[CrowGirl]

Originally Posted by Rabflmom

Remember you cannot use oil lamps, candles, or anything you use a match to light during the storms. After the winds is when to use them.

Why is this? We used candles during storms without anything bad happening. I don't think I'd use an oil lamp because you are inside and they get hot and smelly, but candles weren't a problem. I'm just curious, because I haven't heard this before.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa

I would assume that anyone on this board would not get drunk and then operate a chain saw, but I will try to put warnings on future posts about such things.

Here is a warning to those of you who have never been through a hurricane...don't get drunk and then try to operate a chain saw, or do other things that might be dangerous.

There...you may now feel free to stock up on beer for your post-hurricane powerless days.

You don't have to warn people, they will do it anyway. They drink and drive beat their wives abuse they children. People are just not responsible. Why would they all of a sudden do the right thing? One guy last time we had a big storm was standing in his front yard watching the storm and was killed when a tree fell on him. Want to bet he probably had a beer in his hand. Warning people what not to do is pretty much a waste of time but still worth mentioning.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/national/25wilma.html

[Kevin from Tampa]

Originally Posted by mango23

You don't have to warn people, they will do it anyway. They drink and drive beat their wives abuse they children. People are just not responsible. Why would they all of a sudden do the right thing? One guy in plantation the last time we had a big storm was standing in his front yard watching the storm and was killed when a tree fell on him. Want to bet he probably had a beer in his hand. Warning people what not to do is pretty much a waste of time but still worth mentioning.

I was being facetious. Sometimes people take things a little too seriously. I suggested that it was a good idea to stock up on beer and one response I got was "that's unsafe, someone might operate a chain saw while drinking."

Well, yeah...someone might operate a chain saw while drinking. Some people wander out in the middle of hurricanes and get hit by falling trees. Some people go swimming alligator-infested lakes. Stupid is stupid. That doesn't mean that a RESPONSIBLE person can't get a stash of hurricane beer to share with their neighbor once the storm passes.

Can't we all just lighten up a little bit?

[TXRyan23]

http://culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2010-01-06/Lone_Star_beer_six_pack_bottles.263w_350h.jpg (broken link)

^^^^^
Hurricane preparedness

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

Why is this? We used candles during storms without anything bad happening. I don't think I'd use an oil lamp because you are inside and they get hot and smelly, but candles weren't a problem. I'm just curious, because I haven't heard this before.

I would use flashlights because things go bump in the night during the storms. Our plywood came off and winds came in windows. Then our plywood flew and hit our neighbors patio and took out their sliding glass door that wasn't covered. Other friends lost the side of their building(stripped off the stucco and tore out the window frames and the wind swirled throughout the whole condo)If your roof fails and the ceiling starts falling in on your head like it did on a lot of people during Andrew and to some here on central East Coast during Jeanne, you have to move fast and get to a safer spot in the house. The candles and oil lamps could catch your house on fire during the storm and there are no fire trucks out after 50 mph winds are in the area usually. Safer to use flashlights because they will keep you in light so you can see where you are going if wind does get in and blow out the candles, too.

So mostly just because having a fire of any type in your house when there is no way for firemen to get to it, is why I say no candles , oil lamps, etc till the storm has passed.

We might be over cautious, but it is our rule. We actually didn't use any candles or the oil lamp after Jeanne either. We used flashlights to get from room to room and sat in the dark on the patio most nights. We tended to go to bed earlier because there is absolutely nothing to do and were afraid we wouldn't wake up early enough to get a cold shower in the morning and to work on time. We didn't have phones, landline or cell after the storms and there wasn't a wind up clock to be found after the storm. LOL

[Mike1306]

Originally Posted by TXRyan23

http://culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2010-01-06/Lone_Star_beer_six_pack_bottles.263w_350h.jpg (broken link)

^^^^^
Hurricane preparedness

That looks unprepared to me, this is prepared.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by Mike Peterson

That looks unprepared to me, this is prepared.

Touché

[mango23]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

Why is this? We used candles during storms without anything bad happening. I don't think I'd use an oil lamp because you are inside and they get hot and smelly, but candles weren't a problem. I'm just curious, because I haven't heard this before.

I have used candles but I am a little paranoid about them. I always put them in the center of a casserole with about an inch of water in it.

The last hurricane we lost power for more then a week. I brought in my solar patio lights and they worked great. They would be pretty much out by the time the sun came up but they gave us plenty light so we could move about the house with no problem most all night. Then we just put them outside to recharge during the day.

[CrowGirl]

Originally Posted by mango23

I have used candles but I am a little paranoid about them. I always put them in the center of a casserole with about an inch of water in it.

The last hurricane we lost power for more then a week. I brought in my solar patio lights and they worked great. They would be pretty much out by the time the sun came up but they gave us plenty light so we could move about the house with no problem most all night. Then we just put them outside to recharge during the day.

I certainly understand that - I treat candles with respect at all times, storms or not. I'd never leave them burning when I go to bed, etc. We always had flashlights and other types of lights too and used those to go between rooms but we would often use candles for ambient light in the room in which we were sitting.

[Juleysis1990]

Seems everyone missed the point. The poster who said not to use candles, said not to use them during the storm.