You've Been Warned: Why You Need to be Ready For Total Grid Failure

[Cheryl Nelson]

http://www.activistpost.com/2013/09/youve-been-warned-why-you-need-to-be.html#more

[Rosemary S]

This is a timely reminder. Boy I feel not ready.

[Jim Balister]

Your right Byron.  Straight legs will never understand.

[Byron wilkins]

Jim  I will never forget how positive that Phrase is few will understand.

[Jim Balister]

Bryon, "AIRBORNE, ALL THE WAY!" 

[Byron wilkins]

Jim  you and I have the same military background and it was good for us to live without electricity while in training. I experienced this in Vietnam every day and never thought it was unusual because I just had to do it. Now times have changed for me and I look at the many who will not adapt easily as we had to and that will be shock for them. As long as PX does not knock my house down I am OK otherwise winter will kick my butt. 

[Jim Balister]

About 20 years ago we had a three day black out from a storm that blew over hundreds of trees, some falling on houses and ripping off a lot of roofs  including mine.  It was summer and everyone went to camping mode.  No problems at all.  Winter would be another story!  But that was when we were all younger.  As you get older life is harder. 

In the army when we trained we spent 7 days at a time in the field.  Basically it was camping.   We cooked with gasoline and used it to heat the water to wash dishes etc.  The gas also was used in tents for heat.  We used what is called gravity heaters.  So the TWO most important thing when the grid is down is water and a way to heat it.  And heat!  Everything else is just camping!  Or you can think of it as living in the dark ages, no pun intended!

[Kim B]

It certainly would be uncomfortable with a long term black out that is for sure.  We had a 20 hour black out back in late october 2011 due to a freak wet heavy snow storm which happen to take down a powerline on our lane which affected 4 houses including ours.  It was weird, our other neighbors across the field had power.  I had water stored up and luckily we had a wood stove which we fired up, and I even brought down my tea pot to put on top of it and had hot tea.  Could have cooked soup too, but we just did fine with PB&J sandwiches and cereal.  Plus we brought in water from the water troughs from outside with buckets so we could flush the toilets.

[Byron wilkins]

It is a good idea to keep reminding people about what really will happen to our lives when the lights go out. I think I am prepped enough to handle the situation but you will never know until it actually happens. I tried the lights out drill a year ago and was very frustrated after a few hours of loosing my convenient little life's short cuts. It wasn't till I sat on the toilet that I realized it wouldn't be there either, but it was this time. I never realized how hard life would become in a grid down situation. The masses are in such deep trouble.

[Kim B]

Any thing is possible this day and age.

[Jim Balister]

Excellent article Cheryl!   It is time to order all gas stations to have backup generators!   That will keep the food rolling across the country.   No light at night?  Go to bed when the sun goes down!  A small beeswax candle   in a dish will burn for 30 days (at night)  They last longer then regular candles.  Start collecting wood now!  Fire for cooking, heat in fireplace.  When there is no heat put mattresses up over windows in bedroom.  Pitch a small tent in the room, it will hold in body heat.  I like the idea about the garden lights!  I actually never thought of that.  And they seem to be getting cheaper.  Just a few ideas to help.