[vter]

My parents have a small generator that they used to keep a small refridgerator going during the 4 days without power this spring (spring storm near Rutland).
If you've got a generator, keep it outside. If you can't, make sure you have working CO detectors.

[Julie*]

I have lived in Vermont most of my life. Grew up in Jeffersonville and now live in Colchester.

Anyway, I don't think we lose power very often at all. We lost it once this spring for about 5 hours and that was due to a car accident and a pole coming down.

I would say that it's important to keep flashlights and candles available. We also will continue to have heat and hot water if we lose electricity b/c we run on natural gas so I guess I figure we'll never freeze to death.

Obviously, if anyone in my family had special electrical needs then that would be a different story.

Julie

[flu189]

Originally Posted by arel

What do people do if they or a family member have medication that needs refrigeration? Are there battery-powered small coolers? Or very small generators for refrigerators? Regular coolers are no good once the ice packs warm up, but they would be ok for several hours.

If I move up to Vermont I'll buy a small generator to cover the refreigerator and the heater. I'll also make sure to have a wood stove or pellet stove.

I went without heat one very cold night in Rhode Island. I was macho and wanted to tough it out. I slept in a down coat, but was still very cold. In retrospect it was a stupid risk. I could have frozen to death. And I had friends nearby at whose home I could have stayed.

I would not do such a stupid thing in Vermont.

For maintining medications at the right temperature and or humidity see your pharmacist. They can recommend medical supply distributers with the right products for preserving your Rx. Any diabetics out there who are insulin dependant already know how maintain their insulin in both extreme cold and hot conditions.

[arel]

Originally Posted by flu189

For maintining medications at the right temperature and or humidity see your pharmacist. They can recommend medical supply distributers with the right products for preserving your Rx. Any diabetics out there who are insulin dependant already know how maintain their insulin in both extreme cold and hot conditions.

I need to learn how to maintain insulin. I am not diabetic, thankfully, but one of my cats is, and his insulin has to be refrigerated. He has another medication that I keep refrigerated, but refrigeration for that one is not essential. When I wrote my post about medications, I was writing in reference to his insulin.

Thank you, flu189, I will learn how to protect the insulin in the event of a blackout.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

In Proctor, we lost electricity maybe three times the whole
time we were there. Even during the infamous Rutland Tsunami
that happened a month ago, we never lost power once. I think 2
hours was the longest it was off. The nite before our moving truck
came, that real scary foto-shop/cheep horror movie lightening was
crashing everywhere. I watched a bolt light up a power line across
the street. About 6 ft. of the wire looked like a sparkler.
Strangely, we lost power to the lower outlets in our house, but not
the lights. I thought my computer was char-fry-broiled but when
the lower outlet circuit became active, all was good

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by KoZmiC NinJa

In Proctor, we lost electricity maybe three times the whole
time we were there. Even during the infamous Rutland Tsunami
that happened a month ago, we never lost power once. I think 2
hours was the longest it was off. The nite before our moving truck
came, that real scary foto-shop/cheep horror movie lightening was
crashing everywhere. I watched a bolt light up a power line across
the street. About 6 ft. of the wire looked like a sparkler.
Strangely, we lost power to the lower outlets in our house, but not
the lights. I thought my computer was char-fry-broiled but when
the lower outlet circuit became active, all was good

That wasn't a Tsunami that hit Rutland it was a wind event. A tsunami is a water surge event from the ocean. As others have stated I don't think power outages is a big problem in Vermont. Heck, during the big Valentines Day snowstorm we never lost power. I think the power companies that serve Vermont do a fantastic job. When there is a big power outage event crews from neighboring states always rush in to help as do Vermont crews do when they have a problem.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

MRV....I was being sort of facitious calling it a Tsunami....
I think generic 'wind event' is sort of watered down, though. My Wife
and I were driving through Rutland at 7:00 am that day and what we
saw was unbelievable !!! HUGE limbs being ripped from trees and
wires just flopping around in the road. Stuff was hitting the car
that was being blown from yards and who knows where else
IT was crazy !!!

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by KoZmiC NinJa

MRV....I was being sort of facitious calling it a Tsunami....
I think generic 'wind event' is sort of watered down, though. My Wife
and I were driving through Rutland at 7:00 am that day and what we
saw was unbelievable !!! HUGE limbs being ripped from trees and
wires just flopping around in the road. Stuff was hitting the car
that was being blown from yards and who knows where else
IT was crazy !!!

Yup, it was a crazy event for sure. You guys have must have thought you were driving thru the beginning scene from the Wizard of Oz.

[ab8mi]

For those that are thinking of generators either buy one and have it installed properly with an autothrowover that isolates you from the utility or connect it directly to the appliances being served. Do do otherwise could place utility workers in severe danger. If you are not sure that your installation is correct any of the utilities will inspect it for free.

[flu189]

Someone at Vt Electric Coop must be following this thread because in the last two days I have had the power go out for short periods (10 to 20 min) three times. Probably line work in the region and the only effect is that clocks need to be reset. With that said I always keep a battery operated alarm clock when I have to be up by certain times. Many of you are pretty lucky. I have been here coming on two years and have experienced at least six outages ranging from 12 hours to four days.