article: 10 realizations - Eastern power grid failure....

[AngieM2]

10 sobering realizations the Eastern U.S. power grid failure is teaching us about a real collapse

(NaturalNews) In the wake of violent storms, the power remains out today for millions of Americans across several U.S. states. Governors of Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio have declared a state of emergency. Over a dozen people are now confirmed dead, and millions are sweltering in blistering temperatures while having no air conditioning or refrigeration. As their frozen foods melt into processed goo, they're waking up to a few lessons that we would all be wise to remember.

See some shocking photos of recent weather events, including a trampoline strung over power lines at:
AccuWeather.com - Weather News...

Here are 10 hard lessons we're all learning (or re-learning, as the case may be) as we watch this situation unfold:

#1) The power grid is ridiculously vulnerable to disruptions and failure
All it takes is Mother Nature unleashing a little wind storm, and entire human cities are cut off from their power grid. Wind and trees, in other words, can destroy in seconds what takes humans years to construct.

#2) Without electricity, acquiring food and water in a major U.S. city can become a difficult task

Learn more: 10 sobering realizations the Eastern U.S. power grid failure is teaching us about a real collapse


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this is preaching to the choir here, but maybe a visitor will read and get a little better prepared for if something hits them.

[Sanza]

Unfortunately most of the population of North America live in cities where their food source is the nearest store, and they don't see any need to stock up until an event like this happens and they get hungry.....

[AngieM2]

that's why we have this forum.

I know many like to offer excuses for everyone, but here we try to help others take care of themselves and not just rely totally on someone else.

[Sanza]

I'm not offering excuses for anyone, I'm just realistic about demographics. This forum or any other prep site is not going to jump out at someone unless they specifically look for it. Natural news is not on everyones reading list.
I've lived in a big city and seen first hand where people stop and buy their supper on their way home, whether it's a fast food place or a supermarket. Some grew up with no back yards never mind having a vegetable garden. They have no clue! Some people don't know any different because maybe their parents and grandparents never did it.
Now that prepping has been televised and it's more mainstream maybe more will find sites like this and want to learn to look after themselves .
We can only hope.

[stickinthemud]

Yesterday DH & I went to Home Depot. A dozen or so people with flatbeds were lined up in one aisle & I asked the last woman in line "what are they giving away?" She shook her head & said "generators." Though our power stayed on thru Friday's storm, others in the area (Washington PA) were not so lucky. DH said after we left the store, "We do need to get a generator." Sounds like a light bulb came on!

[Pam6]

I posted a link to this article on my FB. If I can get even one more of my family and friends to get stocked up then it was worth the effort to post it! I have had at least 3 other people share the link now also! Hopefully it will get some people thinking.

[Rocktown Gal]

My sister was unprepared. It's not like I haven't been preaching...cause I have. They had no electric. Which meant no phone...no water...no nothing. They lost their freezer because they had no generator. They had to go buy food...ice...water. My mom who is 84 lives with them. It was a mess I tell ya! They ran the truck with an inverter for a little air that's it. All I can do is shake my head.

No amount of talking is going to help either.

[Jim-mi]

Many times I have had the feeling that someone thinks I am more than a bit daffy for having spent many bucks on all my power generating equipment.
Of course that person thinks no further ahead than reaching over to flip the switch on for the light bulb or an appliance . . . .
I guess I don't want to be around them when they panic because the appliance does not come "on" . . .because the grid is down.

And yes thankfully my equipment has survived many "storms"

Last few days it sure has been nice having Sun powered air conditioning ....
During a "storm" just basics are on refrigeration / water / heat.........

Its more than a pleasant feeling knowing that the money I have spent for renewable energy is keeping me comfortable..........


Any thinking "terrorist" knows the absolute devastation a long term grid down would cause.............

[Pam6]

Remember that I posted earlier that I shared this link on my FB.....
Well, my mom just called me from work. She has been trying to talk one of her co-workers into prepping. While at work (Yes they work really hard...NOT! LOL) her co-worker was on FB and read THIS article and goes "Hey Carol! This article reminds me of you!" My mom starts reading it and then sees where it says MY name at the bottom because one of the people who hit share is a mutual friend!!
Yep! Sharing this link on FB does get people thinking!! And non preppers are reading it!

[Rainy]

Pam6, that is wonderful you are getting other people thinking about prepping,way to go!

[Forerunner]

Originally Posted by Jim-mi

Any thinking "terrorist" knows the absolute devastation a long term grid down would cause.............

Wouldn't it be ironic if God, himself was the ultimate terrorist (by PC definition, of course) ?

[TnAndy]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

#1) The power grid is ridiculously vulnerable to disruptions and failure
All it takes is Mother Nature unleashing a little wind storm, and entire human cities are cut off from their power grid. Wind and trees, in other words, can destroy in seconds what takes humans years to construct.

Yep.

And imagine what something like a Carrington Event size solar flare, or an EMP attack could achieve !

Originally Posted by AngieM2

#2) Without electricity, acquiring food and water in a major U.S. city can become a difficult task

Or even outside a major city.

Most suburban and many rural folks are as dependent on electrical power as anyone in a city. We've simply become so used to dependable power that few stop to think about how they would keep a freezer full of beef cold, or how they would get clean water if the well pump doesn't pump.

Originally Posted by AngieM2

this is preaching to the choir here......

SOMETIMES the choir needs to actually listen to the message......and act.

Big switch on right. Up is 'grid', center is off, down is solar only.




Produces 500kw/hrs/month....which AIN'T a lot of power, but it will run refrigeration, well, some lighting......all the things that made the 20th century a great place to grow up in.

[AngieM2]

I was looking at a few solar items today, online and at Lowes. I like my solar/wind-up led light I have and want a solar charger for the USB items. (phone, kindle, laptop) and researching to more solar.

But, even more - I want to research passive solar - seems there is more we could do with that.

[TnAndy]

Originally Posted by Jim-mi

Many times I have had the feeling that someone thinks I am more than a bit daffy for having spent many bucks on all my power generating equipment.......

You're nuttier than a fruitcake, Jim...........just like me.

[doodlemom]

Our power here in Ct went out for 2 hours while I was at work and came on before I got home. I came in and said grrrr why are you kids playing with the emergency battery operated stuff....Oh.

[watcher]

Here's the one which you should bring to every one's attention:

#6) The government uses every crisis to try to tell everybody what to do

[Jim-mi]

The FEMA T shirt reads;

. . . . . .I'm from the goonermint and I am here to help you . . . .


so now Andy and I are going to battle over who is more nuttier . . . .LOL

[EasyDay]

Originally Posted by Rocktown Gal

My sister was unprepared. It's not like I haven't been preaching...cause I have. They had no electric. Which meant no phone...no water...no nothing. They lost their freezer because they had no generator. They had to go buy food...ice...water. My mom who is 84 lives with them. It was a mess I tell ya! They ran the truck with an inverter for a little air that's it. All I can do is shake my head.

No amount of talking is going to help either.

I know the feeling of having a sibling that just "doesn't get it".
Here on the mountain, in the last few years, we've suffered a direct tornado hit, a severe ice storm, and a hurricane (kooky!). I've gone without power for as long as 3 1/2 weeks.

My brother and I were talking about it, and he said, "well, you have a generator, right?". I said, "Of course! You have one, right?"
He said, "No, I don't need one. I live in the city."

I ponder how it's possible that he and I were raised in the same household where mom and g-mother gardened/canned/prepped as a way of life! I'm glad I learned something from them, because he obviously didn't!

[bruce2288]

rocktown gal, The most telling part is after hooking up an inverter to truck they ran an AC and not the deep freeze.

[cnichols]

bruce .. that's basically what went through my head when I read that.

Alot of people just think .. "it won't happen here" ... until it does ... then they panic and wonder what they are going to do. Whereas if they had been prepared, no need for panic or wondering.

I've said it to my sons all the time ... "People are stupid".