| No power for a week - is that a serious question?
After our direct hit by Hurricane Ivan two years ago last September, we were without power (food, water and most everything else including a complete dry roof over our heads...for more than three months.)
It didn't take very long to realise that if you're going to keep valuable fish and consider yourself a serious fish keeper, that you cannot chance the loss of even one fish without having some form of stand-by power source...always' on stand-by.
In the immediate period post Hurricane Ivan, we had a good friend in Miami who send us by air...a gas generator (which obviously required fuel to keep operating - and, which because there were no filling stations left operational for several months and months after the hurricane first hit our country) I was left to first puncturing holes in the bottom of all my own cars fuel tanks. And, then in a day or two when all this meager fuel was used, I was going out during the night - in search of my finding lost and destroyed cars/trucks or other gas vehicles which had been abondoned by their owers and were clearly seen piled end over end and scattered through-out all of our tiny island....allowing me to become quite competent in puncturing holes thru their fuel tanks and draining out what gas they had remaining to keep my generator running 24/7.
I believe that even today, most people are unaware that new model cars and trucks have an anti syphon device in the fuel line which won't allow any form of tube to pass down...to syphoned out the fuel in the vehicles' tank. However, even if a tube was passable - sucking fuel out of a fuel tank creates an immediate reflex to vomit.
It simply cannot be done...
Since Hurricane Ivan, Sheila and I - and, almost all of our friends who surived Hurricane Ivan (now) have very sophisticated auto-computer switch-over large diesel generators which can keep our homes and fish ponds functioning for several weeks - if need be.
Our own generator has a 1000 gallon fuel tank!
Indeed, once you've not been able to have a hot shower, have a cold beer, or turn on a light bulb for over three months...it becomes no great leap of faith to conclude that 'whatever the cost' - you're not going to go through that form of lifestyle with your family, ever again.
It was worse than 'Nam - as we had 8600 vehicles that were totally destroyed, near every house on the island requiring some form of major re-construction and 80% of all wild life (birds, lizards, frogs, et.al) - dead!
Thus, unlike the States where you are always a railroad siding, airplane or truck delivery away from replacement - receipt of supplies...within only a few days, we in this island, sat for months and months in the middle of the Caribbean without any 'other' nearby nor far away nation sending any help of any nature...
So, you write you have had no power for a week. Or, a day. Or, two hours or more.
....If you raise koi and you care about the fish you've collected...get a generator. And, get it today.
You have no idea when a power companies transformer or wiring system can shut you down...
To fail to be prepared, as I learned (first hand) is just plain - stupid!
Here it is Christmas. Go out now and buy yourself a stand-by generator. It will prove for more valued than a pair of pajamas or socks.
All the best,
Your pal ~
Lee
Grand Cayman |