anyway, my son goes through clothes and throws them away. I took his jeans, patched them and put in this tote. I know they fit him and he liked to wear them. As a kid, I've seen people's house burn down in -40 degrees, then they escape the house and freeze. We have a quick place to run to for instant clothes and warm things. Also, a friend of mine's house burnt down and she had to go shopping for clothes and only a few things were available for their immediate needs. Since I live rural, instant shopping is just not available. Therefore, instant old clothes will do for an immediate need. The reason houses burn down at this temperature is because people use secondary sources. I don't sleep with these on. I've got down comforters and wool blankets for night time.
Hi from Australia. My Nanna and Mum always taught me that, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." When I was a kid we went through a couple of floods, a cyclone or 2, and bushfires. I'm now 62yo and teach my own kids and grandkids the same lessons. It's gotten us through many trying times. Love this format BTW. Not many preppers give real world examples like this. Cheers.
I've been watching many helene survivors posts on UA-cam. Who better would know what you need in an emergency! We better take heed of this "warning" while we still have the resources. We're not able to buy everything we need but some is better than none. Thank you for giving some great advice
I hope ALL of my sacrifices and preps are next to needless, and I can just live off my preps. I definitely prep for all of the family,most of whom have a horrible case of normalcy bias. In fact, one person gets supplemental food boxes and I have them give me whatever they don't want to use, because eventually they MAY need them, or we could help others with it all, push comes to shove.
Ive definitely learnt from the stories I've heard both from affected homeowners to first responders . We take a lot for granted. I've recently found your channel and slowly getting through your previous videos. Thanks
58 years old. Been prepping for years now. Have 2 portable solar generators and have just about finished switching all my preps to solar and rechargeable batteries. Recently purchased a USB powered battery charger for AA and AAA batteries. It can charge 4 batteries at a time. I also have many battery bricks that can be used to charge devices like the battery charger. I try to get 2 or 3 uses out of any prep item for redundancy sake. My solar lanterns can charge other devices. My radios also solar powered can charge other devices and can crank to charge them if no sun for days. Never going to be done preparing. I also have food and water stored and filtration devices. My family doesn't get it. I don't really care because I'm doing what I think is right for my wife and myself. Before anyone comments, yes, I have "tools" to protect my other tools. The one thing I'm "light" on and have a hard time spending money on is printed materials. I guess, by writing that last part out loud, I just realized that has to be the next stage of my journey. I hope all you find people have a great day. Be safe out there.
You both present as though you could be our neighbors. Not THOSE neighbors.....the other ones. Please don't try to "slick-up" your videos and just be yourselves. You get right to the point and you don't play rediculous music. Thanks much. I appreciate your effort. People who only consume UA-cam just don't understand how much effort is involved.
I wanted to add a little something to this video, I have a 17 ft.³ chest freezer. I also have an electrical monitor on my house that monitors the usage of all the appliances and everything in my house, it found out for me that my chest freezer can be off for over 10 1/2 to 12 hours at a time before it needs to start back up and get cold again. I also have a 17 foot upright freezer. It takes a little more power than that and it comes on a little more often. They’re not quite as efficient as the chest freezers. The chest freezer uses about 117 W while it’s running the upright freezer uses about 167 when it’s running.
I had a small solar backup for years. It was quite expensive. After these things happened, I looked into upgrading. I was amazed at how far solar technology has come in a few short years, and for quite a low price!
I'm old so I am pretty good with paper maps. I have to tell you, after a disaster, your landscape that you use to navigate by changes. I lived through the ice storm of '98 in Canada and New York. I lived in a small town completely cut off from the US. Anyway, I had a hard time navigating in a small town I lived. My neighbor from Haiti stated that the damage was worse than a hurricane. She packed up and went back to Florida. Anyway, paper maps are a necessity in my go tote. I may have to take back roads etc.
I'm a licensed HAM operator. FSR radios are not HAM radios. FSR radios can be useful, but they operate on preset limited channels - typically 12 or 13 channels. A very good, inexpensive HAM radio is the Baofeng UV-5R handheld radio. Anyone can listen to HAM radio comms, but you need to be a licensed HAM operator to talk, except in emergencies.
Yes, I have caught myself using HAM for GMRS radios too. I am so use to saying HAM it accidently rolls off my tongue. I need to focus on catching that during editing. Thanks and 73!
Howdy! I've seen a few of your recent videos and have really loved your advice and tips. I am now subscribed. One this latest video, you showed a clip of your Honda generator and mentioned minimal gas storage. You may consider rethinking how you power that generator. Gas has a limited shelf life. Whereas propane can be stored indefinitely. You mentioned having backups for backups. There are several companies that make conversion kits for Honda generators. If you install a conversion kit, you can run your generator on propane and also gas. This would make it a dual fuel generator which would put you in a better position. It is a back up, literally for your backup.
I had power out for 4 days. I ate the perishable food in the fridge and pressure canned the chicken that had thawed out.I needed more canned protein, a 40 watt solar panel/battery bank for the cell phone,which I later bought.
Discovered recently when I couldn’t connect my iPhone to a cell tower that satellite messaging is active. The newest model isn’t required and looks like phone only needs an activated sim. Was pleased to see this
Battery chain saw is not the ticket for this instance. You would need 8 batteries and a way to recharge all each day for this type of storm. They also are not powerful enough. You need a 3 foot bar or larger. Should keep plenty of chains, bar oil and parts. Even if you don't have large trees, you may not be able to travel on roads without a good saw.
I agree with what was said, but your gas generator is also in the top 10. The people commenting were not In heavily hit areas, I know this from experience...No water filters mentioned, my most used preparedness item was my Berkey water filter, I dare say it saved my life.
I love my Berkey water filter and use it everyday. For portable water filtration on the go, I bought a Lifesaver Jerrycan for water purification/filtration. It is built to military specs to purify water from rivers, creeks and springs. A Lifesaver Jerrycan for for safe drinking water is a great prep to have in an emergency.
@Kemosabe--- I use my Berkey every day too, I'm 100% on rain water, after going through hurricane Maria, I got off municipal water, now I don't even notice when water is out in my area.
I have heard a "Setpower PT55 Car Refrigerator With AC Adapter, Dual Zone Portable Freezer Fridge" is also good. I don't know this from personal experience, as I don't own one.
I'm sorry, but if people are still living in Florida at this point, then they're not "preppers." People need to relocate, and to get over this cognitive dissonance regarding Climate Change. Do you really want to live in a place that is projected to be under water, where even in the near future, it's not going to be just 1-2 hurricanes a year, but more like 3 or 4 a year (To include CAT 5's)? Personally, I'd relocate from anywhere east of the Mississippi at this point. The numbers behind the science are exponential at this point. BTW I'm not some climate do-gooder. All my knowledge on the subject suggests that there's nothing we can do about it at this point other than adaptation, while we're still alive. Future generations will suffer the worst, however (Yeah, all you older Baby Boomers, just keep lying to your kids and grand-kids about Climate Change being a myth. It's not only dumb, it's outright sick that older people would leave that kind of verbal legacy to their loved ones). And BTW, we don't need electricity to survive, especially for just a few days. If you can generate electricity, that's great, but have a foundation set-up to live without it. For instance, our house has a really nice wood stove in the living room that we can not only use for heat, but heat-up food with. I also have a brick rocket stove that sits off of my back deck that I regularly BBQ with during Spring and Summer (Yeah, real wood-fired BBQ using... yard debris, basically). And even during heat waves, I've cooked breakfasts out there on it, in order to not generate any heat inside the house (We have a very well insulated house, where we can lock-in overnight/early morning cool air, and create our own virtual air conditioning).
West of the Mississippi is tornado alley. West coast, eath quakes. SouthWest, monsoons and flash flooding. North, hortific snow and ice storms. Always been this way. None of this is new due to "climate change".
I went through Milton down in Tampa. I have 5 solar generators with expandable battery's and a gas/propane generator. Lights were out for a week. I ran fridges freezers microwave, instant pot, air fryer oven etc.. Worth every penny! Lots of panels never needed my gas generator. Charged items for my neighbors as well. In Florida they are a must have!
Thanks for the information! That is good to know. All these preps start getting expensive and it is nice to know it pays off.
@@NormalPrepping So true I started with one and progressively bought more. Wife to me what do you want for your bday? Me a solar panel. Lol
Thanks. These post-hurricane videos are great because it puts real-life examples and urgency into the topic.
Thanks for coming to make these videos. I'm revisiting my level or preparedness after this hurricane Helene stuff. I use to say I'm prepper adjacent....adjacent but I think I can drop that extra adjacent. Ha
I'm probably the one who made the comment about solar. :)
Growing up in New Orleans and being in the poorer part of town, we lost power too often so even now that I live up north, having power is very important to me.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I do like your channel! I hope you can help a lot of people set up solar systems.
Yes! I live with my son. I've been prepping since 2015 but had been studying for several years prior. I have go totes in my unattached garage. Where I live, my primary disaster worry is tornadoes and house fires. We're up north. Anyway, my son goes through clothes and throws them away. I took his jeans, patched them and put in this tote. I know they fit him and he liked to wear them.
As a kid, I've seen people's house burn down in -40 degrees, then they escape the house and freeze. We have a quick place to run to for instant clothes and warm things. Also, a friend of mine's house burnt down and she had to go shopping for clothes and only a few things were available for their immediate needs. Since I live rural, instant shopping is just not available. Therefore, instant old clothes will do for an immediate need.
The reason houses burn down at this temperature is because people use secondary sources. I don't sleep with these on. I've got down comforters and wool blankets for night time.
Hi from Australia. My Nanna and Mum always taught me that, "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." When I was a kid we went through a couple of floods, a cyclone or 2, and bushfires. I'm now 62yo and teach my own kids and grandkids the same lessons. It's gotten us through many trying times. Love this format BTW. Not many preppers give real world examples like this. Cheers.
Thanks!
I've been watching many helene survivors posts on UA-cam. Who better would know what you need in an emergency! We better take heed of this "warning" while we still have the resources. We're not able to buy everything we need but some is better than none. Thank you for giving some great advice
I hope ALL of my sacrifices and preps are next to needless, and I can just live off my preps.
I definitely prep for all of the family,most of whom have a horrible case of normalcy bias. In fact, one person gets supplemental food boxes and I have them give me whatever they don't want to use, because eventually they MAY need them, or we could help others with it all, push comes to shove.
Ive definitely learnt from the stories I've heard both from affected homeowners to first responders . We take a lot for granted.
I've recently found your channel and slowly getting through your previous videos.
Thanks
Thank you and welcome to our community!
58 years old. Been prepping for years now. Have 2 portable solar generators and have just about finished switching all my preps to solar and rechargeable batteries. Recently purchased a USB powered battery charger for AA and AAA batteries. It can charge 4 batteries at a time. I also have many battery bricks that can be used to charge devices like the battery charger. I try to get 2 or 3 uses out of any prep item for redundancy sake. My solar lanterns can charge other devices. My radios also solar powered can charge other devices and can crank to charge them if no sun for days. Never going to be done preparing. I also have food and water stored and filtration devices. My family doesn't get it. I don't really care because I'm doing what I think is right for my wife and myself. Before anyone comments, yes, I have "tools" to protect my other tools. The one thing I'm "light" on and have a hard time spending money on is printed materials. I guess, by writing that last part out loud, I just realized that has to be the next stage of my journey. I hope all you find people have a great day. Be safe out there.
You both present as though you could be our neighbors. Not THOSE neighbors.....the other ones. Please don't try to "slick-up" your videos and just be yourselves. You get right to the point and you don't play rediculous music. Thanks much. I appreciate your effort. People who only consume UA-cam just don't understand how much effort is involved.
We really appreciate kind words of wisdom. Thank You!
I wanted to add a little something to this video, I have a 17 ft.³ chest freezer. I also have an electrical monitor on my house that monitors the usage of all the appliances and everything in my house, it found out for me that my chest freezer can be off for over 10 1/2 to 12 hours at a time before it needs to start back up and get cold again. I also have a 17 foot upright freezer. It takes a little more power than that and it comes on a little more often. They’re not quite as efficient as the chest freezers. The chest freezer uses about 117 W while it’s running the upright freezer uses about 167 when it’s running.
That is interesting. They both must be deep freezes.
I had a small solar backup for years. It was quite expensive. After these things happened, I looked into upgrading. I was amazed at how far solar technology has come in a few short years, and for quite a low price!
I'm old so I am pretty good with paper maps.
I have to tell you, after a disaster, your landscape that you use to navigate by changes. I lived through the ice storm of '98 in Canada and New York. I lived in a small town completely cut off from the US. Anyway, I had a hard time navigating in a small town I lived. My neighbor from Haiti stated that the damage was worse than a hurricane. She packed up and went back to Florida.
Anyway, paper maps are a necessity in my go tote. I may have to take back roads etc.
I too like paper maps and a good compass.
I'm a licensed HAM operator. FSR radios are not HAM radios. FSR radios can be useful, but they operate on preset limited channels - typically 12 or 13 channels. A very good, inexpensive HAM radio is the Baofeng UV-5R handheld radio. Anyone can listen to HAM radio comms, but you need to be a licensed HAM operator to talk, except in emergencies.
Yes, I have caught myself using HAM for GMRS radios too. I am so use to saying HAM it accidently rolls off my tongue. I need to focus on catching that during editing. Thanks and 73!
Howdy! I've seen a few of your recent videos and have really loved your advice and tips. I am now subscribed. One this latest video, you showed a clip of your Honda generator and mentioned minimal gas storage. You may consider rethinking how you power that generator. Gas has a limited shelf life. Whereas propane can be stored indefinitely. You mentioned having backups for backups. There are several companies that make conversion kits for Honda generators. If you install a conversion kit, you can run your generator on propane and also gas. This would make it a dual fuel generator which would put you in a better position. It is a back up, literally for your backup.
Exellent suggestion!
I had power out for 4 days. I ate the perishable food in the fridge and pressure canned the chicken that had thawed out.I needed more canned protein, a 40 watt solar panel/battery bank for the cell phone,which I later bought.
Discovered recently when I couldn’t connect my iPhone to a cell tower that satellite messaging is active. The newest model isn’t required and looks like phone only needs an activated sim. Was pleased to see this
Battery chain saw is not the ticket for this instance. You would need 8 batteries and a way to recharge all each day for this type of storm. They also are not powerful enough. You need a 3 foot bar or larger. Should keep plenty of chains, bar oil and parts. Even if you don't have large trees, you may not be able to travel on roads without a good saw.
I agree with what was said, but your gas generator is also in the top 10. The people commenting were not In heavily hit areas, I know this from experience...No water filters mentioned, my most used preparedness item was my Berkey water filter, I dare say it saved my life.
I love my Berkey water filter and use it everyday. For portable water filtration on the go, I bought a Lifesaver Jerrycan for water purification/filtration. It is built to military specs to purify water from rivers, creeks and springs. A Lifesaver Jerrycan for for safe drinking water is a great prep to have in an emergency.
@Kemosabe--- I use my Berkey every day too, I'm 100% on rain water, after going through hurricane Maria, I got off municipal water, now I don't even notice when water is out in my area.
I’m just prepping for my house .
wow! some of these items are really expensive
💯 helpful
Thank you!
I have heard a "Setpower PT55 Car Refrigerator With AC Adapter, Dual Zone Portable Freezer Fridge" is also good. I don't know this from personal experience, as I don't own one.
Thanks! We will check them out.
Now that's what I call a coffee grinder!
When it comes to coffee, we go big.
I'm sorry, but if people are still living in Florida at this point, then they're not "preppers." People need to relocate, and to get over this cognitive dissonance regarding Climate Change. Do you really want to live in a place that is projected to be under water, where even in the near future, it's not going to be just 1-2 hurricanes a year, but more like 3 or 4 a year (To include CAT 5's)?
Personally, I'd relocate from anywhere east of the Mississippi at this point.
The numbers behind the science are exponential at this point. BTW I'm not some climate do-gooder. All my knowledge on the subject suggests that there's nothing we can do about it at this point other than adaptation, while we're still alive. Future generations will suffer the worst, however (Yeah, all you older Baby Boomers, just keep lying to your kids and grand-kids about Climate Change being a myth. It's not only dumb, it's outright sick that older people would leave that kind of verbal legacy to their loved ones).
And BTW, we don't need electricity to survive, especially for just a few days. If you can generate electricity, that's great, but have a foundation set-up to live without it. For instance, our house has a really nice wood stove in the living room that we can not only use for heat, but heat-up food with. I also have a brick rocket stove that sits off of my back deck that I regularly BBQ with during Spring and Summer (Yeah, real wood-fired BBQ using... yard debris, basically). And even during heat waves, I've cooked breakfasts out there on it, in order to not generate any heat inside the house (We have a very well insulated house, where we can lock-in overnight/early morning cool air, and create our own virtual air conditioning).
West of the Mississippi is tornado alley. West coast, eath quakes. SouthWest, monsoons and flash flooding. North, hortific snow and ice storms. Always been this way. None of this is new due to "climate change".
@@gwebocelestron9194 Oh OK, so please explain why.