Just now got electric in the Keys.
Here is a picture of a cat climbing a tree down by our little beach park.
Rick

For those of you that rigged at the Caribbean Club for the Key Largo Steeplechase, check out the lack of dock and chickee hut.
Rick

Right after the storm I was able to stop several places and get some pix. Check them out at the following URL:
http://www.catsailor.com/Stories_Temp/HurricaneWilma05.htm
Rick

Glad to hear you have power back Rick.

I'm guessing that it was sooner than you expected? Nov 22nd is what was told for all of FL to get power back.

Florida Power and Light supplies electric to South Florida, but for the Keys we have Florida Keys Electric. They did a great job of restoring power, but then again it is a much smaller area and grid.
We were one of the last ones to get it back, however, but we were getting by with our little generator.

You just never realize how much you miss something like electric. Or water. We never had a problem with water.., kept coming strong and it was drinkable.
Rick

What I find funny is that people will spend $50 in gas to protect $20 in old freezer burned food.

I don't have a generator, but have managed fine so far. Of course, I don't have any kids to drive me crazy yet...

Plenty of food, put water in containers and froze for cold and drinking. Ate all the stuff as it defrosted. Filled bathtubs with water (duct tape on drain to keep it from leaking) and use it for flushing. Scoop out water and heat on the grill for bathing. At this point, I don't have anything left that needs refrigeration, so I don't need ice. Weather has been absolutely fabulous these past few days, so we didn't need air conditioning.

Haven't been driving all over creation rubber-necking at the damage, so I've got two cars with 3/4 tank of gas left for emergencies.

Life is good.....

The only thing I could have done better was to iron my work shirts before the storm, so I wouldn't be all wrinkley when I'm doing all my claim work!

Last year I mastered cooking spaghetti and Campbell's soup on the gas grill! I still have a few cans left over if you need some.

**** for the 'deluxe' job.
- add a filter for the 'super deluxe' job.

cost...about $2.00,...unless you root around your garage and find most of the items for free.

Down here, in de islands, we convert to LPG as much as possible.....range,.....water heater,....they even have marine grade LPG refrigerators and a/c units...


Hot water for a shower?...try one of those black shower bags,...I suspect Rick has them at the 'store' available.....works every time...


Ice cubes?...forget it,....it takes too much energy to make one,.......if someone knows how to freeze things efficiently,...please share info!


Welcome to 'Island Style' living!...there are fish in the Ocean and fruit on the trees,..right :-)

..plus, now you have time to go sailing,...because there is nothing else to do!


regards,

Bruce
St. Croix

Hey, Rick and Bruce in the Islands, What do you think about solar panels and wind driven generators as a backup source of electricity for when the lights go out? I'm doing some research. Have you seen any one using solar panels or windmills to generate power? You never need to refuel it.

Forget using solar or wind for backup, use it all the time! Problem is, a full-up photovoltaic system to take the whole house off-grid is tens of thousands of dollers. Even a system to take just the fridge off-grid is several thousand. (That includes a DC fridge to eliminate the conversion losses from a DC to AC inverter) On the upside, the fridge doesn't need to run all the time, so the system could also power TV, internet, etc when it's off. Still a long time for payback; 10+ years or so. Hard to justify when a small Honda generator is a few hundred bucks.

A whole house system would be expensive, and a generator needs fuel, which cannot be pumped at the station when their power is out. What I'm talking about is a couple solar panels or a wind driven unit, or both, that could help you after a hurricane, and also use it year round to help offset the high cost. I'm not talking about removing the house from the grid.

Hear! Hear! We get some rain in Ireland and traffic stops dead. Snow, and the Country comes to a complete halt !

We have a holiday caravan in County Kerry. We have 2 solar panels (cost Euro600.00)on the roof. In summer we have plenty of lighting, water pump, colour TV, laptop etc. all 12 volt.
Fridge, cooking, heating, if we need it, is gas. You can survive on gas cylinders and solar panels for a short time anyway

P.S. Tim, Where did you say Wilma is at the moment ? We have a few lows coming in this weekend with galeforce winds

Slightly larger (and more costly) than the gasoline powered portables are residential units that can be permanently piped for natural or liquid propane fuel. Quite popular in our area because of the ice storms.

Solar panels are great for DC power, such as lights in RV's. As previously stated, AC to DC is an obstacle to refine in the development of solar and wind energy.


Wait...is this a sailing forum?

Dermot, Wilma should be reaching you soon if not already! It sure took off up the east coast on Monday-Wednesday, it should be across the pond by now. Look out.

Why do people stay? Brother and sister in-law stayed in Bay St.Louis MS for Katrina in a house about 200yds from the beach and 18 ft above sea level. Wrong move!! They bailed as storm surge sent them to the 2nd floor and they were forced to "jump in" as the house disintegrated around them. Survivors(luckily) of the "Camille Syndrome" and the tug of home I suppose. Estimated a 30 ft storm surge. As a midwestern weather geek, one look at the satellite of Katrina filling the Gulf would have had me packing days before. Another survivor sort of, one of my old H-17's I kept at the house, might be good for a few parts.


nathan

Dermot,

Does your country run off of DC power?

I understand that DC over the power grid is more efficient.

I suppose the USA definition of efficient is more drive thru fast food places......:-)

(,..hey, I was born in Ohio,..so I can say this stuff )

....yep, solar and wind makes alot of sense,..especial this close to the Equator and in the Trade Winds..

I predict S. Florida will be back in great shape very quickly,..they work fast there.

IT will be sad to see all the 'broken' boats though..


regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
USVI

My cat got lucky, only 1 small puncture and lots of scratches.

Eric,

Very interesting pic.

I see you are wise enough to have a proper Hurricane shutter on your house,...congrats.

I saw a wind tunnel video down here after the '95 Hurricane hit on us,..it showed the effect of high speed wind on roof material..

....the asphalt/fiberglass shingle promptly blew off or self destructed starting at 85 mph,....was 100% gone at 100 mph........I see the roof shingles on the ground and off your roof.....so, you were at 85 mph, at least, over your roof.

...down here one never sees shingles,....metal roofs or 3/4 plywood with hypalon,......no overhangs either,.....they are like sails to the wind....

..either roof design is screwed into 4 inch by 8 inch roof beams,..this wood beam is cast into the cement wall with steel rebar going thru it....it stays put!

....your building code for roofs to tremendously underbuilt...and actually very dangerous.....really

...fix that cat and go sailing!

regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
USVI

here is another shot.
Without shutters the inside would be outside and the outside would be inside. I learned my lesson with Andrew, total loss of house and personal property.

I actually chartered the boat to a sailor to use in Hirams haul, he is repairing the punture, very nice gesture on his part.

and my favorite