Rochester area worst power outage in over a decade

[Blimey]

So with the winds last night I understand this is the worst outages since 2003. Currently still 100k RGE customers out of power, including me. I learned candles really suck, just useless. I have batteries and flashlights, and I have a stove with fuel. I didn't have a generator (we lose power so regularly I never bothered with one), but I did manage to pick up a very powerful car inverter which is enough to run my full size fridge and deep freeze, cycling them back and forth.

About 1/4 of my neighbors have generators, a few more have car inverters. Many have nothing. My biggest surprise is one neighbor has reported on facebook that they have done over 100 buckets from their sump pit. Why? Because no backup for it. For some reason these people, who knew their primary pump regularly ran, never bothered to come up with a plan for a power outage or if that primary unit died. This seems really stupid to me! I have no backup because my pump essentially never runs at all (and I'm doing fine now).

 

[UltraT]

Over here in the Buffalo suburbs my power went out from around 5pm to 9:30pm. Not too big of a deal for us.

 

[Deplorable Me]

It was pretty damn windy, flying deer.

 

[NirvanaFan]

Our power didn't even flicker in Irondequoit. Lots of people around me are without power though. I'm going out tonight to help some people in the community clean up their yards. I could use some firewood

 

[99cummins]

Over here in the Buffalo suburbs my power went out from around 5pm to 9:30pm. Not too big of a deal for us.

Marilla, Erie county-we lost power Wednesday at 2pm. Still no power as of now. Word is 24-48 hours until power is restored. Generator has been going since 430pm yesterday.

 

[UltraT]

Marilla, Erie county-we lost power Wednesday at 2pm. Still no power as of now. Word is 24-48 hours until power is restored. Generator has been going since 430pm yesterday.

Sorry to hear that. I'm surprised it's taking that long.

 

[JamieZ]

Lost power from 1pm Wednesday to 2pm today in Churchville. Borrowed the neighbors generator to keep my reef tank alive. I ordered a generator on amazon because I dont care how many times this will happen,,,I should of had one with the amount of money I have in the tank. Plan on wiring up my furnace tomorrow so I can just plug right into it with an extension cord from the generator, next time. Not bothering to spend money on a transfer switch for my box.

My house came within inches of being crushed by neighbors tree. House right next to me got their huge garage crushed. House down the street from me got crushed by 2 huge maples that ripped right out of the ground.

 

[turbobike]

Living in our camper got heat, water and TV antenna...Leroy still out

 

[Blimey]

The windy deer made me
Lol. Actually only about 15% of houses have generators in my hood. The rest are either in the dark and bitching on Facebook or went to inlaws. And in a few cases hotels (!). I knew society was weak now but going to a hotel because your house doesn't have power is a bit nuts. Our gas fireplace with a fan in front is keeping the house well into the 60's.

I am also leaving a lamp on in my front room just to be a dick. If I had a whole house generator I would run porch lights

 

[Frankly]

Luckily we have an automatic back up generator hooked into our gas line and while it won't power everything, it is a minor inconvenience compared to most. But we did lose three nice 50' trees and clean up will be a PITA.

 

[LexLooter]

Hope you guys clean up well and no one gets hurt working them chain saws.

 

[Frankly]

Actually if any of you guys with insurance and chain saws want a job....

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

A lot of people still without power in buffalo area and WNY

 

[BerettaGuy]

Power back on. No cable. Typing this on phone. Manilla Elma area.

 

[Blimey]

86k still out in rochester area. Was 100k yesterday morning. Very slow getting back.

My inverters have saved my ass but this has been an interesting example of what I can or can't do with power out. One of my inverters faults out more times than not when the fridge kicks on, so I've had to babysit it. But, I just watched a neighbor failing to start his large generator, so I think that for my use a 3000-4000w surge inverter would cover what I need, ensuring it will always be able to tolerate the starting load of a large fridge. I have a hybrid car, so when I hook the inverter to it, the thing rarely runs. Toyota hybrids charge the 12 V from the main traction battery. When the main traction runs low the engine kicks on, charges the traction, then turns off, with an internal mechanism constantly sending current from the traction battery to the 12V. I'd say the car is running less than 20% of the time, so in "idle" mode I believe I could go a week give or take on one tank of gas running inverters. Some guy with hurricane sandy did this with his prius and he had it running for 4-5 days and still had a bunch of gas left.

 

[Tinman]

We lost power for about 3 hours . We have an automatic generator that pretty much runs the whole house. First time that we really needed it.

 

[Blimey]

I have a neighbor now down to 47F worried about pipes because it's getting cold tonight. My gas fireplace is keeping the house at 64. Kind of amazing how many people are still without power and how few ever realized that it could go out or planned for it in any capacity at all.

 

[99cummins]

Power back on. No cable. Typing this on phone. Manilla Elma area.

Still off in my area. Williston road. The mess by the church in town took ours out.

 

[nfernaays]

Still out at my house in LeRoy, part of the town back on but half remains out (Gilbert and Main Mess) I may be out for another 48 hours....

 

[Blimey]

Lowes by me this morning actually scored a dozen or more $700 5500W generators. They sold out in around 90 minutes. Neighbors without power or fireplaces are all into the 40's now inside.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Power back on. No cable. Typing this on phone. Manilla Elma area.

Is this the white part of Elma?

 

[Defilade]

Ill take all your wood, just bring it to me.

 

[tirwin1]

Power still out in webster. I am at the public library. Something like this happens once a decade around here. Ice storms in the winter or Tstorms in the summer. Now a frickin windstorm.

After the second ice storm I purchased a generator and had a separate circuit breaker installed. It runs the furnace, refrigerator and a few lights. Absolutely a must for this area given our history.

 

[capitalcrew]

Wish I could have gotten in on that power outage, some time off of work would be great.

 

[dwa12479]

I was out for a little over 24 hours, from around 1 on Wed to 3 on Thurs. I installed a Reliance transfer switch a few years back after a ridiculously long, cold winter. It runs my furnace, sump pump, refrigerator, bathroom lights, and living room outlets. We barely skipped a beat with the power outage, and easily could have gone a long time without it.

 

[Defilade]

I've got to do this with my Generator. Nice job.

 

[dwa12479]

I've got to do this with my Generator. Nice job.

Best way to do it, and very affordable. This kit comes with everything you need except the primary wire to run from the box to the inlet. I used about 75' of 10/3 Romex to run across the basement to the opposite side of the garage. Was about $100 for wire, and $300 for switch. NO regrets at all, money well spent.

Amazon.com: Reliance Controls Corporation 31406CRK 30 Amp 6-circuit Pro/Tran Transfer Switch Kit for Generators (7500 Watts): Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Blimey]

We are still out and I am absolutely going to be doing something like that. Havent yet decided if I will get a generator or a more powerful inverter (I will at least keep one as backup so that even if a gen dies I can keep the deep freezer going).

Would be nice to be able to run the furnace and not drape extension cables all throughout the house.

 

[99cummins]

Is this the white part of Elma?

That's every part of Elma.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Wife doesn't know it but lights in my reloading shop are on the emergency generator circuits.