Iights on , no lights off, and off and off. Ugh.

Hey there, Hatley! It sounds like it could be very dangerous for the power to go out in the first place at the retirement center and much more when it didn't come back on for several hours. I'm actually a bit surprised there's no generator for times when that happens. As far as priority goes, I think a retirement center should be just under a hospital because there are so many things that run on electricity that assist in places like that. In other words, someone's life is probably depending on that power in some instances. I don't think it's good for a place like that not to have a generator. I wonder if that's up to code? Also makes me wonder if it has to be inspected every once in a while to make sure it meets the city's, state's, etc. requirements. How old is the building - do you know? Hmmm...that's very interesting. To answer your other question, I remember the last time I lost power. I was still living at home with my parents. A couple of my five siblings were there along with my parents. I can't remember what we were doing when the power actually went out, but I know we'd just gotten home and weren't expecting the power to go out at all because I don't remember there even being a thunderstorm. Anyhow, the power outage actually had a positive effect because we all found ourselves together at the kitchen table with candles all playing board and card games! It was really, really enjoyable. I couldn't tell you the last time we all did that! It seems like we were always too busy...watching TV, on the computer, playing with various electronics, and so on. We had a nice evening of bonding with family just then. The power outage only lasted about 45 minutes, but I was so disappointed when the power came back on since we were having so much fun! Funny how that worked out, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I'm sorry to learn that your last power outage experience wasn't as nice.

My oh my! If I'll be in your situation I guess I'd be really upset. I tend to lose my patience in situations like this. Not having a notice for the black out is an inconvenience and then add the fact that there is a working generator that can't be used because the people who are supposed to turn it on is not equipped to operate it. Well, we can't expect people to know everything but when I get really inconvenienced I tend to become unreasonable. However, I noticed that as I grow older I become more patient and understanding with people around me. I'm not that impulsive anymore as compared to when I'm still in my teens and early twenties. Now that I'm almost over age of thirty I still get mad but usually I keep it just there inside and then I tell my self, "Okay, stay calm. Be cool. Smile. Talk to them nicely." There. I feel better after. Here in our place we also get a lot of black out. The thing that I hate most is when it is not planned at all and we don't know for how long we need to wait. When I was younger I would usually call the electric company and complain. Now, I deal with the situation more calmly and would just ask for information like the possible time the electricity will be up and running. I hope that because of what happened they would be more prepared now. Hopefully, they would teach all of the staff there now how to operate that generator. Have a nice day Hatley!

That is not very good at all I mean in a place like that there should be stand bys for all emergencies someone should be on call 24 hours for that sort of thing I am glad that you refused to do the stairs as that could have been dangerous Hugs to you Sweetie

If the power goes out, it goes out, not a big problem for me. I just have to wait it out I can see where it would be a major problem for you and those you are with and that sucks Hope nobody there needed electricity for an oxygen supply

My take on a retirement center with no generator is not good. They should be reported. They are endangering their residents. They just want your money and know you really have no place to go so why spend the money. Report them to the nursing home authorities as well as the local authorities. There is no reason for us elderly persons to put up this kind of treatment. They are not within code. I'd report them to who ever will listen.. hugs, quita

That is a bad experience,most especially during summer when the level in dams get lower that they need to save the water by turning off the electricity, also during typhoons. And so be very observant of your surroundings. Always be prepared with these situations.

It does not seem safe that the NH does not have an emergency generator. One would think that by law they would not be able to run and operate a NH without backup utilities. It has been 5 years since I came home from the NH after breaking my back in 3 places and I am very, very, very careful where I walk as another fall could put me right back in the NH with a new break.

That is very scary, I think they need a training on the generator for the Sunday people, don't you? At least it wasn't terribly HOT yet!

Oh that stinks Hatley. The longest we went without electricity was when the remnants of Hurricane Ike came through and we lost power for 4 days..I also think it is scary that a retirement center would not have a generator, but I guess as long as one of the residents is not on oxygen, they don't feel it is necessary. I hope they see that you need this back up, because I know how stairs can really be difficult for some people to use..

It's outrageous! I already have concerns for multilevel retirement centers in case of fire emergency. But, medical emergencies would also come in to play (although, someone in the emergency personnel might be able to operate a generator). I think even a manual cranking system would be better than having nothing available.

How disgusting! you would think there will be some one able to come and start the generator in a short notice! It must have been so stressful...who ever runs the center really need to shape up or else!. I Am glad you are fine[ despite such an uncomfortable night]I see you reset your modem [ what a bummer!]but you are in good spirit and that is a good thing!

Dear Ms Hatley Well, I was quite surprised and shocked to read out this one. I mean we here always were told (by those who are now in US) that there were No powercuts or failures. And they used to really tell us great stories. And many of us here were what? is that really so? Because here we have more power down time than the power up time not to mention the low voltage supply when it is there. Reading about the fact that the retirement center doesnt have a generator or battery backup is still more shocking as this electricity is so very vital these days for so many reasons...

Oh Dear Hatley....I'm sorry you had to go through that. It is amazing how we rely on electricity these days. May be not so amazing for people in the developed countries. I still remember when I was just a young girl, there were more power cuts than on. Sometimes days on end....Suffice to say that I come from a not so developed and that too, a small village. Well, those days, we didn't know any better and didn't use electricity as much except for the lights (and some sneakily used for cooking, against the law those days). Coming to the present, if the power is off for more than one hour...I almost go crazy...especially where I am, it is so hot that with the power off, no fan, no A/c, etc. etc. and nothing to amuse me. Gone are the days when power outage at night means we can play outside in the moonlight

What type of place is it? It is so horrible for not having any emergency power supply. If you place does really not provide any emergency services as maintenance personnel, oxygen machine, power supply and so on, all of you should be placed at the ground floor. This is good for any emergency evacuation. In this situation, all of you should complain to the management and publish in your local newspaper to bring the attention from all of the relevant parties inthe hope to improve the existing facilities. I hope no other incident will happen to any of you during such bad facilities and serives.

Its astonishing that they should not have an automatic emergency generator that starts when the mains power goes off. Especially as it's a multi - floor building which means that if there was an emergency which took out the mains power, a lot of the residents would be trapped! Thats a really poor situation that you are in!

Oh Hatley, you are having a terrible time in that place. At this time of life you should be enjoying the serenity of your senior years not battling the elements as you have been doing lately. I think the situation in that place is downright atrocious. It's uncomfortable and dangerous for the residents and there should be procedures in place for all these kind of eventualities. I would be writing to my local member of parliament. Can you do something like that? Write to your local government representative? If you can, while you're at it, get the other residents to write a letter as well. Or just get yours copied and send one from everyone...that everyone has signed of course. The more the merrier.

I really think they need to plan for that kind of thing in the future! There is no reason that people should have to be left in the dark if there was a generator. They should have many of the staff trained on how to start the generator so that if that happens again the lights can be back on. There should also be emergency lights that go on when the power goes off. I hope that all will be ok now!

Oh, what a relief! I thought it was something I said. Hehe Just kidding. We do tend to take things for granted. Remember that big black out back east like fifteen years ago or so? People freaked! It was worse that H.G. Well's Day the Earth Stood Still or whatever it was called. I even freaked on that one! Oh, I am glad you were careful. They should have a generator. That is scarey!

These situations are common here in India but we have a system called HOME UPS that takes care of our lights, fans, computer and tv. In your case it was truly bad but thank God you came out of it unscathed.

they didn't even have a contingency plan for these events? tsk a retirement center that doesn't take care of its patrons i always thought retirement centers were heavenly places where everyone can go about their own business and not have a care in the world