So here I was, 16th floor, all power goes out!

Just a short story, really short, about an out of state trip this week.

So here I was, 16th floor of a Hotel on Tuesday night, all power goes out! Had a BOBackpack, various items. Water, food, LED lights, Etc.

I knew where the EXITS where, heck I even knew where the freight elevators where! Time was late afternoon on the east side of the building so even being in the south the temps did not start going up.

Phone system was down and emergencey PA system was silent. Elevators did not work but the call button would light when you held the button. No alarms going off.

Problem was NO INTELL! Did we have a fire, duah don't think so. Also a bit of a physical problem said I could go down to the 1st floor but not make the return trip from there, going up to the roof would work. Armed with water and safe for the moment! Top floor was the 22nd.

Cell phone charged and working, but who to call?

What would you do?

 

so y not go to the front desk and see what the problem was ???

 

If im staying there , and its on my floor (Lucky I made it & not stuck in the box) Find my room , fill water containers , See if Ice making machine is close (since you said you carry a flashlight) Fill ice up for room , Use Washroom & cool down & clean up . Have ears & eyes alert but don't start to leave yet till more info is gained. Look out windows , but I would not want to become over reactive till more info is gained HK

Sloth

 

All doors will be set for fire code, which will funnel you down and out. You will not have access to the roof, unless it is designed for public use, (pool or dining area) stairwells will let you in on any floor, but will only let you out at ground floor. (Some will at lobby). Only if someone holds a door open or screwed up on maintenance or repair, will properly installed hotel doors/locks let you in on any floor (like you see in the movies). Go down and out, if you need to move, but I would sit tight and relax, unless I had some reason to worry.

 

Man....that sounds like a perfect chance to catch up on my sleep.
Sit tight till morning, unless there is a fire.

 

What the hell were you doing on the 16th floor? I prefer getting a room on 2nd or 3rd floor, preferably ones with balconies on the outside. so during our winter blizzards i'll be at snow level.

 

Right after "9-11" I had to be in an attorney's office in Charlotte on the 12th floor. I was very anxious about being there and finally told them that I was leaving with or w/o signing the papers. They produced them and I left town asap.
Being on the 16th would not make me happy-LOL. Would gather my goodies and get to the lobby/restaurant, sit, and enjoy a great meal.

 

What no wingsuit ?

Ok seriously though, look out windows, stay put, reach out on cell phone.

Me? I'd rather start the long walk down and camp out in the lobby till the power comes back on.

 

or go do something y sweat your ba&lzz off inside a hot building ???
or am i missing something ?

 

Interesting question. I have never thought of what to do if a hotel lost power. I was raised on the phrase, "we'll leave the light on". I would head down. To many unknowns to sit 16 floors up and wonder. To me safety would be on the ground.

 

Exterior recon to determine the scope of the outage.

Cell call to the front desk (which may or may not go through) because I have their number as a recently dialed number in my phone to find out the scope and ETA of restoration of power. Again, assuming they can get the call.

FM radio (on the below rig) scan to see if there is an announcement and/or EBS broadcast.

2m HT (already configured for local repeaters before I left on vacation/trip) to listen for updates.

Strip of tape on the strike-plate to enable me to get back to my floor (if I so desired), BOB and I go downstairs for the time being. If I'm there for work I would bring the laptop, etc. down as well. Clothes and such can either be replaced or retreived at a later time (tape over the strike plate). This may, unfortunately, only let me get to the floor. If power is out I may not be able to get back into my room. Would verify first before closing the room door.

If the locks are down (and defaulted to locked like they should be), depending on the above answers I may end up trundling everything downstairs with me. Depends.

I think about this a lot as I'm on the 20th floor of my office building downtown. I have 1 HT HAM radio in my back and one in the SUV in the parking deck. I do not have a BOB, either with me or in the SUV. I know, I know...I KNOW! Stupid, lazy, whatever, I don't have one. I need to get one because it would be a long, hot, miserable, uncomfortable 16+ mile walk home if it came unglued.

 

Another point, Hard wired phones WILL still be live, unless the wires have been cut. The phones are a self powered system, independent to the building.

 

Potentially, unless they use a local PBX for the hotel. It has been my experience that the internal phones are on a PBX usually. They may or may not have a hard-land line going out from the front desk though. Good point however.

 

Here is what we had with us and what we did.

Area was swept and no source of smoke or danger was apparent.

Made sure I still could find the freight elevators on this floor. The elevators are behind two doors from the Guest passageway but no locks. And our luck held for the freight elevators were “next door”.

Ice was not available due to an electric driven feed system but I figure we would have managed to work our best on that system if really needed.

16th floor allowed access to the roof so if directed this could be an escape route.

If needed the weapon could have been used to bust out the fixed window. Escape by fire truck ladder was not possible but ropes and helicopters should be kept in mind and a way to break out of the room considered, but only if directed to do so. Never allow a path for fire from below to enter your room.

BOB has a Lock to secure one section from unauthorized pilfering. This would allow me if necessary to leave the bag in a collection area if need be. You should always a consider to appear “Normal” and not be too attached to any one piece of gear.

Bath tub was filled with water with a piece of plastic trash sack placed over the drain to reduce leakage.

Most city water systems cannot pump water above the 10th floor. The building will have aux water pumps to pressurize the potable water but when pressure drops a switch over will be tripped to prevent Potable Water system to be pressurized and instead will allow the Building Fire Fighting system to stay charged.

The sprinkler system is pre charged and is not part of the Building Fire Fighting system wall hoses.

So it is a must to collect water in the tub as a secondary to checking for fire on your floor, but fill that puppy.

Truck was in a garage across the street so safe for now. Keys in my pocket!

We carry two Premium Fire Escape Kits in the BOBPremium Fire Escape Kit. Always travel with this as a minimum; we increase to a full Wildfire set of Gear for one if traveling in remote areas or plan to be in any wooded areas.

We had two bottles of water in the BOB for general use as well as drinking.

Later the freight elevators were powered by an emergency generator. But this did not seem to be an on a ABT or MBT system. Or maybe just that it was tested before it was set in use. This was our exit later and the safe way out.

Wife was compromised due to recent surgery so the best for us, if no fire, was to stay in place.

To me being on a vacation means to me that I’m there to enjoy the time and expect to be able to take care of me and mine. So having a nice view alongside a river overlooking the flatlands was part of the plan.

Cell phone call was completed and information indicated that the area electrical service provider experienced an outage due to a street accident that put down a pole and a major transformer. We understand that the auto wreck resulted in at least one fatality.

Although we could have been “FUNELED Down to the 1st floor, I elected to stay safe and not be placed in the Bull’s Eye of what could have been a high profile extortion event or mass hysteria.

Dinner was Surf and Turf for DW and a big T Bone for me.

Hotel has promised a special return event for us.

 

FWIW, this is the Wildfire Gear I carry on most trips as well as the BOB etc. It is all new, other wise it would stink you out of the house or truck. This all fits in the Bag the Boots are setting on.

 

did i say you take all that gear every were u go???

 

I take the Wildfire Gear with us in the summer months when we are in a private vehicle and when I am going into a drought area or a place that might have wildfires.

Other wise you would just have to pass on by if a land owner or others needed help. I'm not into walking on by.

BTW, this event was near you.

 

ok then it makes sence now ...
if it was neer me then u had nothing to worry about in the south nothing goes wrong down here ,,,LOL