post header says it all, but is everyone up in the region that got hit by the black out back up and running and all right? I hope everyone is safe and sound and just overheated. Hopefully things will be back to "normal" soon. We take modern conveniences waaaaaay too much forgranted nowdays. Ya'll need to remember basic "old timey" things......keep containers of fresh water stored, and containers of water in places so you can wash and flush. Flashlights, candles, a small grill with charcoal and matches matches matches in ziploc baggies, if you don't have the luxury of gas stoves. (I don't, I am stuck with electric, and I have a well, so when our power goes out for extended times like during snow or whenever the squirrel farts, there is no water to cook with, flush with, drink as well as no lights) a can opener, maybe a portable radio with good batteries for back up to see what the heck's going on, unless in this case the radio stations are down too.............. We all need to remember that there is only enough groceries on store shelves for three days. If things were gridlocked like they are in New York City and it lasted longer than it appears it will last, things would get nasty really fast. How well do you think people would handle this if they were stuck for weeks going into months like Bagdad? (I ain't soap boxing here, we take our modern conveniences forgranted) Think of this, we had a power outage a few weeks ago county wide for just two hours. As I drove past the grocery store where everyone was fueling up at the cheaper pumps, everyone was sitting there impatient and frustrated because ALL the power was off everywhere and they couldn't leave because they were caught in the middle of putting gasoline in their vehicles. If we lose electricity on long term we can't pump our fuel, run pumps or operate generators if we can't get the fuel to power them. All those freezers start thawing immediately and the food we so carefully horde for leaner times or being frugal starts to thaw. And if we can't cook it to save it, it's a loss.
I've actually thought of that because in winter when we lose power, I could just put the frozen food outside until the power came on, but during summer I'd be screwed. Too many of us have come back from vacation to find the fridge or freezer went out and everything is ruined. Just a little survival put by is all we need to get us thru short times. We can't all save and scrounge and put by enough to get us thru longer periods of inconvenience. It's times like this that I really appreciate that I live here. But seeing this type of diasaster reminds me things can go wrong quickly without warning.
I ain't a worry wart, but since 9-11 we woke up, but I fear we've started to become complacent, luckily it DID wake us up and I think during times of chaos and disaster like yesterday, it draws people closer together and makes them more co-operative. But if this were to take WEEKS instead of just a few days, we'd be seeing rioting, looting and violence because of the dependence we have on the groceries and conveniences.
Just my take on it all. I hope everyone is safe and sound and things get back to normal soon. My good thoughts are with you all........ madgardener up on the ridge in Eastern Tennessee where power outs are common (we still don't have a back up generator! )