Nervous about the Storm in Northeast/CT

[cchardwick]

I read somewhere that the biggest cause of death when shipping reptiles is using heat packs in a box that is too small. Be careful with those hot packs when you use them, they can get really hot. Probably best to wrap them in something so the snake doesn't touch them directly.

[Tila]

I've heard that some hand warmers use oxygen during the chemical reaction that makes them hot. Not sure if it's true for yours but might be worth considering when designing your temporary power-loss set up. Also make sure with a potential new generator that your CO detectors are functioning correctly. Pay attention to how your heat sources that use combustion are venting outdoors because poorly functioning ones produce carbon monoxide (deadly in smaller amounts) and efficient ones produce at least exhaust gasses which include carbon dioxide (deadly in larger amounts.) I hope you get at least a day off of your normal obligations!

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[dakski]

I've heard that some hand warmers use oxygen during the chemical reaction that makes them hot. Not sure if it's true for yours but might be worth considering when designing your temporary power-loss set up. Also make sure with a potential new generator that your CO detectors are functioning correctly. Pay attention to how your heat sources that use combustion are venting outdoors because poorly functioning ones produce carbon monoxide (deadly in smaller amounts) and efficient ones produce at least exhaust gasses which include carbon dioxide (deadly in larger amounts.) I hope you get at least a day off of your normal obligations!

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Thank you on both counts. I had no intention of exposing the reptiles to the heat packs directly, and was a) going to check temps of the packs if I had to use them and b) are a total last resort. I had thought about potential chemical issues.

So FAR, So GOOD! Power still on.

RE the generator, it's 20KW whole house and is outside, and is vented outside away from the house. Nothing should come in.

The propane guy came this morning to hook everything up.........now if I can get the electrician out, we are in business. I may try to sweet talk him. He is literally a mile from the house and doubt he wants to go far today.

I'll keep everyone updated.

Glad this thread has been popular. I imagine other people have similar concerns.

Thank you again!

[Craiga 01453]

The storm is just starting to pick up here in North/Central MA, but nothing crazy yet...here we go....

[Sonny1318]

Did you drill holes in your insulated cooler? I would hate for my babies to suffocate.

Did you look at the picture? I would hate if you didn’t look at the picture?

[L.West]

You are very fortunate to be getting a whole house generator system - that would be my dream. Those units are wonderful but very expensive. I hope your power stays on - I can only imagine how worried you must be. I tend to panic when I think my power may go out - it is very unsettling to say the least.

I actually have spare setups complete with heat tape and thermostats at the ready at a family members house just in case we would have to evacuate.

Thoughts and prayers are with you!!

[Momokahn]

Battery power packs with built in inverters work real well in conjunction with a cooler. I created a post some time back on my emergency kit. Also Kero Sun heaters burning #1 Kerosene will operate for 10 hours on 2 gallons of fuel. Don't cheap out and buy #2 for burning in them. They are safe to run indoors and the quality ones come with built in O2 sensors. Fire them off outdoors and shut them down outdoors and there is little if any smell that comes from them. Is it advisable to run them with a window cracked open? Yes it is not only to avoid a fuel rich burn on them but more importantly to keep yourself cooled off inside of the house when they are running. Here in the Midwest where blizzards/ice storms can have you without power for days living out in the country, whole house generators and kerosene heaters can make for a lot of piece of mind. Good luck!

[bcr229]

...now if I can get the electrician out, we are in business.

My plumbing, HVAC, electrician, mechanic, etc. go the extra mile for beer...

[hilabeans]

Hope you all stay toasty warm and safe! In central Texas if it gets below 40 we shut the city down and start crying.

[Crowfingers]

Know that it's a bit late now for my reply- but if someone reads this in the future hopefully it will help.

My emergency kit is a locking 41 qt watertight storage box that I soldered holes into (used mainly for the locking mechanism and the water tight seal leaves a kink if foam cushion in case of nose rubbing). It fits a cereal box nicely as a temporary hide (his are too tall to fit) and I usually have several in the pantry if needed. I layer the bottom with an absorbent puppy pad under some reptile carpet. If I'm not able to just lay in bed all day I set the container on reptile heat shipping pads (usually two to three to cover half the boxes length) that are warped in a towel. This has consistently brought the internal temp of the cereal box to about 83-85*F and the ambient into the low 70's - its not perfect but I figure if needed it would keep him alive. The rest of the time the box would either me in bed or on the couch with me under blankets. I also have a small butter dish with tons of holes in the top and sides that I fill with wet moss and set on the warm side to help boost humidity.

Luckily I have not had to use it yet for any long term emergency...but I have tested it out and use it when I have to deep clean his cage in the winter (my house is about 67*). I deep clean once a month and it takes about 2-3 hours to removed everything, vacuum all the dust, clean with chlorhexidine, then rinse, dry and put everything back.