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To: blam
The gasoline and propane is just to get me through until I can get my wood-burning supplies out and set-up. Wood-burning is a whole other thing...fire bricks, cast iron pots/pans, chain saws/axes...etc.

I have prepared the same way and would say that a couple of months of fuel would help in the transition to the "new normal". I still believe we will see similar problems as those experienced in Argentina.

There probably will be shortages and intermittent outages of electricity. Because of this I am not preparing for a total grid down situation "alone".

Years ago I installed inverters (stacked) and L16 batteries for power outages that are quite common where we live. This insured refrigeration and kept the deep well (170 feet) running. Our fuel requirements for charging the batteries and other chores while the generator is running is about 1.5 gallons of fuel per day.

If it is a longterm grid down then I have 8 helios with all the gear ready to mount for well water. The fuel buys me that time if necessary. The probable worst case however will be rationing. The back-up system is set to handle that by keeping 10 critical circuits powered until they can switch back to external power and charging.

We also purchased a gas stove that can quickly adjusted internally to use propane. I do not foresee this as being likely since we live in the middle of the largest gas producing municipality of western PA. Again, if worst case we have a year to make out transition over to wood.

Finally, we all burn wood in my little neck of rural heaven. Have everything you mentioned in storage, except we do fire up two of the four wood stoves regularly during the winter months. Have five full chords seasoned and ready always. I can cut, hull and split a chord during a weekend (if I have to). Check out this little baby from Northern Tool. I prefer my electric splitter, but the one linked works great.

In short I agree with you that fuel buys time (if necessary) for the new normal. I'm betting on the middle case situation, while having prepared for the worst. I have never considered preparation as an act of self flagellation.
143 posted on 04/30/2011 11:34:20 AM PDT by PA Engineer (Time to beat the swords of government tyranny into the plowshares of freedom.)
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To: PA Engineer

I’m well prepared and in a rural area too. I’d like to have you as my neighbor though. I have neighbors that compliment and fill-in some gaps in my preparations...as I do theirs.


147 posted on 04/30/2011 2:30:44 PM PDT by blam
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