We all all charged up ready for Hurricane Helene in case it takes our power. The lightning is charged to 90% in case needed as our silent generator.

We are just south of Tampa so while we don’t expect to get direct hit, tropical force winds and a 5-8 feet storm surge are expected. .

 

Alarm system reported that the Power went out at our cabin at8;45 am. Tree took out power lines. Estimated time of restoration is currently 7:45pm, 11 hours later. With the winds picking up it’s likely crews will wait until winds die down before repairing power lines.

We aren’t at the cabin now but if we were the Lightning would be connected to the generator inlet and be providing power to lights, refrigerator, TV, T-Mobile internet, Dish TV receiver, well pump, house water pump and window AC to keep us comfortable all with silent power generation.

 

Good luck with the storm, I know your pain all too well. As for powering the house with silent energy production, it would be considered transfer of power not generation of it. The battery stores already generated energy.

 

Good luck... We were without power for 4 days when Hurricane Baryl hit the Texas coast back in July 6th.

 

@FishOnOne @RLXXI

Thanks for the well wishes.

Alarm system sent text that cabin power was restored "Thu Sep 26 2024 3:32:57 PM (an hour ago) Restore 24 Hour Non-Burglary Alarm" Florida Power an Light is always on the ball.

Right now the storm is offshore directly abeam *west" of our house. We are getting rain squalls and winds are only maybe 30-50 kts. So for us it should improve quickly. The Florida Panhandle is going to get the worst of it.

I've been through Camille in Biloxi and in Florida I've been though Andrew, Irene, Charlie, Francis, Ivan, Wilma, Irma, and Katrina. Andrew was the worst. It was the most emotional experience of my life trying to find folks I worked with who lost their homes in South Dade County. 30 of my coworkers lost their homes. If a CAT 3 or above is forecast to hit us we don't stick around.

 

Katrina is by far the worst I've ever gone thru, dead bodies in the street, cows in tree tops etc. We had to walk thru some of the most nausea inducing mud up to our knees to recover vehicles. The smell of rotting flesh lasted weeks after. My house stood tall, was built in 2001. I'm in the Big Easy.

 

My experience was Hugo. Tornados and wreckage. One standing pine in a very large area. the rest brush piles.
Stay safe low land homes. Prayers out there for you guys this weekend. 400 miles north by west is a great thought.
Most likely anyone within 75 miles of the coast north of landfall will need power and fuel and water supplies.
Evacuate is what I will have been driving toward.

 

Sarasota FL area we did fine.

My daughter in east Sarasota lost power. She called me as sun was going down asking if she could use our Lightning to power her house so they could run the mini split AC units in the bedrooms? Duh? I asked Do you have a Generator inlet that I recommended 2 months ago? Answer was no. So Sorry. They have a remote property with 8 dogs, 2 sheep, 5 goats, 6 chickens etc.

Anyway, we are all safe. My daughter, her husband and my grandson are coming over later to shower at our house. Since well pump won’t work at their place I told them to take pool water in a bucket to flush the toilets.

 

If I've said it once I will say it a thousand more times, EVERYONE that lives any where near the coast (50 mile radius), especially the gulf coast, should have at least 1 generator. I have 2 and several other sources of back up power just in case. Good to hear all's well out your way. Power aside.

 

Question from a considerable distance: Do they cut the power in advance of the storm?

 

Never have they cut power in advance. That’s my experience living in Florida and having been through dozens Hurricanes

 

Outstanding.... That looked like a serious storm