interesting article

[coalroadcabin]

Did anybody else see this article?

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...html?full=true

[unregistered29228]

That's a sobering article, but it does sound like it's a rare occurrence. For those of us who have ways to heat and get water it wouldn't be the end of our world. But for millions of people in cities, those who depend on public utilities, and people in hospitals would really suffer. Let's hope it doesn't happen again, that's about all we can do.

There have been two such events that might could have caused damage on that scale in the last two hundred years. That I am aware of. I've really only barely begun to research this.

We've only had an electric power grid that could be blown out like this for less than a hundred years.

As with many such scenarios it's not the immediate damage that present the real danger, but the follow on cascade failures that would result from it.

.....Alan.

[Common Tator]

The first scary thing they mention is the loss of power to pump water. Pre planning can avoid much of this, by storing water. You can only store so much. If you have a well you can draw from with a hand pump, or bucket and rope, you are way ahead of the curve. If you have water gravity fed to your place or a windmill for water, you never have to fear the loss of water, but the city folks in that article, will be goners!

[Bruenor]

Common Tator,

That was just what I was thinking. I need to research more about windmill powered wells. Having limited mechanical knowledge, I don't even know how they work. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Common Tator]

Bruenor,

Dorothy Ainsworth is the answer girl here, and here is her article on windmills. http://www.dorothyainsworth.com/wind/windmills.html

She also built the concrete water tank the windmill feeds, and the cabin that receives the water. When you are done with the article, you may enjoy perusing her website at www.dorothyainsworth.com. I check back often to see what else she has done.

[Explorer]

Similar to an large EMP, but vastly more powerful. There may have been a very small event back in the 1800's that affected the telegraph system.

Many questions are unanswered about an event as large as described. Would the wiring in a typical building be enough to allow an inductive current large enough to set the place on fire under those conditions, resulting in massive fire storms in the cities and towns? If your house burned down, do you have remote supplies?

[Bruenor]

Originally Posted by Common Tator

Bruenor,

Dorothy Ainsworth is the answer girl here, and here is her article on windmills. http://www.dorothyainsworth.com/wind/windmills.html

She also built the concrete water tank the windmill feeds, and the cabin that receives the water. When you are done with the article, you may enjoy perusing her website at www.dorothyainsworth.com. I check back often to see what else she has done.

Wow. That lady has some interesting stories.

Of course, now I want a windmill. Do you think my homeowner's association would complain?