Tab 4: When the grid goes down
TAB 4 Finton Field Manual
▶ PLAY FINTON FREEDo this first
- Expect gas pumps, ATMs, card readers and pharmacies to stop first; cell towers last only hours on batteries (National Academies).
- Run generators outside only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents (CDC).
- Use power for what matters: refrigeration, light, a radio and charging phones.
In Finton
- POWER need: 2 solar panels, a charge controller and a deep-cycle battery from the hardware store (bring the truck), or a generator with 5+ gallons of gas.
- A running generator is loud and draws attention at night. Solar is quiet.
- Snow covers panels; clear them. Cold drains batteries faster.
- Power keeps the fridge cold, which stops food from spoiling.
Know the numbers
- Generator: 20+ feet from the house.
- Cell sites: typically 2 to 8 hours of battery backup.
Sources
- CDC: Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- National Academies: Terrorism and the Electric Power Delivery System (2012)
General information for preparedness. Follow official guidance and your local emergency managers, and call 911 in an emergency.