We will just use natural gas

Some people think that in the event of a national grid down situation natural gas is just going to keep on working.

How Long Will Natural Gas Last Without Electricity - Geek Prepper

I wouldn't bet on it as any kind of long term solution.

 

one of most probable SHTFs - with possibly the largest ultimate death toll - is a Midwest earthquake from the Madrid Fault occurring in the dead of winter - between the long term power and natural gas pipeline disruption >>> it's going to be a massive killer ....

 

I have a propane Fireplace (which we don't use now we have a wood stove) and my kitchen stove (my cook stove) is propane. Since we only use propane for cooking now and don't use the Fireplace for heat anymore (and it will heat the house) I've found that our 250 gallon propane tank lasts well over a year. I don't know exactly how long but I just refilled the tank yesterday so I will be monitoring but think we'll get 18 months out of it, maybe more. I would like a larger propane tank but can't really justify the cost since there is only the two of us.

(EDIT: I just realized that I posted the above in September 2018 and now it is September 2021 and I still have 65%. One uses very little when only using it for cooking.)

For heat, we use wood. I got an excellent Kuma wood stove (made right here in Northern Idaho), not cheap but excellent, and 10-12 cords of split wood with another ~15-20 cords of rounds...I am so sick of cutting wood that I never want to see another chainsaw...and yet, I am still not finished and will be out there until the rain/snow shuts me down.

 

Blame Obama and the greenies. Nat Gas pump stations used to have turbine pumps that (gasp! and Horrors!) burned the gas in the pipeline to pump/pressurize the gas. No more. All the pumps are electrical.

Gas coming back on, one house at a time
https://www.forbes.com/.../weve-seen-the-electric-grid-at-its-worst-how-about-the-gas...

No just gas...
2011 Southwest blackout - Wikipedia
this notes that in this wide-area black out, there were large sewage spills owing to pumping ststions gong on line.

Best way to sort out your preps is to look at what has already happened, rather than worry about Supervolcanos etc....

 

The power grid almost collapsed in my area in Jan 2011.

 

Looks like the natural gas prices are going up.

 

Glad to be on propane ,at my discretion .

 

Propane is good and all, I read a lot about the benefits using it and it turns out it's a very energy efficient and decent fuel.

Gotta say though, propane comes from the same refinement process as natural gas does and so I would have thought that at some point after SHTF, supplies of propane will run out. And that just leaves you back to burning good old wood or oil unless you get get a wood gas generator up and running.

Edit:
This is one of the articles I read: Propane Heat Pros and Cons
It seems the pros heavily outweigh the cons as most of the cons are avoidable.

 

How will you store natural gas for when the power goes out ?

 

Same containment system as propane same pressures, Biggest problem is propane can be liquefied easily Ng not so much
Just need volume for Ng storage like 10 X as much.

 

you need both ng & lp to cover all contingencies - when you have nuke or hydro you need to be ready to utilize electric - the trouble with the ng & lp is the transport - it's localized to the Gulf region and POOF it's either gone or unattainable

 

Its been my experience that all the Ng valves leak some even the manuals valves over time,However the one by-product not mentioned is drip gas,casing head or as I prefer to call it condensate,Good stuff in older model trucks and cars.
Pretty sure it will run a generator if needed.

 

At that rate the storage tank would be the size of my house...maybe bigger!

 

They store extra natural gas underground salt mines do they not?

 

Have a Ng well 1/2 mile from here, Complete with condensate tanks, Something that I worked with for years.

 

There ya go! Your in business now!

 

Ahhh things are getting back to normal.
A year ago natural gas was around $1.40 per million BTUs, now it's $4 and climbing.