Suggestions for California residents facing power and evacuation issues

[MichaelB]

A thread with recommendations for folks in California looking at current and longer term irregular power shortages and possible evacuations. This is a snark free thread.

I got these for some family members
Solar panel for mobile devices https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EXWCPLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mobile power bank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K6TA748/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
30 day lantern https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUPV60K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Senator]

Do most of the people affected have city water, or do they have a well that needs electricity and power to get water?

 

[Another Reader]

Do most of the people affected have city water, or do they have a well that needs electricity and power to get water?

In most areas there is City or private utility water. For example, San Jose has two providers, City of San Jose and San Jose Water Company.

Most of the neighborhoods that have lost power are in the hills or adjacent to them. Water is pumped up to them from storage/treatment facilities. Presumably, those facilities have back up power, because the water does not stop when the power goes off.

 

[Senator]

If I lived in one of those areas, I would have my car gassed up and ready to go. Maybe several sprinklers set up on the roof to turn on when an evacuation occurs. Houses have been saved by water hoses in the past.

Fireproof safes should be a no-brainer.

Also cut down trees next to the house and clear the brush away as far away as the property line.

Battery backup and generators only go so far. They may help for a while, but unless it's a monster generator it won't run an AC.

Of course proper insurance is a must.

 

[Another Reader]

If I lived in one of those areas, I would have my car gassed up and ready to go. Maybe several sprinklers set up on the roof to turn on when an evacuation occurs. Houses have been saved by water hoses in the past.

Fireproof safes should be a no-brainer.

Also cut down trees next to the house and clear the brush away as far away as the property line.

Battery backup and generators only go so far. They may help for a while, but unless it's a monster generator it won't run an AC.

Of course proper insurance is a must.

You should look at some of the videos if you haven't seen them. These are not your typical house fires. These are firestorms, driven by 40 mile per hour plus winds. The fires consume an acre a minute. New fires spot a mile away and become established before the firefighters can get there. A couple of sprinklers on the roof likely won't help you.

Yes to clearing brush and trees, in many cases that helps. However, a lot of the houses burn because blowing embers end up in eaves or vents and the firefighters cannot get there before the house is fully involved. There are some good videos of structure defense in northeast Windsor from a couple of days ago.

As far as the power and evacuation issues, I would add to have crates and/or leashes for all your pets. Collars and tags plus microchips will help identify your pets if you get separated from them. When you evacuate, make sure you have enough food and water for them for a few days and their dishes.

 

[Senator]

You should look at some of the videos if you haven't seen them. These are not your typical house fires. These are firestorms, driven by 40 mile per hour plus winds. The fires consume an acre a minute. New fires spot a mile away and become established before the firefighters can get there. A couple of sprinklers on the roof likely won't help you.

Yes to clearing brush and trees, in many cases that helps. However, a lot of the houses burn because blowing embers end up in eaves or vents and the firefighters cannot get there before the house is fully involved. There are some good videos of structure defense in northeast Windsor from a couple of days ago.

As far as the power and evacuation issues, I would add to have crates and/or leashes for all your pets. Collars and tags plus microchips will help identify your pets if you get separated from them. When you evacuate, make sure you have enough food and water for them for a few days and their dishes.

I have seen the videos. Maybe it won't help but there are plenty of cases where sprinklers have helped.

In an evacuation I would just drive 100 miles and take a vacation. Roofing made of cedar is foolish. A metal roof is what you want.

Pets should be chipped, AND registered. Always. No matter where you live.

 

[zinger1457]

In an evacuation I would just drive 100 miles and take a vacation. Roofing made of cedar is foolish. A metal roof is what you want.

Your home owners insurance should cover the cost of lodging if you have to evacuate, I went through it a few years ago during a wildfire in AZ. They covered the 5 days I was away and it kicks in on the first dollar, no deductible.

 

[swakyaby]

Regarding fire proof safes, a survivor of the Coffey Park firestorm in Santa Rosa, CA a few years ago told me his fire proof safe contained hard drives of his important files including video documentation of his home's valuables. But, he said sadly, these safes are rated to withstand fire for about one hour, and then it's expected the fire dept will put out the fire. His home burned to the ground, and all that was left of his safe was molten metal.

 

[Another Reader]

I have seen the videos. Maybe it won't help but there are plenty of cases where sprinklers have helped.

In an evacuation I would just drive 100 miles and take a vacation. Roofing made of cedar is foolish. A metal roof is what you want.

Pets should be chipped, AND registered. Always. No matter where you live.

Metal roofs don't help if they are applied to plywood sheathing with wood eaves. The flying embers go into the roof vents or are blown into the eaves. The composition of the roof cover does not matter.

Sprinklers can help when the wind is not the critical factor. At 40 miles per hour, the water is getting blown off anyway.

 

[Another Reader]

Regarding fire proof safes, a survivor of the Coffey Park firestorm in Santa Rosa, CA a few years ago told me his fire proof safe contained hard drives of his important files including video documentation of his home's valuables. But, he said sadly, these safes are rated to withstand fire for about one hour, and then it's expected the fire dept will put out the fire. His home burned to the ground, and all that was left of his safe was molten metal.

If you are at home, one of the first things to go into the car should be your main computer and the back up drive. Important papers, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards, should be near the top of the list as well.

 

[Another Reader]

If the power is likely to go off and the fire is near enough that you might have to evacuate, park your evacuation vehicle in the driveway, pointing toward the street. No fooling with a dead garage door opener or backing out and turning if the situation suddenly worsens. Jump in and go!

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Freezer / fridge thermometer to see if food stayed cold - https://www.amazon.com/Refrigerator-Freezer-Thermometer-Classic-Temperature/dp/B07WRKBSQ3
Radio / flashlight / power bank that can be charged by hand crank / solar or USB - https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5
Inflatable solar lantern - https://www.amazon.com/brilex-Lighting-Waterproof-Inflatable-Carrying/dp/B07CKSLJJK
Solar + hand crank flashlight - https://www.amazon.com/Simpeak-Flashlight-Emergency-Rechargeable-Survival/dp/B01CS949OS

Other items we used / might come in handy - hot water bottles, propane stove, thermoses, USB charger for cars, 5 gallon water storage container, rechargeable batteries with a solar charger, thermal cookers, ice chest, LED camp lights, and audio books. I started buying items for off grid living after I saw the Puerto Rico hurricane aftermath stories on TV last year so I also have some longer term outage products like personal water purifiers and a hand crank washing machine.

Our power was out but we had cell phone Internet service and gas hot water. A mile or two away from the hills life was normal in our area, the stores and restaurants were open and some communities and businesses had charging stations set up for phones and laptops. One of the days the sky was smokey from fires elsewhere so I think the hand crank items, power banks we charged before the power went out and car chargers were good to have on hand as I'm not sure how much our solar products charged up that day.

We have the cars filled with gas, bug out bags packed and ready for us and our dog.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

A thread with recommendations for folks in California looking at current and longer term irregular power shortages and possible evacuations. This is a snark free thread.

I got these for some family members
Solar panel for mobile devices https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EXWCPLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mobile power bank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K6TA748/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
30 day lantern https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DUPV60K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm going to order the 30 day lantern for sure. I was looking for something like that. I have lots of flashlights and camping lights on hand but I never had to plan for more than a day or so outage before. This time we got the notice for a second possible outage before our power was even back on from the first shut down. The second outage didn't happen, but I think I have to plan for at least a week without power and maybe smokey skies so the solar lights and power banks may not be able to charge.

 

[Aerides]

I know everyone who lives there has a go-box and a plan for the emergency evac orders, but for those of you dealing with the black outs, my tip from hurricane prep:

To prolong your freezer/fridge temps during rolling blackouts, in advance, fill water jugs and/or water bottles or any empty seal-able containers, and freeze them. Take freezer bags and fill them with ice. Use these both to fill in any empty space in your freezer and pack it in. Same for your fridge - filled space will stay cooler longer than air in your appliances, and buy you an extra day or more before your food gets too warm.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Our fire danger in Nevada is not as bad but we take our cell phones, dogs and all our medications and that’s all we care about.

 

[folivier]

I bought a light similar to the first post except that it is also a bug zapper. Works surprisingly well for those pesky insects that sneak inside. Lantern also works well. Recharges by a USB plug so can recharge practically anywhere, car, etc.

 

[RunningBum]

My advice is to have a PLAN if you decide to or are forced to evacuate. When that time comes you probably won't be thinking straight. Make a list of the things you want to be certain to take, like meds, pets, important papers, heirlooms, laptop and such. I would probably take along a fire extinguisher and saw in case on my exit I had to deal with something blocking my escape.

Somewhere we have a thread where people have discussed this already.

If the power is likely to go off and the fire is near enough that you might have to evacuate, park your evacuation vehicle in the driveway, pointing toward the street. No fooling with a dead garage door opener or backing out and turning if the situation suddenly worsens. Jump in and go!

If you don't park outside, know that you can pull on the red handle hanging from a rope to detach the garage door from the opener. Then it is really easy to pull up the door. Try it so you know that you can do it in a hurry. Personally, I'm leaving my car in the garage so I can load it more quickly, especially with pets that may bolt if taken outside.

 

[RunningBum]

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/emergency-preparedness-97968.html is the thread I was thinking of. Worth reviewing.

 

[MichaelB]

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/emergency-preparedness-97968.html is the thread I was thinking of. Worth reviewing.

Good idea..

 

[Chuckanut]

The key is to get out early with what you need.

I just watched the Frontline story on the CampFire. It took about 3 1/2 hours from time the fire started seven miles from Paradise to get to the point where the fire fighters gave up on saving the town and concentrated solely and getting people out. Only 3.5 hours!

There simply were not enough exit roads to handle the traffic out. And the exit roads were blocked by burnt and burning cars. One firefighter got on a bulldozer, drove it to a blocked road and pushed car after car off the road so that desperate residents could escape. It took hours but he got them out.

 

[ncbill]

Here's a "helpful" article, essentially "move into the city from suburbia":

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/los-angeles-san-francisco-don-210710766.html

 

[Another Reader]

Generators are helpful if the power is being shut off but you are not being evacuated. I was at Costco this morning, loading up on very cheap LED light bulbs and cat food, and they had just gotten in a pallet of these.

https://www.costco.com/a-ipower-160...red-inverter-generator.product.100343958.html

Apparently someone had just loaded up a flatbed cart with six of them and headed for the checkout. They were not supposed to be in until the weekend, but showed up early and they were being snapped up. Chatted with one guy that had ordered a larger one on line but was buying this one "just in case." He liked the specs and reviews. Another guy probably around 70 stopped with his cart, and the first guy loaded one for him.

For $449, it is a lot cheaper than Senator's Honda generator, but I wonder about the ease of operation and durability. I read some of the directions on-line, and decided to pass because of my lack of knowledge about working with electricity and gas motors. Don't want to be the cause of the fire that burns down the neighborhood...

 

[Pellice]

Regarding fire proof safes, a survivor of the Coffey Park firestorm in Santa Rosa, CA a few years ago told me his fire proof safe contained hard drives of his important files including video documentation of his home's valuables. But, he said sadly, these safes are rated to withstand fire for about one hour, and then it's expected the fire dept will put out the fire. His home burned to the ground, and all that was left of his safe was molten metal.

What about ordinary safe deposit boxes at banks and such?

 

[RobbieB]

I ordered up a transfer switch to do the generator thing the right way, between the mains and the distribution panel. Won't be able to do stuff like ovens and clothes driers, every outlet in the house will be powered.

 

[rodi]

I've got the battery packs for phones etc.

We have many flashlights/lanterns from camping... and a good supply of batteries.

Fortunately, we live coastal rather than 'back country' so Sempra/SDG&E has not cut our power... Here in San Diego county the areas being preemptively power cut are east of us...

Defensible space is a real concern. Trees and shrubs trimmed, pine needles and leaves raked up. No fuel (shrubs/trees) right next to the house. Also changed out the attic/soffit/vent screens to "insect size" stainless steel from the original 'bird size' screens... this should help with embers getting into the eaves. This was done as a direct reaction to the Cedar Fire that burned down much of our county in 2003 because of high winds and blowing embers. Our house is fairly fire hardened... stucco, metal clad windows (vs vinyl which can fail if fire is right up at window), changes to our landscaping, roof, vents, etc.

But for outages... If it were longer than 48 hours - we'd drive to a different area and wait it out.