Floating away in Y2K or A swimming pool in my basement

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We live in an old farmhouse with an old cement basement. If it is a wet spring, water leaks into the basement at a horrendous rate. This last spring we had 2 huge sump pumps going night and day and there was still about six inches to a foot of water on the basement floor (we calculated that at one time there was something like 200 gallons / hour seeping in!!!). Now I am wondering what I will do in Y2K when there is no electricity. I remember seeing old pictures of a 2 man water pump on some of the first fire engines but I am sure these are rather hard to come by. I don't have a lot of funds available for a fancy solar array. Does anyone have a solution?

-- Steve A (albrecht@ndak.net), November 16, 1999

Answers

Can your car pull a small trailer? You know like one of those old little silver bubbles people had for camping? Maybe pick one up for near nothing? A few hundred? As a place to stay should what you describe become horrific. If you retain your power at all crucial moments than you've something kicky to tinker with.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 16, 1999.

Steve-

Get a gas powered water pump. Store enough gas for it to get you through the rainy season. You can get them at www.northerntool.com. for as little as $250. Make sure you put stabilizer in the gas (sta-bil, or PRI). Good luck

-- cavscout (cavscout@fix.net), November 16, 1999.


I wonder if you could make something with a car waterpump and a bicycle?

-- biker (y2kbiker@hotmail.com), November 16, 1999.

If the floor in the main house is above ground level where the water would drain back outside then I wouldn't worry about it. Get all your valuables out of the basement and let 'er fill up.

Have an aquarium full of trout hatchlings ready to go at the end of the year. When the basement gets deep enough, stock it with trout and you'll be able to have fresh fish for dinner.

Also, try to get an insurance policy that would cover the damages without letting on that you expect this to occur.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 16, 1999.


If you will go to http://forums.cosmoaccess.net/forum/survival/prep/handpump.htm on the net there is an article on how to make a hand pump for about $20.00. There are pictures of it a list that you will need, which is not much besides a pipe and a ball and some glue, a page on how to construct it. This same website has many articles on how to survive by making lots of stuff. This pump will pump water up to 20 feet or more I believe.

-- Gay Boling (Wilber@montanasky.net), November 16, 1999.


My preferred approach is a marine (boat) "bilge-pump" - the manual variety. Good boating stores can point you in the right direction...

-- Anonymous999 (Anonymous999@Anonymous999.xxx), November 17, 1999.

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