I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Whamo on August 19, 2017, 12:45:48 PM

Title: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: Whamo on August 19, 2017, 12:45:48 PM
Eathquake Preparation

Does anyone use a generator for electrical blackouts with their periodental dialysis?  (excuse my spelling, please)
Does anyone have earthquake insurance for California?  Our estimate cost is $350 a month with AAA insurance.  Since our chances are 99 out of 100 in the next 30 years
and we paid off the mortgage we're thinking of protecting our biggest asset.
What's a good tent to get in case for such an emergency?  It's just me and the wife, but we like our space.
We want to have a tent ready because they'll sell out in five minutes if there's a big one.
Survival guidelines as far as food.  Sure, our center gives us info, but I'm more interested in what real patients do to prepare.

Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: Simon Dog on August 19, 2017, 01:38:27 PM
I have a Honda EU6500ISa generator that I can plug my house into (transfer switch) if there is an outage.  I got it when on PD and have it now for Hemo.   The replacement, the EU7000ISa is slightly nicer (fuel injection rather than carb).   I will still need gas in a prolonged outage, but I am in a small town and I am confident I will get access to fuel so the town can keep a taxpayer on the rolls.

I used to suffer several blackouts a year (power, not cerebral), but have had very few since getting the generator.  Murphy's law at its finest.
Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: kickingandscreaming on August 19, 2017, 02:11:53 PM
Thank you SD.  You (and Murphy) may be keeping me in power (as a neighbor).  I too haven't had a blackout for years.
Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: Michael Murphy on August 19, 2017, 04:21:14 PM
My advise on generators is don't buy a gas powered one but buy a propane powered generator.  The reason being it is possible to store propane for extended periods of time while gasoline has a shelf life even with stabilizers.  If your house has natural gas a propane generator can be hooked to the natural gas feed and fuel will never be a issue.
Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: smartcookie on August 21, 2017, 07:13:08 AM
Last October, Hurricane Matthew put the town where I live out of commission for about a week.  No power or water.  Some were without power for almost two weeks.  The lines at the gas stations were terrible and places did run out of gas.  So if you know an earthquake is imminent, I would keep at least a couple gallons of gas on hand.  Also, I wish I had bought baby wipes.  My husband and I tried to get showers when we realized we were running out of water, and cold showers really suck.  Make sure to always have plenty of water on hand and at least a weeks worth of medicine.  A portable phone charger for your cell phone is a must, too.  To run our patients, we had big generators and water trucks come until everything got back to normal.  It was pretty crazy and shows just how fragile our society is. 
Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: Rerun on August 22, 2017, 11:38:03 AM
I was in a HOARDER mode when trying to find a pair of Solar Safe glasses to see the eclipse.  They were no where to be found and no one was willing to share.  Until..... the day of the Eclipse and then my door bell rang and the kid who mows my lawn invited me over for an and Eclipse party on the street north of me.  And they all shared.  Brought back my faith in humankind. 

But, I'm still going to stock up on water.   
Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: iolaire on August 22, 2017, 11:45:58 AM
To run our patients, we had big generators and water trucks come until everything got back to normal.  It was pretty crazy and shows just how fragile our society is.
And all that depends on the roads being open and navigable (in both directions)!  In an earthquake you can not guarantee that the roads and bridges are open.


Eathquake Preparation

Does anyone use a generator for electrical blackouts with their periodontal dialysis?  (excuse my spelling, please)
Can you take your existing "electronic" peritoneal dialysis supplies and use them for manual exchanges?  If so that would be a great backup option.
Title: Re: Earthquake Preparation
Post by: smartcookie on August 22, 2017, 12:35:56 PM
Very true, Iolaire!  We had a lot of roads that were impassible because of trees, flooding, down powered lines, etc.  I would think an earthquake would be even more devastating.