I was worried about Y2k, I planned for ENERGY shortages. For the first time I feel vindicated.

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I was a doomer all the way. This last month I've had more questions than answers on just what the hell happened that practically NOTHING happened.

However, I planned for serious energy shortages for this winter and maybe next. I set up a wood (cooking) stove, 12 cord of nice, dry, 14" split hardwood stacked in a dry place, 2 additional 275 gal heating oil tanks tied in with my first one and a 500 gallon propane tank for my gas appliances. In addition I stored enough diesel and unleaded fuel to keep me happy.

I'm reading the troubles that are going on with people not getting any fuel to heat their homes. Many of them are middle and upper middle class people who did not believe that preps are necessary when everyone was being made aware of the reasons to prep. Preparedness is a way of life. Money may be tight, but food and heat I've got this winter. Regardless.

Anyone else out there with happy energy stories from those who hoped for the best but planned for the worst?

-- Mark (markmic@kynd.net), February 02, 2000

Answers

What have you heard to make you vindicated?

-- what hve you heard (what@ heard.com), February 02, 2000.

Almost identical to yours, Marko. We stocked up a few months' supply of food, some water, bought a wood stove and generator, took some cash out of the bank, etc. etc. (my wife is more up on the specifics). Then --- nothing. But a few voices even back in December were saying that the rollover wasn't what we needed to be concerned with - it could take weeks or months to really see the fallout. Now, with reports of oil shortages, we're starting to see that we were right to prepare. Personally I don't care if all the oil problems turn out to be Y2K-related or not, I'm just glad to be prepared for shortages.

-- Markus Archus (markus@archus.com), February 02, 2000.

I installed a wood furnace last fall as a precaution against energy shortages. I started it today. With the cost of heating oil at $1.79+ per gallon and kerosene at $2.09 per gallon here in Maine, this seemed like a good time to start using the 10 cords of wood in the shed. Maybe this will also free up some heating oil for some one else who wouldn't be able to get it otherwise. It's nice to have options.

-- Dad in Maine (goshen@Maine.IHope), February 02, 2000.

I'm topping off my 500 gal underground tank on friday. I have another 750 gals in above ground tanks but as long as oil is available I'm going to be keeping my own "SPR" filled to the top.

My gut feeling is that we are at the cusp of the oil problem. Either we're going to slide back to a more normal environment or we're going to go right over the edge into real outages with no product available at any price. If the reports we're hearing about empty fuel depots are true then the folks north of Boston are already experiencing it.

So far the west/midwest doesn't seem to be suffering the same problems the east coast is so maybe that's a good sign, but so far, I'm not at all liking what I'm seeing in terms of failures of refineries, nuke outtages, pipeline ruptures and natural gas shortages. I'm guessing that we'll know for sure where we stand by the end of March, but until then, I'm keeping everything filled...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), February 03, 2000.


It's not just oil. After you listen to this:

http://www.icrn.com/McAlvany_Intelligence_Report/archives.asp

then click on the report by Don McAlvany: 1/31/00 "Federal Reserve Radically Expands Money Supply" and you'll really be glad you prepped. ...sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), February 03, 2000.



I'm glad to have a bit of a supply...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), February 03, 2000.

We started in on our 8 cords with the woodstove as soon as the weather started getting colder. We have not used our electric heat at all. Last month's power bill was $66 where all others we have talked to were in the $200+ range. Have used Kero for heat on days when the stove must be allowed to cool for cleaning, 150 gal tank that has been in place for over 2 years now. Routine 'food bills' are down from about $650/month to about $200-250 now. We are within a couple of weeks of starting seeds, in the greenhouse, for this years garden. Call it preps, if you like, but it's more like a life style....

-- BH (bh_silentvoice@hotmail.com), February 03, 2000.

Our utility company increased their charges in the fall making case to pay for y2k software and upgrades. So I'm currently using some of my wood preps to lower the cost. I'm sure that the fuel I don't use will be used by someone else. The company I work for installed a huge co generation plant to supplement the utility company's supply of energy and it has saved them many thousands of $'s. Again I'm sure that what we have not used was not known by others but if they did not have it they would be very unhappy. To be prepared with objectives of saving costs has made America stronger. Thank God for the sober thinking (ant vs grasshoper mentality), that may people in America have had. You know what makes me unhappy about the people who don't get it. They do not know the history of this country, built by people who have had a deep sense of independance from other men or nature. But somehow they have forgotten what made America what it is today. Strong independant and free.

Happy to be one. Justthinkin

-- justthinkin com (justthinkin@preps.com), February 03, 2000.


Dad in Maine - Congratulations, you got the picture. If you're prepped, not only do you benefit yourself, you take pressure off the system so the remaining resources can take care of those who did not prepare. This is the key community-oriented concept of emergency prepping, and very few seem to catch on. Thanks.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), February 03, 2000.

#2 Heating oil is at $1.70 per gallon and more when you can get it. Last fall when I was prepping it was .95.

Gasoline is at $1.49 PG. Last fall it was $1.10.

Diesel is at $2.09 PG. Last fall it was $1.25.

Good seasoned wood is hard to find, junk wood is $145 per cord. Last fall it was $100 per cord.

Propane is at $0.80 per gallon. Last fall it was $0.35.

It's amazing what a difference three months can make. And it's only the beginning of February. In central Maine we have about 2.5 to 3 months of winter left. Our preps have certainly paid off. Hopefully this is as bad it gets, but if not, as I stated earlier, I've got food and heat this winter.

Good thing inflation's under control........ :)

-- Mark (markmic@kynd.net), February 03, 2000.



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