Hello Neighborhood – During the snow and ice storm of February 12 – 14, 2021 most of us lost power, water and heat for seven plus days. In addition, there were a large number of trees and power lines down, making it difficult-to-impossible to leave your home and get off the hill to travel to Wilsonville, Sherwood or Newberg for supplies. Downed wires also cut off many landline phones and DSL-Internet for several to many days. These conditions created many challenges and harsh inconveniences which could have been eased by being better prepared.
This document is presented by the Ladd Hill Neighborhood Association-Emergence Plan (LHNA-EP) Committee. The following pages present our recommendations, suggested equipment, and supplies for snow, ice and wind storm emergencies. At the end of the presentation there is Appendix “A” with photos of products and ideas that some of our neighbors found useful during the emergency.
Be prepared: Have a Family Emergency Preparedness Plan, including “Home Supply Kits”, “Bug Out Bags”, “First Aid Supplies”. All are important. Please spend some time reviewing the Emergency Preparedness information on this website www.LHNA-EP.com.
When there is a power outage: TURN OFF THE BREAKERS to all major appliances that draw a lot of power, a heat pump, water well pump, forced air furnaces etc., to prevent SURGE DAMAGE when power is restored. One of our neighbors LOST their entire heat pump system due to a massive power surge when the electricity came back on. You can always selectively turn on the breaker to a specific appliance while using a generator during the outage, such as bringing a refrigerator or freezer back down to a safe temperature, etc. and then turn the breaker off again when through.
Help us keep this document updated: If you have any experiences or recommendations that you believe should be added to this document, please email them directly to the LHNA at lhna2015@gmail.com. Thank you, the SPM-EP Committee
Generators: There is a lot of interest in generators. The LHNA-EP (Ladd Hill Neighborhood – Emergency Plan) Committee will be presenting a class on “Generators for the Home” in the near future. Stay tuned.
Disclaimer: This document is presented by the Ladd Hill Neighborhood Association – Emergency Plan (LHNA-EP) Committee. The recommendations, equipment and supplies presented are based on best practices from various agencies and associations, and from area neighbors. Specific manufacturer’s products mentioned or recommended are from area neighbors and are merely being passed on. It is your responsibility to determine if the recommendations and products presented in this document are appropriate for your use in an emergency. Please report any corrections, inaccuracies, or suggestions directly to the
LHNA at lhna2015@gmail.com.
Water
Since we are all on wells, loss of electricity means no water, unless you have generator backup. We all need water both for ourselves (plan on 1 gallon/person/day) as well as for our pets and other animals.
Where to Get Water:
Bathtub – If the weather report is advising of an upcoming snow/ice storm, fill your bathtub(s) in advance with water. The average tub holds about 42 gallons. This water can be used for, personal hygiene, flushing toilets, but because of the residual soap in the tub cannot be used for drinking or cooking and boiling the water will not remove residual soap.
Your Emergency Water Storage – According to the FDA, bottled water can last indefinitely however Nestlé Water US recommends no more than two years for non-carbonated water and one year for sparkling water. It is recommended that you store enough emergency water for at least ten days use. (See How Much Water Do You Need, on page 3). 5-gallon containers work well for storing a large amount of water. 5-gallon containers made specifically for water are blue in color and can be purchased at most of local stores, Fred Myers, Bi-Mart, etc. for around $15. Be sure to buy the kind that have a spigot on the end for ease of drawing the water into smaller containers which are much easier to deliver to various rooms of the house. Five gallons of water weigh about 42 lbs., so if you have difficulty lifting this amount, buy 2-gallon or 3-gallon containers, or just use the 1-gallon size. (See Appendix Page A-1 for more information on 5-gallon containers)
Your Neighbors – Most likely a few of your neighbors have a generator that supplies power to their well. Living in this great neighborhood has many advantages, and one is that we have many wonderful neighbors who are happy to supply water during an emergency. Fill your water containers as needed for your use. (See Your Emergency Water Storage above and Appendix Page A-1). During the recent power outage, several neighbors with generator power offered hot showers and a warm spare room for those in most need.
Hot Water Heater (WH) – The most common size water heaters are 40, 60 or 80 gallon units. To use the WH as a water source, follow these steps: 1) Turn off the power at the breaker panel. This will prevent the WH heating elements from burning out if the PGE power is restored when there’s no water in the tank. 2) Attach a hose to the spigot at the bottom of the tank, and attached a hose nozzle or quarter- turn shutoff at the end the hose. Open the spigot. 3) Open a hot water faucet anywhere in the house. This will prevent a vacuum that could prevent water flowing out of the tank. You are now ready to draw water. Important Note: A garden hose is not listed for potable water use as they contain lead and other chemicals which boiling of the water will not remove. If you are going to use this water for drinking or cooking you must use a hose that is listed for potable water use, as used for RV’s and camping trailers. They are white in color, or white with blue stripe, and can be found at Walmart, Camping World and other stores that carry RV supplies. Also, an Oregon company, Water Right Inc., makes hoses listed for potable water but they are expensive, about $55 for a 1/2” – 25 ft hose. Go to WaterRightInc.com. Make sure this hose is never used for any other purpose.
Water Wells – The typical Standard Well has one pump at the bottom called a “deep well pump”. It pumps water into a Pressure Tank(s), of various sizes, and holds it under pressure until water is drawn from one of your fixtures. As the water is drawn down to a set point, typically around 37% of tank capacity, the well pump comes back on and fills the tank. When the power goes off there is water in the pressure tank. The amount of water left in the tank varies, however, on average about 60% of the tank capacity may be used for emergency. As water is drawn from a faucet, the pressure gets lower and lower as the tank empties. Use this water sparingly as it will not refill until the power is restored.
Low Flow Wells – For homes with low flow wells, the typical system has two pumps, the deep well pump and a second pump. The well pump fills a large storage tank, a 1,000 gallon is common, then the second pump draws from the storage tank and pumps into the Pressure Tank(s). From that point the system works like a Standard Well. In both cases when the power goes out, it is necessary to turn off the water supply to all toilets otherwise the Pressurized Tank will fill the toilet tanks as they are used. This may or may not be what you want during an emergency. The 1,000 gallon storage tank used in this example provides you with a lot of emergency water.
Large Water Storage Tanks – Large water storage tanks are certainly a good way to store water as you are not reliant on power to run your well. It’s especially a good idea if you have large animals to water. These tanks are available in many sizes 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 gallon sizes, as an example, and most are a vertical design but may be low profile. They are typically constructed of molded polyethylene resin that comply with FDA standards for storing potable water. Most have an 8″-12″ diameter lid at the top for filling, a pipe thread connection for filling with a hose or hard-piped from your water system. To draw water, they have a pipe thread connection at the bottom for connecting a hose bib, or a hard pipe so you can route to a specific location. They are usually black, dark green or dark brown, which helps protect the water from direct sunlight (UV). A typical 100-gallon size costs $250 and the price goes up from there. Do your homework and check online under “emergency water storage tanks” (See Appendix Page A-1 for additional information).
Hot Tubs/Swimming Pools – Hot tubs and pools are a good source for toilet flushing, but because of the chemicals used, the water must be purified before using for human or animal consumption. (See Purifying Water below)
Snow, Ice and Rainwater – Collect snow and ice, and store in an ice chest to keep food cold or melt for water as needed. Also disconnect a downspout from your longest gutter and collect rain water in buckets and use for your water needs including flushing toilets.
Purifying Water – There are many types of water purifying systems available from individual “life straws”, tablets, large hand pump and gravity systems and others. Do your homework and search online under “water purifiers” or “camping water purifiers” to determine the best method for your needs. (See Appendix A-2 for examples of purifiers)
Flushing Toilets – Flushing can be done by pouring water directly into the tank and then flush like normal. To make it easier, leave the tank lid off and fill the tank after each use. High efficiency toilets take 1.3 to 1.6 gallons to flush while older toilets manufactured before 1992, may require 3.5 to 6 gallons. Do some flush testing to determine the amount of water your toilet takes to flush, and taking the number of household members and the number of flushes you anticipate per day, store enough water for at least ten days just for this use. (This does NOT need to be potable water, so this is a good use for bucketfuls drawn from a hot tub or swimming pool.)
How Much Water Do You Need – For emergencies, base your water storage needs on one gallon a day per person (for drinking, cooking, and personal use) plus the amount determined for flushing toilets as described above. If you have large animals include their needs.
Water For Large Animals – The average daily water consumption, in gallons, for large animals is: horses 5-10 gal, goats 1-3 gal, Llamas 2-3 gal, and beef cows 3-30 gal. The amount varies considerably depending on many factors such as breed, size of animal, age of animal, outdoor temperature and other conditions. It is recommended that you have one or more water troughs (stock tanks) large enough to water your animals for ten days. Using an automatic water filler hooked to a hose, or hard pipe, will ensure a full tank when the power goes out. It is also recommended that a tank heater be used to keep the water above freezing. During a cold weather power loss, break any ice buildup daily. Stock tanks are available in many sizes such as 50, 100, 250 and 500 gallons. Costs are generally between $0.75 – $1.00 per gallon size.
Generators for Your Home
A generator to provide some electricity for refrigerators & freezers, lights, and heat is highly recommended. At least an entry level generator is a must to keep your food cold and frozen food loss. It is recommended that all light bulbs in your home be LED as this will lower power demand (via less wattage) allowing your generator to operate other appliances and devices.
Entry Level Generators – These are portable generators and are available in ratings between 2000 and 2800 watts. As an example of use, a 2000 watt unit can operate a typical refrigerator/freezer (780 watts) which leaves enough wattage to power a TV, a few lights, charge your phone and other electronics, and possibly a few other items, depending on their wattage. They cannot run a water well. The higher the wattage rating, the more items you can operate. With these generators you would typically run extension cords into the house for power use. They are all gas powered and pull start. Extreme Caution: Never operate a generator inside your house or garage. (See Appendix Page A-3 for more information)
Mid-Level Generators – These are portable generators and are available in ratings between 3500 and 10,000 watts, and depending on the size can power many electrical circuits in your panel, including your well-water pump. Some have pull start only and some are electric and pull start. They are gasoline powered however many come with the option of running on propane. Propane is best for longer-term outages. Gas or diesel gets stale if stored too long. The only downside to propane is that it does not contain as much energy as gas. A 3500 watt gas/propane generator operating on propane will drop the wattage down to around 3150 watts. With this level of generator, it is best to have a Transfer Switch professionally installed at your circuit breaker panel. It could be either a manual or automatic Transfer Switch. The advantage of an automatic switch is that if you are out of town when the power goes off the generator will automatically come on and your refrigerator or freezer would continue to run. A receptacle to plug in the power cord from your generator would be installed outside, typically near the breaker panel. The number of circuits you could turn “on” at your panel depends on the size of the generator. A Transfer Switch is required by Oregon Code to prevent electricity from “backfeeding” into the PGE lines while the generator is running. It is recommended that you work with an electrician or generator-specialist to help you determine the size of generator needed to power the circuits you want to operate. (See Appendix Page A-3.1 for an example.)
Total Home Generators – These generators are permanently installed usually next to your house, typically near the circuit breaker panel, and sized to run your entire house, including the well, or a smaller unit can be used to run specific circuit breakers of your panel. They are wired directly to your electrical panel and automatically start when the PGE power goes off. They are typically propane powered and can run for several weeks depending on the electricity usage and size of your propane tank. The average home in our area would require a 20 to 24 kw generator. They are installed by a Home Generator/Electrical Contractor. (See Appendix Page A-3.2 for an example).
Tractor Generators – If you have a tractor consider using it as your power source to run a generator. There are many generators on the market that are designed to run off the tractor’s Power Take Off (PTO) and many attach to the 3-Point hitch making it easy to pull out of storage and place next to your house. A typical small PTO generator produces 10,000 running watts, and requires a tractor with a 20 HP motor. The greater the horsepower (HP), the larger the generator you can run. There are large generators that could operate a Total Home system if you have enough HP. The rule of thumb is you need 2 HP for every kw (a kilowatt is 1,000 watts). The average home in this area with would require a 20 to 24 kw generator. As with the Mid-Level and Total Home Generators, a Transfer Switch, either manual or automatic, and an outdoor receptacle must be installed. The main advantage of a tractor generator is the cost. Example: A 10kw PTO generator costs around $1700, vs and 10kw portable generator costs from $5000 and up. A 24kw PTO generator costs about $3200. The cost difference becomes greater as the generator wattage size goes up. (See Appendix Page A-3.2 for examples)
Important Notes Regarding Generators All generators should be started and tested semi-annually. Be sure to check that it is generating electricity. If you have an Automatic Transfer Switch check to make sure that it switches over to generator power. Many Total Home Generators have automatic cycling built-in. Some large Total Home Generators have a motor that requires maintenance like a car engine. With these systems it is recommended that they be professionally serviced annually. It is recommended that gas for gas powered generators be non-ethanol which you can purchase at some of our local stations. Ethanol in gas, over a short time, will settle in the carburetor and prevent the generator from starting. It’s a $125 to $150 fix. It is recommended that you keep at least a ten day supply of generator fuel on hand. If you have a large propane tank, work with your supplier to have it topped off when the level reaches an established point.
Solar Panels with Storage Battery Power
Solar Panels with Storage Batteries is a very good way of providing your home with emergency power, plus it works for you by supplementing PGE power during the normal times when there is no emergency. The number of Solar Panels and Batteries determines the number of appliances that can operate during an outage, but even the smallest system can provide you power equal to or greater than a Mid-level Generator. The initial cost of this system is much higher than any generator system, about six times higher than a large Mid-level Generator and three times higher than Total Home Generator. However, the payback on the investment from the cost savings purchasing PGE power, is between 8 and 10 years. (See Appendix Page A-3.3 and 3.4 for information on operation, costs and payback)
Keeping Your Food Cool or Frozen
Your Refrigerator/Freezer – The FDA advises that during a power outage your refrigerator will keep foodsafe for 4 hours in the cooler section, and the freezer section, at half full, will keep food frozen for 24 hours and full freezer for 48 hours. It is recommended that you have two “appliance thermometers” to monitor the temperature of each section. The cooler section should be no lower than 40o F. and the freezer 0o F. It is important to minimize the number of times you open the doors to maintain safe temperatures for as long as possible. It is also recommended that you keep frozen containers of water or freeze gel-packs in your freezer for use in ice chests during a power outage.
Ice Chest – Use pre frozen containers of water, freeze gel-packs, and ice from your freezer to keep foods at a save temperature. You can also use snow and ice left on the ground from the storm. As with your refrigerator, it is recommended that you have an “appliance thermometer” in each ice chest to monitor the temperature.
Appliance Thermometers – Appliance thermometers are available from most stores, Fred Meyers, Walmart, Safeway, etc., or online from Amazon. A wireless thermometer is also available and is recommended to eliminate the need to open the refrigerator or freezer doors to monitor the temperature. Every time you open a refrigerator door you lose cold air which reduces the time food will stay at the desired temperature. (See Appendix A-4 for examples)
Emergency Lighting
There is a large variety of emergency lighting available, some designed for general lighting and some for specific purposes. Regardless of the lighting type, it is recommended that it be powered by a rechargeable battery, specifically by use of a USB cable as this method of charging various devices is so common. They can be recharged using a Battery Pack or other devices that have charging capabilities. Rechargeable batteries eliminate the need for storing a large supply of fresh batteries. It is still a good idea to have some good battery operated lighting just in case. (See the Appendix A-5 and A-5.1 for emergency lighting product ideas)
Heating Your Home & Keeping Warm
Free standing woodstove or wood burning fireplace. These sources of heat work well depending uponthe size of the woodstove or fireplace in relation to the size of the room(s) you are heating. Blocking the entrance(s), with blankets is recommended. A free-standing woodstove generally works better than a fireplace as they typically radiate more heat. You can enhance woodstove performance by placing a Heat Powered Woodstove Fan on the top of the stove. The fan blows hot air into the space (see Appendix A for more information). Always keep a ten day supply of seasoned fire wood on hand. It is also recommended that you keep a supply of Fire Starters on hand for ease of starting a fire. A handheld fire extinguisher nearby is a must. If you are planning to buy and install a woodstove, do some research to determine the best size, construction, and ease of use for your needs. A soapstone woodstove, takes a long time to heat but provides residual heat for hours after the fire goes out.
Indoor Safe Ventless Propane Heaters – It is important to know what portable heat sources are safe to use indoors – many are not. A house fire is particularly dangerous during or immediately following a storm since emergency vehicles may not be able to get to your property or are delayed due to impassible roads. One manufacturer, Mr. Heater, sells a Ventless Propane 10,000 BTU radiant heater that they claim can heat a 300 sq. ft. area. There is no fan so electricity is not needed. Available as either a floor model or wall mounted, either way they must be connected to a propane tank that is located outside. (see Appendix A-6 for more information)
Battery Heated Clothing – You can keep pretty toasty in heated clothing, and there is a lot to choose from: stocking caps, gloves, vests, jackets, pants, long underwear and more. Most operate on rechargeable batteries. (see Appendix A-6.1 for examples)
Food and Sanitation
Food – Be sure to have ten days of emergency food on hand that does not require refrigeration. Acombination of MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), canned food, dehydrated food, and protein bars would be ideal. If you have a generator powering your freezer, prepared frozen meals that can be cooked on your emergency cooking appliance also works well.
Sanitation – Without power, hot water may not be available or very limited, for washing your hands, pots and pans, dishes, glasses, utensils etc. It is highly recommended to keep a supply of food-safe gloves for handling and prepping food, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, hand sanitizer etc., to minimize the need for hot water and to increase sanitation of the food serving process.
Cooking Meals
Being able to cook a hot meal, heat water for freeze-dried emergency meals, for coffee and tea make life a little nicer when the power is out and the room temperature is at a minimum. It is highly recommended that you have one or more of the following cooking sources:
Free Standing Woodstoves – Woodstoves work very well for cooking and the tops of most woodstoves are designed to place cooking pans, teapots, saucepans and fry pans on them. Be sure to store enough seasoned wood to burn for a ten day emergency. Always keep a handheld fire extinguisher nearby.
Propane Camp Stoves – These stoves work well, easy to ignite and come up to cooking temperature quickly. The only downside is they must be used outside or in a garage with the garage door opened. Be sure to store enough propane for a ten day emergency.
Propane and Briquette BBQ’s – Propane BBQ’s work best of these two, easy to ignite and control the heat. The Briquette-burning BBQ is more difficult to ignite, takes a long time to bring up to cooking temperature and after you cook it takes several hours to cool down, a waste of fuel. Both types must be operated outdoors. Be sure to store enough fuel for a ten day emergency.
Gas Range Top – If you have a propane fueled range top you have the best scenario for cooking. Most gas stoves have electronic ignition. However, when the power is out, gas stoves can be lit with
a match or lighter. To ignite, turn the gas dial to medium and hold the match or lighter close to the burner and wait for it to ignite. Remove your hand as soon as possible. Work with your propane supplier to maintain the tank at a high gas level, especially during the winter months.
Outdoor Wood-Burning Oven – These come is a wide variety of sizes (and cost). They can be portable or permanently installed. They require no electricity and can be particularly useful for small groups of neighbors.
Communications
Communication during a power outage is very important to be able to contact family, neighbors, friends, medical providers etc. In our neighborhood, it is important to have access to Bev Trover’s List and to the Parrett Mountain/Ladd Hill private Facebook group. Both these sources give real time updates on fallen trees, power outages, road dangers or closures, as well as offers of help or posts of needs such as water for livestock. Radios also offer a means of getting weather reports, PGE updates and the latest on the emergency.
Cell Phones – It’s very important to have spare battery packs, charging packs, or other means of charging your cell phones. Some emergency radios and rechargeable spot lights have USB ports for charging cell phones and other devices. (See Appendix A-7 for more information) Running your car to charge your cell phone wastes gas. There were several areas where gas stations ran dry due to the increased demand for gas and the difficulty of tankers getting access to restock. Also, some cell towers were damaged during this ice storm, in addition to overloaded circuits due to a high volume of calls being made.
Emergency Radios – Having an emergency solar and/or rechargeable battery powered radio on hand is important to keep informed on weather conditions, power outages etc. It is highly recommended that each household have at least one emergency radio. (See Appendix A-7 for more information)
Computers – For many of us a computer is our primary source of communication with family, neighbors, doctors etc. and in some cases your occupation. If your internet service is down, you can still get on line, if you have cell service, by use of a Hotspot on your phone or tablet or a portable WIFI/Hotspot device. Hotspot is available from your phone provider for a relatively small monthly fee.
Personal Safety Equipment
In a serve ice storm, like we had in February 2021, walking on ice can be treacherous. Safety equipment such as Trekking poles (walking poles) and clamp-on ice cleats will help to improve your safety. Hard hats are also good to protect you from small amounts of falling ice and very small limbs. (See Appendix A-8 for examples) Extreme Caution: Do not walk under trees with heavily laden ice or snow tree boughs or limbs as they can break off without warning and strike you, causing serious injury or death.
Emergency Tools
Having some equipment on hand to remove fallen branches, small trees, etc. with proper training on operation and safety. Suggested tools, heavy-duty limb loppers, hand saws, and a chain saw, either battery or gas operated. It is recommended that you have an extra battery for electric chain saws and keep them charged. For gas chain saws, start quarterly to check for proper operation and make sure you have an ample supply of fuel. For either gas or electric, always have plenty of bar oil and keep a spare replacement chain on hand.
Your Vehicles
During our recent storm, cars were damaged or even totaled by falling trees and heavy limbs. Having a working car, truck etc. is very important during an emergency. You may need transportation to the store(s) to purchase food, water, and medical supplies, or to help a neighbor, a family member, or a visit a medical facility etc.
Scout out a safe place or places to park your vehicles (especially if there’s no inside parking available) and park them before a storm arrives. One of our neighbors had two vehicles totaled by falling trees.
If you know in advance a storm is approaching, make sure your vehicle is topped off with fuel, as there may be times you may need your vehicle to stay warm or charge your phones. Use the fuel sparingly as there were several areas where gas stations ran dry due to increased demand for fuel and the difficulty in tankers getting access to restock.
Check in on Your Neighbors
This includes the elderly, infirm, physically challenged, or those lacking a computer, cell phone, or the wherewithal or resources to get help. Identifying who they are in advance of a storm or other emergency gives you both the opportunity to get to know each other.
APPENDIX “A”
Water Containers & Tanks
Phil and Rosemary Morton- We had six of these 5 gallon water containers (shown above). We transferred the water into one gallon bottles to use for everything including flushing toilets. They are available at many stores including Fred Myers, Walmart, Camping World and Bi-Mart for about $13 to $15. Be sure the container you purchase has a spigot for ease of drawing water. Also, place a bucket under the spigot to catch water that always seemed to drip.
The photo above shows what a typical emergency water tank looks like except they would be a black or dark green which blocks the UV rays. Algae will grow in tanks without UV protection. This photo is one from BayTech Containers. It is a 500 gallon size and is 48” in diameter and 71” tall. It has an 8” diameter lid on the top and two bulkhead fittings with spigots, one at 14” off the bottom and one at the bottom. Many tanks have other bulkhead fittings near the top. Price varies between $0.75-$1.00 per gallon size. Wilco and Home Depot both have water tanks in a few popular sizes and they can order a size that suits your needs. Search “emergency water tanks”. One neighbor suggests acquiring a non-electric-powered siphon device to draw water from the TOP portion of the storage tank, in case your tank has accumulated silt at the bottom caused by a low-flow well that tends to deliver cloudy water during the dry season.
Water Purifiers
There are probably hundreds of water purifiers from small to large and at every price level. Below are three examples. Do your homework and search “camping water purifiers” to determine what is best for you.
There are many brands of “Personal Water Filtration Straw”. Pictured above is the LifeStraw brand. They advertise: Filters up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals. Removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites, and filters to 0.2 microns; surpasses EPA filter standards. This three pack is priced at $48 on Amazon.
The photo above shows a gravity feed filtration system made by Alexpure Pro. They advertise: reduces up to 99.9999% of 206 contaminants, targeting heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, viruses & bacteria, pesticides & pharmaceuticals. Filter capacity of up to 5,000 gallon, stainless steel construction, low maintenance gravity powered, extended filter life with daily use, replacement filters are simple to install, spigot provides instant access to pure water, raw water capacity 2.25 gallons, fresh water capacity 2.25 gallons.
This is a high end manual pump type Military- grade water purifier made by MSR. They advertise: The purifier pump removes viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and particulate from contaminated water sources virtually anywhere on earth. It Meets NSF protocol P248 testing standard of the U.S. military, using medical-grade fibers to provide protection from the tiniest waterborne threats. This is an expensive unit priced at $350 on Amazon.
Home Generators – Entry Level
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We have a Honda 2000 Watt generator, one model before the 2200 Watt, pictured below, was introduced. Having a generator certainly made our life easier. We placed the generator just outside our garage door and ran two extension cords under the door, one to the garage refrigerator and one into the house. The house cord we plugged in a plug strip and used it for our TV and charging our phones, laptop, rechargeable flashlights etc. Without the generator we would have lost all our frozen food and most of the perishables in the cooler section.
I believe every home in our neighborhood should have at least an entry level generator similar to this one. I’m not a Honda salesman but they are the most popular and have a good reputation. A couple of their features are: 1) very quiet operation 2) easy to start, one or two pulls 3) runs for 8 hours on a gallon of gas. This Honda generator costs about $1200. You can find other brands, Champion, Generac, Westinghouse, and Predator for example, for about half the price. Some larger mid-level generators have electric start and have the option of running on Propane which is less expensive and better for long term storage. When considering a generator, do your homework online to find the one best suited for your needs and budget.
Operation of a gas generator: 1) Never operate a generator inside your house or garage. 2) Start your generator quarterly to make sure it runs properly. 3) Only use non-ethanol gas as engines that are stored for a long time, the ethanol will clog the carburetor and it’s $125 – $150 to fix. There is one gas station in Wilsonville that sells this gas, a Union 76 at the north exit, and there are a few in Sherwood and Newberg. It’s expensive, I paid $6 a gallon. 4) Keep two 5 gallons cans of gas on hand for an emergency.
This photo shows a standard Honda 2200 watt interconnected with a 2200 watt “companion generator” using Honda’s “parallel cables” which doubles the wattage to 4400. If 4400 watts is enough for your use this is a great option because you have two light weight individual generators that can easily be used for other activities, camping, parties, or any outdoor activity. The standard 2200 watt costs about $1200, the companion generator $1300, and the parallel cables $50.00. All the other brands of small generators have the same option available.
This is a very good Honda 2200 watt entry level generator. Cost is about $1200.
Home Generators – Mid Level
A mid-level generator would look similar to this one. These are portable generators and are available in ratings between 3500 and 10,000 watts, and depending on the size can power many electrical circuits in your panel, including your water well circuit. Some have pull start only and some are electric and pull start. They are gas powered however many come with the option of running on either gas or propane. Propane is best for longer- term outages as gas or diesel gets stale if stored too long. The only down side to propane is that it does not have the energy of gas and will reduce the listed wattage by about 10% depending on the size of the generator. With this level of generators, a manual or automatic “Transfer Switch” is required by code, wired into your electrical panel, to prevent electricity from the generator from “backfeeding” into the PGE lines. Typical costs for Honda generators are: 3500 watt $1,800, 5000 watt $2,550, 6500 watt $3,200 (pictured above) and 10,000 watt $5,940. There are several Honda’s that have close to or the same wattage with more or fewer options which varies the price. There are many other popular brands, Champion, Generac, Westinghouse and more, most with prices almost half Honda’s. Camping World carries Honda, Champion and Westinghouse.
Above is a typical illustration of a portable generator set up. A power cord would run from the generator to the “Power Inlet Box”, typically with a receptacle allowing removal of the cord when not in use. From there wired to the Transfer Switch, and then to your circuit breaker panel, called a “Load Center” in this illustration. Transfer Switches include a second set of circuit breakers, 6, 8, 10, or 12 breakers as example, the number determined the number of circuits of your panel you want to operate, which in turn determines your generator size. When a power outage occurs, with a manual switch you flip Transfer Switch’s main switch to generator power, or if automatic, after a few seconds of outage it will automatically switch to generator power. There are many different types of Transfer Switches with various options. It is recommended that you work with an electrician to help determine the size of the Transfer Switch and Generator, and to install the complete system. Depending upon the size and location of your circuit breaker panel and the number of circuits you want to power, the average cost of the electrical equipment and installation will range between $2,000 and $5,000. This does not include the cost of the portable generator.
Home Generators – Total Home
A total home generator would look similar to this one. This Generac brand is very popular and appears to be the largest company for home generator systems. They would typically be installed next to your house as close as possible to your circuit breaker panel. They are sized and installed, including all electrical, Automatic Transfer Switch etc. by an authorized Generac Distributor. It is sized to run your entire home as if you still had power from PGE. They run on propane and 500-1000 gallon tanks are common. Most homes in our neighbor would require between a 20kw and 24kw system. Search Generac Power Systems for detailed information and the name of local Distributors.
P.S. Phil and Rosemary Morton – As an example we got a quote on a complete Generac 16kw system from Bryant Power Services a little over a year ago for $12,350. This was a turnkey installation including a 120 gallon filled propane tank.
Generators – Tractor PTO Drive
If you own a tractor these generators are a great option for a power source. They are designed to run off the tractor’s Power Take Off (PTO), running at the standard 540 RPM of your tractor. The one on the left is designed to be permanently placed next to your house and the one on the right attaches to the tractor 3-Point hitch making it easy to store, and then moving to your house when an emergency occurs. Search PTO generators.
Solar Panels / Storage Batteries Power
Overview of System – The system is supplied as a package from a Solar Power Contractor that includes the Solar Panels with Inverter, and the Storage Batteries with Control Panel. The Solar Panels must be positioned to receive the most amount of sunlight, typically facing in a southernly direction. The best location, if you have the property, is on the ground but they can be mounted on your roof. The Control Panel and Storage Batteries would be wall mounted near your Circuit Breaker Panel. It’s important to note that Solar Panels will not work without PGE power so you must have the Storage Batteries in order to have a power outage backup power system. Referring to the schematic above, PGE power is disconnected from your Circuit Breaker Panel and re- routed to the Control Panel. Power wiring is run between the five components as illustrated. The Control Panel monitors and controls the entire operation of the system.
Basic Operation – During daylight the Solar Panels produces electricity that is sent to the Control Panel. The priority for the Solar Power is that it goes first to the house, so the Control Panel sends the electricity to the Circuit Breaker Panel to run the house. If the house does not need the power, or all the power being produced, the excess goes to the batteries for charging. If the batteries are fully charged then the excess power goes to the grid (PGE), and your PGE meter runs backwards. PGE is obligated to give you back the power on a one-to-one cost basis if you need it during the course of one solar year, March 1st to March 1st. So, excess power produced during the summer is metered back to you during the winter months, usually Nov, Dec, and Jan. Depending on how many Solar Panels you choose to have, Solar Panels start producing excess power that goes to the grid usually by mid-March. During a power outage the Solar Panels/Storage Batteries power your house during the day and during the night just the Batteries power the house.
Costs – The approximate installed costs of Solar Panels with Inverter are $3,000 per kw, (kilowatt, 1000 watts) so for a 6 kw system, which is about the smallest you would want, the cost is approximately $18,000. The approximate installed cost of a 15 kw Storage Battery is $6,000 each including installation with a Control Panel. You need at least two Storage Batteries or about 30 kw storage, to make the system worthwhile. So, for two batteries and a Control Panel the installed cost is approximately $12,000. The total for a system of this size would be about $30, 000. Federal and State tax credits will reduce this cost. There are a lot of variables but the average payback on a Solar Panel / Storage Battery system is between 6 and 8 years.
Specific Example – One of our energy conscious neighbors have a 9.9 kw Solar Panel array with two Storage Batteries supporting their 3600 sq. ft. all electric house. This system has consistently produced over 11,000 kwh (kilowatt hours) per year for eight years, which is over 90% of their yearly energy demand. During the ice storm of February 14, 2021, they lost PGE power for eight days.
They used a wood stove for heat, and using the solar power sparingly had adequate power from their system to operate lights, refrigerator, a separate freezer, induction range top, water well, and watch TV for two hours per night. They turned off the main hot water heater and had enough power to turn it on every third day for hot showers. For other hot water they use a hard plumbed 2 gallon 110 volt hot water heater under the kitchen and bathroom sinks for continuous hot water at the sinks plus an electric instant hot faucet at the kitchen sink that provides super-hot water anytime for coffee, tea, etc. It is not recommended to heat your home using a Solar/Battery system as the power demand is typically too high. An alternate heat source such as a wood stove or propane powered furnace is recommended to provide heat during a power outage.
Typical Installation below (one of our neighbors home)
Appliance Thermometers
These are typical Appliance Thermometers available at most of our grocery stores and Amazon. The one on the left is about $5.00 and right is about $3.00.
This is an AcuRite Wireless system with one cooler and one freezer sensors. Programable to set a max temperture desired and if it goes over an alarm will sound. There are many to choose from. This one is about $30.00 on Amazon.
Emergency Lighting
Lighting options of almost any size, shape and battery options available. See examples below.
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We purchased two of these LED Spot Lights a couple of months ago and they proved to be extremely helpful. The main features are: 1) rechargeable battery using a USB cord that is permanently attached to the light (see photo) so no cord or charger to lose. 2) It has a very long range and we can easily see the barn 300 feet from the house. 3) It has a USB port that can be used to charge your cell phone and other devices. It takes a while to charge a cell phone but it’s better than nothing. Amazon offers many Spotlights and I chose this one based on the specs. Currently they are $33.95. These are difficult to find on Amazon, try searching Rechargeable Spotlight LED, Super Bright 4800 MAH 6000 Lumens.
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We have two LED Headlamps similar to this one. The main advantage of these headlamps is it allows you do activities hands free, making almost everything you do in the dark safer. We used them finding our way around the dark house, and outdoors in the dark when we had to use the Trekking Poles. Amazon has a large selection to choose from. This one has a rechargeable battery that charges using a USB cord and costs $25.99. In Amazon search Headlamp, 3 LED Headlamp Flashlight.
One of our neighbors suggested Ryobi brand flashlights and these are just two examples. They produce a lot of light and the primary advantage of these lights is they operate on a rechargeable 18 volt lithium battery, and most of their 18 volt products use the same battery. So, it is easy to have many batteries charged up and ready to go for emergencies. The flashlight on the left with charger and battery is $98, and the lantern on the right with charger and battery is $114. Home Depot is a Ryobi distributor.
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We purchased two of these LuminAid brand solar inflatable lanterns a couple of years ago and love them. We use them for camping and they were used during the recent power outage. They have a built in lithium battery that is recharged by the solar panel on the top, 12- 14 hours in direct sunlight, or by a USB cord, provided, in 1-2 hours charge time. They also have a port for charging your phone. There are two or three different sizes to choose from starting at $50 on Amazon. Search LuminAid.
This lantern is made by Agpex. This is an LED lantern with five ways of charging: 1) solar 2) crank, 3) car adaptor, 4) AC adaptor 5) three AA batteries. It also has a USB charging port for charging cell phones and other devices. It’s listed on Amazon for $26.00
Small battery operated flashlights are a must and there are lots to choose from. It is recommended that whatever you purchase, be consistent with the size of battery, AA or AAA, with your other battery operated devices. No need to keep a supply of fresh batteries for both sizes. This 3- pack of Defiant flashlights is $15.00 at Home Depot. In an emergency they are great to have in your pocket.
And course there are always candles, you cannot have enough of them. I believe you can make a party out of any situation. Phil
Keeping Warm
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We purchased two of these Heat Powered Woodstove Fans, this model and one a little smaller. You set them right on top of your woodstove and once the stove gets hot the fan starts. No electricity is needed as it generates power by converting the heat from your wood stove into electricity. It works pretty well blowing hot air into the space. Both of the units we purchased were from Amazon and were manufactured by EcoFan. They are expensive, the large one on Amazon was $160 and the smaller one $84. Amazon offers many of these fans, different sizes, and performance. Search Heat Powered Woodstove Fan and read all the specs carefully to determine which is best for your situation.
This is a ventless propane heater made by Mr. Heater and is Listed for inside home use. Shown in the photo is the floor mounted model, a wall mounted model is also offered. The propane tank must be located outside so ideally you would locate the heater on an outside wall, and run the pipe from your propane tank through the wall directly into the heater. If you have a permanently mounted propane tank it may be relatively easy to run a pipe to the heater location. A portable propane tank can be used by permanently installing a pipe from the heater to the outside, then install the proper pipe adaptor to hook up to a portable tank, like a 5-gallon tank used for BBQ’s. They are available in several sizes as example:10,000 BTU advertised to heat 300 sq. ft. for $185, and 18,000 BTU advertised to heat 700 sq. ft. for $225. Do your homework and search Propane Ventless Heaters and read all the specs carefully to determine the one best suited for your needs. Caution: Always use a licensed gas plumbing contractor to install the system.
Probably hundreds of types and styles of heated clothing for men and women to choose from. Below are just some examples. Most use a 5 to 7.5 volt rechargeable battery and most have a button to vary the heat from low, medium and high. On Amazon search Heated Clothing.
Communications
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We purchased this emergency radio about four years ago and have used it many times camping but this is the first time we have used it for an emergency. This is a great little radio and gets very good reception both AM and FM. It has lots of features as you will see on the bullet points above. The hand crank does charge the battery but it takes a long time. The cell phone charger is slow but certainly better than nothing. I recommend this radio to all our neighbors. On Amazon it’s $59.99 and I advise purchasing the optional AC charging adaptor as well. Voyager also has essentially the same radio except it has digital tuning and Bluetooth at about $80. In Amazon search Voyager KA500. It’s available in two or three colors.
Phil and Rosemary Morton – We have a Portable Power Bank similar to this one that we used for charging our cell phones and tablets. This large capacity 26800mAh power bank can charge most phones for 8-10 times and iPad for about 2-3 times for an average of 9 days of unrestrained usage per charge. Amazon has many sizes to choose from and this one sells for $26.99. Search Power Bank 26800mAh
Personal Safety
Phil Morton – It is not recommended to go out on the ice, but there are situations when you have to. I had no choice but to feed the horses and to put gas in our small generator. We have Trekking Poles similar to these and they helped a lot on the ice. Amazon has a large selection, and I recommend you purchase a pair with multiple tips for different terrains and weather conditions. Pointed tips as shown on this photo are a must for ice. Search Trekking Poles. (Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles. Amazon $23.00)
I do not have the Traction Cleats but wished I did when I was out on the ice. I’ll be ordering soon. Amazon has a large selection of these also. Search Ice Cleats. (Ice/Snow traction Cleats. Amazon $16.00)