Comments on: Is Another Massive Blackout on the Way?

By: Cats

Cats — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:32:13 +0000

In 1965, I was lucky enough to be able to get off of an “E” Train that had one car pulled into a station when the power failed. I find it stunning that in 43 years, no provision for backup power for the NYC Subways, Long Island Railroad and Metro-North Railroad has been provided to allow for minimal operations to prevent the crippling of the NY Metropolitan Area.

By: chuck

chuck — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:47:47 +0000

Here’s a story.
After Hurricane Katriina struck on the coast and she moved inland,she knocked power out all over Warren County and Vicksburg. It took Entergy two weeks or more to get things up and going for everyone. When this paticular weather blackout happened–a marjority of the residentsd learn thier lesson quickly. As a result of waiting for the power to comeback on,most if not all now have bought generators to keep the power on. And these generators have been handy when a tornado or a severe storm passes through the area.

By: Harish Vembu

Harish Vembu — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:59:26 +0000

Very realistic.

Time for people of USA to relaize that they are not immune to Energy issues.

By: bhparkman

bhparkman — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:25:18 +0000

The electrical grid is also vital to another utility that isn’t daily featured on the news – water. When the power goes out, the water pumping stations also go out. Depending on your water system, you could have as little as a few hours worth of water to a few days.

And when water is scarce, folks will go to any means to get it. During a power outage or other disaster, a few days lack of water means life or death. Also, with scarce water, sanitation will suffer and outbreaks can develop.

Personal backup generators are a good idea. But make sure you have as a minimum of 14 gallons for two weeks (1 gallon per day) of sanitized water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning stored in your home. This should be stored in your home about 4″ away from walls and off floors. Rotate every year. Optimal, or comfortable amount to have on hand is 55 gallons per person.

In our home we use a windmill/solar cell combination for emergency power, but also a 60′ X 40′ tarp to collect rainwater. We made it ourselves; the water is corralled to a hole in the center, which has a handsewn cone (made of the same tarp material) that sends rainwater into empty 55 gallon barrels. In one good storm two years ago we got around 380 gallons of water in just 20 minutes.

And finally, yes; more blackouts are on the way. But it’s not just government utilities that can be relied on. Be self-reliant and do what you can by yourself. That ensures your personal security.

By: Corey

Corey — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:26:05 +0000

Wait until we start getting plug in hybrids going on a larger scale. Then the grid will really start crashing…

Hey, at least the foreclosed homes aren’t using electricity!