During our recent Hurricane "IKE" down here in the TX gulf coast.  My home did not have electricity for 15 days.  That also means no water. 

As my husband and I talked about installing SOLOR panels on our home for almost a year now.  We chose to do some-other items on the to-do list first.

But on Sept 13 when the power went out,  I realized how much we depend on those wires coming into our home. 

I keep thinking about my grand parents that where born in 1893 and the fact they did not have elec and water in the home untill 1940's and then my dad got them their first refrigerator in 1961.  How did they deal with the buckets of water to flush toilets (ok they didn't have toilets ) and they didn't have TV and AC and lights.  So they used the sun to light their way.  And once the sun went down they used oil lamps.   And they went to bed very early by our standards.    SO they didn't miss it.

I have determined I LIKE ELECTRICTY.   But we need other sources and we all need to cut the the dependency on those wires coming into our homes.

If my husband and I had picked the solar panels, here are some facts.  We would not have spent all most  $60.00 a day (that does not count the gas in our vehicles driving to find gas and then waiting in lines for up 2 1/2 hours to get the gas for our cars and generators)  on gas to run a generator. (not all day also)  for 15 days $900.00. 

WE could have cut that expence by 2/3 due to fact the sunshine is free and we would have had power all day with solar and we could have had running HOT water also. Also the generator (we are lucky  we borrowed one) if we would have bought one that was large enough  to power our home and the well would have been over 4,000k.

So just two items 900.00 for fuel and 4,000.00 for a generator would have almost covered the cost of 1 KW system here in TX.  And that is before the rebates on adding solar.   

 I think my priorities have been updated. And Solar has been moved to the top of my to-do list for our home.

My lesson from Hurricane IKE is have a emergency plan  And GET SOLAR AND WIND POWER.

We are cool clean and flushed NOW.  Thanks to all  for the help to cleanup and power our homes.

Terry 

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