Our Progress

I shared before how, as seniors, my bride and I survived through the Polar Vortex which slammed through South Texas (we live in the country outside of San Antonio) in after being trapped by ice in our subdivision and being without power for 5 days, we then went without water for 6 weeks due to numerous breaks in our plumbing.

No Power for a Week

We live in south Central Texas. This is when we learned Texas alone of all the 50 states has its own power grid. The whole state suffered the power loss, although some local utilities bounced back quicker than others.

We were without power for 5 days and trapped in our subdivision because of sheets of ice on the roads.

No Water for 6 Weeks

Our nephew brought us some drinking water in his 4-wheel drive after after 3 days.

When the roads became accessible 5 days later, we waited another couple of days and then we traveled to a friend’s house.

Our friend’s house was located near a Whole Foods supermarket. We were able to buy some groceries and lost of drinking water.

We had a swimming pool which gave us water to flush the toilets.

My Son to the Rescue

We went without water for six weeks because of multiple breaks in our plumbing.

Going without water would have lasted over three and one-half months simply because all the plumbers were overwhelmed. We called about 30 plumbers and the best any of them could do was put us on a waiting list.

We were on many waiting lists.

After six weeks, my son, who is a great handyman, flew in to help. Through an extraordinary effort, in 24 hours, he repaired around 20 breaks in our plumbing system, and got the water flowing until the plumbers could come about 2 months later.

Otherwise, we would have been without water for a total of 4 months.

Plumbers were a little busy.

And Then The The Next Year

Then, the next year, we got another round of freezing weather. Not as bad.

We did have a small loss if electricity but only for two or three days and only for a couple of hours at the time.

All the main plumbing lines held. We had water.

We had one outside faucet spring a leak.

But now we are wondering what will happen this coming winter.

Despite a lot of political wrangling, we don’t see much improvement in the state power grid.

Making The Decision To Close The Barn Door

After 2 years in a row, we are locking the barn door.

I have been checking into becoming a little more prepared.

Some Steps We Have Taken To Close The Barn Door

Our handyman wrapped pipes which had not been wrapped in 45 years.

Our contractor installed a new door on our well house and then weather proofed inside the well house.

We purchased a 90 day supply of freeze dried emergency food. (Amazon affiliate link)

We purchased a back-up generator with solar panels.

We also purchased some survival food tabs as part of out emergency food supply. These Survival Food Tabs will last 25 years and are gluten free and non-GMO (which is attractive to my bride)

Checking Out the Back Up Generator

This backup generator was one of the lower priced mid-range generator but after checking it out, I am impressed by the versatility it offers.

— I inspect it once a week and it has held a charge.

— I was pleased to find out you can charge this generator three ways.

1. Electrical outlet

2. Car battery

3. Solar panels (they provided the solar panels)

We plan to use this generator to keep our freezer going.

We are saving up for another backup generation for our refrigerator and lights. (That’s why you see Amazon affiliate links)

MAYBE GOING SOLAR

We are even talking to a company to see about installing solar on our house.

Things are changing. The weather is changing.

Are you getting ready?

Thank you for reading.