Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 21, 2015 14:34:07 GMT 10
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 21, 2015 15:44:59 GMT 10
They are now evacuating Dungog. People are being asked to pack a BOB and to take bedding like pillows, sleeping bags with them and go to High School.
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Post by SA Hunter on Apr 21, 2015 17:15:00 GMT 10
Hope all in our preparedness family in this area are safe and well, and dry!
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 21, 2015 19:32:01 GMT 10
I was listening to 2GB - Ben Fordham - when he took a call from a lady that was on her own and had been without power since early this morning. She was trapped in her street by a fallen tree and couldn't get out. She wasn't elderly, probably between 50 - 60 and she came right out and said thru tears......she was scared. I guess for the first time since we started prepping, I felt real empathy for her predicament. And it suddenly dawned on me that somehow men in these circumstances can wander outside and see what's going on. But a woman on her own is very vulnerable.
This lady knew no-one in her street and this scenario is going to repeat itself over and over and over again in a SHTF circumstance. Single, middle aged and older women on their own. Any one of us women could be in her predicament with the loss of a loved one thru a myriad of reasons. It's something that us 'old birds' need to discuss with our prepper partners. I'm not sure what I would do without Hubby at my side if SHTF and I think if we didn't have our children nearby, I would be taking steps if I was on my own to move closer to them. Now might be a good time to sway colleagues, family and friends if they have gone through the storms around Sydney, to ask what would they do if power didn't come back on for several days . How would they manage? In fact, Ben Fordham asked listeners to call in to let others know what they did to prepare for just this scenario. I don't think there was one call, but hopefully it sowed some seeds among the listeners.
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Post by throwingbrick on Apr 23, 2015 20:10:35 GMT 10
one of my mates nearly copped a tv aerial.
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 23, 2015 22:16:04 GMT 10
Geez. How lucky was he!!
Just listening to Price & Bolt on 2GB. People ringing in that still have no power from Monday night. Angry. Frustrated. Wanting to blame someone. Food gone off. Can't have a hot shower. Sick of trying to cook on single flame. Cannot buy candles anywhere. My husband wants to go to ANZAC service and cannot iron his shirt. No power for someone with medical problems. etc etc etc. Many years ago - 30 years - I worked for for the 2nd largest electricity provider in NSW before it was amalgamated. I worked with the Engineers that designed the distribution of the electricity in new subdivisions etc. I also was part of a team that prioritised work when we had extreme weather conditions like we have just experienced. I would imagine that ways of doing things may have been streamlined, but the network (except there would be much more for underground networks) is still the same aboveground network.
In the case of extreme weather like we have had, unless it is life threatening, the men/crews will not be sent up poles in the dark or if the wind is extreme. So today being fine would be the first opportunity the crews would have been able to establish where the faults are. Hospitals will be given priority and if this means back feeding and re-routing the power away from a residential area, they will. Some people may experience power for a couple of hours, then nothing. If you live near a hospital or essential services, they are re-routing your service to provide the hospital etc. Then the hospitals will get an influx of crews to re-establish safe secure power. Next Other groups including nursing homes, essential services and then schools will take priority over residential. And you may see lights on across the road at the Police Station, but you may be in darkness. This means they are on a line that is an 'essential service' and you may not even be fed by the same transformer/substation as the Police Station.
This event may be likened to the Cyclones we get in QLD/WA/NT. Whereas strong winds will bring down the lines, they can be re-attached much quicker than wires that are damaged by fallen trees, flying debris or poles that have toppled over due to flood waters or rain soaked ground. They will be sending out a call outside of this area to other electricity providers for wire and poles as I would imagine some of the wooden poles would be snapped in half and the wires may be beyond repair. Then you have the insulators, mounting brackets, cross arms etc. Then you need cranes to lift concrete/timber poles into place and the manpower. It's not going to be an overnight job. I remember when Cyclone Tracey hit and we sent line crews in trucks to help get Darwin's power back. Hundreds of electricity crews from councils around Australia took it in turns to restore power. It took months. The area hit is much, much bigger than Darwin. This has nothing to do with living in a city as compared to the country as Price was indicating that in 'today's age, these things should be fixed much quicker in the city than the country'. Is he saying that those in the country should take a backseat to those in the city? That city folk deserve to be re-connected much faster than our country cousins, because well, they are the city after all! I was appalled by his inference! And in the coming weeks/months we might just see an influx of generators on the market!
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Post by Peter on Apr 24, 2015 7:47:12 GMT 10
All too easy. I won't lose any sleep over others who have the same opportunity to prep but couldn't be bothered. Yet I'm sure many of those sheeple would believe they're "entitled" to share in your preps if they knew about them...
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 24, 2015 10:17:01 GMT 10
Many seem to expect 'government' to rescue them. I'm surprised at the attitude of Steve Price toward the power companies to get him out of the situation he is in ASAP. There are 50 people in Dungog with no roof over their heads and these 'city posturing entitled people' are upset because they can't iron a shirt or get a hot shower. Before SHTF these are the ones that ridicule those 'being prepared' but after SHTF these same people will probably perish first due to their own ignorance and stupidity. We didn't loose power, but it gave us an opportunity to go thru mentally what we would need to do. www.2gb.com/audioplayer/102011
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krull68
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Post by krull68 on Apr 24, 2015 12:09:07 GMT 10
I was listening to 2GB - Ben Fordham - when he took a call from a lady that was on her own and had been without power since early this morning. She was trapped in her street by a fallen tree and couldn't get out. She wasn't elderly, probably between 50 - 60 and she came right out and said thru tears......she was scared. I guess for the first time since we started prepping, I felt real empathy for her predicament. And it suddenly dawned on me that somehow men in these circumstances can wander outside and see what's going on. But a woman on her own is very vulnerable. This lady knew no-one in her street and this scenario is going to repeat itself over and over and over again in a SHTF circumstance. Single, middle aged and older women on their own. Any one of us women could be in her predicament with the loss of a loved one thru a myriad of reasons. It's something that us 'old birds' need to discuss with our prepper partners. I'm not sure what I would do without Hubby at my side if SHTF and I think if we didn't have our children nearby, I would be taking steps if I was on my own to move closer to them. Now might be a good time to sway colleagues, family and friends if they have gone through the storms around Sydney, to ask what would they do if power didn't come back on for several days . How would they manage? In fact, Ben Fordham asked listeners to call in to let others know what they did to prepare for just this scenario. I don't think there was one call, but hopefully it sowed some seeds among the listeners. Therein lies the major problem. People have become insulated against everyone else, this is what the govt wants, everyone on their own, with govt being the only fallback if anything goes wrong.
The first thing I and my wife did on moving to our new house was to introduce ourselves to the neighbours. We now get on really well, help each other with things, plus the best part, I can get honey any time I want as one bloke next door is a bee farmer.
We are also part of a church that has a fantastic social system in place, complete backup for almost any event, all internal, no need to govt intervention.
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serene
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Post by serene on Apr 24, 2015 18:11:48 GMT 10
Well, 3 1/2 days without power, phone service, internet! - I've only just started prepping but although it was uncomfortable, we didn't panic, AND I got to show my sceptical teenage daughter that mum's "prepping" is useful after all! I was able to explain to her, while boiling water on my camp stove for coffee for myself and neighbours, that prepping isn't just tin-foil hat stuff, it's for situations exactly like we experienced over the last 4 days. I've learned some lessons, and although I've had a list for a few months of things I want/need, I have now updated that list to move some items like a battery operated radio (it's now near the top of the list). What an experience!
I’m just so lucky that I was able to gain this valuable experience in a relatively safe way. My house is fine, some neighbours have damage but nothing major in my street, unlike several in my suburb and of course other areas like Dungog. My thoughts are with them, and my thanks are with all the emergency responders – they have done an absolutely awesome job!
I now have so much more confidence that I can do this. I refuse to be one of those who just expects the government or whoever to just step in and fix everything and provide whatever I need. I know this was different, I knew the power was going to come back on eventually, but it was a great test not only for our supplies, but for our attitudes and emotions. What we did find is that boredom was the biggest issue, esp for the teenagers.
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Apr 24, 2015 18:23:36 GMT 10
Good life lesson for the kids Serene! I am glad you are all okay!
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Apr 24, 2015 18:30:18 GMT 10
Geez. How lucky was he!! Just listening to Price & Bolt on 2GB. People ringing in that still have no power from Monday night. Angry. Frustrated. Wanting to blame someone. Food gone off. Can't have a hot shower. Sick of trying to cook on single flame. Cannot buy candles anywhere. My husband wants to go to ANZAC service and cannot iron his shirt. No power for someone with medical problems. etc etc etc. Many years ago - 30 years - I worked for for the 2nd largest electricity provider in NSW before it was amalgamated. I worked with the Engineers that designed the distribution of the electricity in new subdivisions etc. I also was part of a team that prioritised work when we had extreme weather conditions like we have just experienced. I would imagine that ways of doing things may have been streamlined, but the network (except there would be much more for underground networks) is still the same aboveground network. In the case of extreme weather like we have had, unless it is life threatening, the men/crews will not be sent up poles in the dark or if the wind is extreme. So today being fine would be the first opportunity the crews would have been able to establish where the faults are. Hospitals will be given priority and if this means back feeding and re-routing the power away from a residential area, they will. Some people may experience power for a couple of hours, then nothing. If you live near a hospital or essential services, they are re-routing your service to provide the hospital etc. Then the hospitals will get an influx of crews to re-establish safe secure power. Next Other groups including nursing homes, essential services and then schools will take priority over residential. And you may see lights on across the road at the Police Station, but you may be in darkness. This means they are on a line that is an 'essential service' and you may not even be fed by the same transformer/substation as the Police Station. This event may be likened to the Cyclones we get in QLD/WA/NT. Whereas strong winds will bring down the lines, they can be re-attached much quicker than wires that are damaged by fallen trees, flying debris or poles that have toppled over due to flood waters or rain soaked ground. They will be sending out a call outside of this area to other electricity providers for wire and poles as I would imagine some of the wooden poles would be snapped in half and the wires may be beyond repair. Then you have the insulators, mounting brackets, cross arms etc. Then you need cranes to lift concrete/timber poles into place and the manpower. It's not going to be an overnight job. I remember when Cyclone Tracey hit and we sent line crews in trucks to help get Darwin's power back. Hundreds of electricity crews from councils around Australia took it in turns to restore power. It took months. The area hit is much, much bigger than Darwin. This has nothing to do with living in a city as compared to the country as Price was indicating that in 'today's age, these things should be fixed much quicker in the city than the country'. Is he saying that those in the country should take a backseat to those in the city? That city folk deserve to be re-connected much faster than our country cousins, because well, they are the city after all! I was appalled by his inference! And in the coming weeks/months we might just see an influx of generators on the market! "Can't have a hot shower", recently our hot water system broke so we had a night of no hot shower! What did we do, we boiled up some water on our 6 litre Drovers billy (did that twice didnt take very long) and transfered the water to our bath. Had a nice hot bath. I know it was only one night but I wanted to try the thing out and it worked well.
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 24, 2015 20:04:47 GMT 10
Well done serene! I'm glad you and your children are safe. One thing I noticed was the amount of people that could not use their phone be it mobile or landline. I came across this company and have purchased their products. The only issue would be no sun when it rains! Otherwise good Aussie products that pays it forward to those less fortunate in the Philippines. www.illumination.solar/
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 24, 2015 20:19:58 GMT 10
Those camp showers are good too Rem. The only thing is the weight when they are full. When we had property, I'd fill a couple and lay them in the sun but they do get hot because of the black pastic so learnt to only fill them 1/2 full to allow to add cold water. I've seen them on special for as low as $10. I can't wait to crank up our OZPIG, sit in front of a fire on a winters night with the kettle on the edge. I actually picked up a coffee percolator for the cast iron fire. The smell of coffee brewing over a fire outside is heaven. Mmmm. Attachments:
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serene
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Post by serene on Apr 24, 2015 21:05:51 GMT 10
Well done serene! I'm glad you and your children are safe. One thing I noticed was the amount of people that could not use their phone be it mobile or landline. I came across this company and have purchased their products. The only issue would be no sun when it rains! Otherwise good Aussie products that pays it forward to those less fortunate in the Philippines. www.illumination.solar/ Landline lasted a little bit longer than the mobiles, only a couple of hours or so. Both were out from Tuesday morning. Our mobile service only came up this afternoon. There was absolutely nothing until then! We would occasionally get "Emergency calls only" but mostly just "No Service". I would listen to the car radio every now and then, and they would say in one breath "there's 100,000 people with no electricity" then in the next sentence, they'd be telling us to check their facebook page for road and school closures! I thought it was a bit funny - most of us with no electricity had no internet either.....it just highlighted how reliant we are on phones and internet - and how those that weren't affected really had no idea that mobile and internet services were down too.
I really want one of those solar chargers now lol.
One thing I did have that quite a lot of people didn't (and I only have this because I've read it in relation to prepping) was CASH. So many people were caught without it. When you eventually found a service station with a genny that could pump fuel - they would only accept cash. Same for a lot of shops, if they were open. I am going to replace what I've used and add more for next time.
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Post by Peter on Apr 24, 2015 22:03:42 GMT 10
I've long been a proponent of keeping cash at hand. Some in the safe, some in my wallet, but also some in a depleted Berocca tin. It's one thing I doubt thieves would be interested in (pre-crunch, anyway).
Serene, it's great to hear of your progress (I hope that doesn't sound condescending!). I've found that it's the little things that teach us the most. For example, a three-day power cut here a few years ago taught me to always have a LED light (the small UFO-shaped type) above our torch/candle/battery drawer, another in the toilet, and others in various places around the house. It also taught me the value of having spare batteries at hand, candles, extra matches/lighters, etc. Out of interest I went into a Bunnings at the time, to find their entire stocks of torches, lanterns, candles and batteries sold out.
When the big one happens, I really won't want to be anywhere near a retail store.
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remnantprep
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Post by remnantprep on Apr 24, 2015 22:38:25 GMT 10
Those camp showers are good too Rem. The only thing is the weight when they are full. When we had property, I'd fill a couple and lay them in the sun but they do get hot because of the black pastic so learnt to only fill them 1/2 full to allow to add cold water. I've seen them on special for as low as $10. I can't wait to crank up our OZPIG, sit in front of a fire on a winters night with the kettle on the edge. I actually picked up a coffee percolator for the cast iron fire. The smell of coffee brewing over a fire outside is heaven. Mmmm. Yup got a couple of them as well!
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 25, 2015 4:12:36 GMT 10
I'm a bit bewildered why the mobile phone service would go down? This is a radio spectrum network and could have had repeaters ? extend coverage to this area?? Internet within home yes because once again relies on electricity. But the mobile phone system is an entirely separate network.
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arkane
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Post by arkane on Apr 25, 2015 7:56:10 GMT 10
Phone towers need electricity to operate! and they all link to landlines somewhere!
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Apr 25, 2015 18:10:47 GMT 10
I feel so stupid arkane - thanks for pointing that out! But if the SOS can get thru?? After the dawn service the family came back for breakfast. My son set up the sauce bottle, coffee mugs, salt, juice etc trying to get my head around it but your correct arkane - and like my son explained, you need electricity.
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