As you may or may not know.. Hubby and I are preppers.. a term that is often mocked. Although we arent getting ready for Doomsday with a box of gas masks and an underground bunker.. we do feel we have to be prepared in case the SHTF. Im not a nut job... but I have learnt skills like canning and first aid and have a well stocked pantry..water supply.. medicines ..etc.. "just in case". But thats never going to happen..right?
At midnight on Wednesday night.. power started to go off in over thirty counties in Northern and central California.. leaving over 800,000 homes ..thats over 2 million people.. literally in the dark. With high winds expected PG&E power company planned this outage as a prevention against a recurrence of the deadly wild fires that happened last year that may have been caused by sparks from power lines. Its going to be off for 5-7 days. Can you imagine what thats like?
Its not just lights in the home, there are no street lights... Its the electric stoves for cooking.. the fridges and freezers for storing your food...and many water systems need power to run their pumps. I guess you could go out to eat... but wait... restaurants and fast food places need power too..so they are closed. As are the schools. So you have children to entertain.. thank goodness for television and laptops... ooops...no power...no internet....and no way to charge your phone. And this is California... its going to get pretty warm with no fans or A/C. So take them out right? Cinema..nope.. Swimming baths...nope... play centres.. nope! And if you have found somewhere... how are you going to pay for it. You cant use your plastic ... card machines run on electricity...as do ATMS so no cash. Ok.. take them to the park.. no petrol in the car... gas pumps need electricity!. Ok just go home and read..play..colour.. Dang it.. its autumn..it starts going dark early!
This power outage was planned.. yet people left it till the last minute to buy supplies. We have seen panic buying..people trying to buy food.. water.. and generators. Business's are suffering... and one day in so are people!
This morning we heard that power went out in Los Angeles County and the surrounding areas...at least 55,000 people have been affected. Luckily it hasnt hit us yet.. If it does... we are prepared and we will be ok.
Its not all about fires floods or earthquakes... or even a zombie Apocalypse (even though we are ready for that too.) Its about being prepared.. and being in control when there is a crisis and things are taken out of your hands. Unemployment... sickness..and yes.. power outages are everyday occurrences... and can hit hard.
One hundred years ago..it was a lifestyle.. prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I encourage you to start getting some "just in case" supplies. Think about it...
Love and Hugs
Phoebe x
You really put this all into perspective. Most folks don't even give it a thought until it is too late. I'm glad that you are prepared. I have a small generator for my oxygen, and I keep extra water on hand all the time. Although, I hope it never comes to a time when it happens. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteI think you are wise. I have done some prepping, but need to do more, and you are an inspiration!
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