Are We Prepared?

DebateUSA ^ | 8/18/03 | Jon Alvarez

[jonalvy44]

Are We Prepared?

What's next? Many of us just survived the Blackout of 2003, an event that left us with many of the same feelings of shock we experienced after 9-11 and the dread preceding Y2K. It was another reminder of how vulnerable our free and open society truly is. We will now be forced to deal with and strengthen our aging energy infrastructure. Authorities have assured us that, despite our initial fears, this was not terrorist-related. Nonetheless, the feelings we experienced were as traumatic. Now may be the time to ask not only what is next, but also whether or not we are prepared for the next such crisis.

Many people have already forgotten the anxiety that gripped our country prior to Y2K. That was probably the first instance since the Cold War where Americans felt genuinely threatened. The Blackout of 2003 served as a reminder of how dependent upon energy and technology we all are in living our day-to-day lives. What if the blackout had been more severe? How would we cope? That is something we need to ask ourselves.

How prepared are we to deal with such calamities? Can we even imagine life without electricity? As crazy as that may sound, we must realize that things are different today. Anything can happen. The Cold War generation lived under fear of a nuclear attack. Like Y2K, this fear never materialized. The events of 9-11 made Americans realize that bad things can happen within our country. The threat of nuclear war has raised its ugly head once again with the recent news that N. Korea is a nuclear power and quite possibly Iran as well. Whether it is terrorists with nuclear weapons or a failing national power infrastructure, we could wake up one day and be without electricity and a whole lot more.

The Blackout of 2003 had a crippling effect on America for one day. Like 9-11, we saw good will rise above mankind's basic instincts towards selfishness and self-preservation. Were this to have been a more permanent crisis, how long would that goodwill last? What about many of the social services we all rely upon? What impact would such an extended crisis have on the ability of the police to maintain order? How would we obtain food? These are some basic questions of which we should all be asking ourselves. Ultimately, it is up to each and every one of us to be responsible for our own well being should such an occurrence take place. Like 9-11, we should learn something from this latest catastrophe.

Y2K laid the groundwork for people to realize that life, as we know it could radically change in an instant. No one was prepared for the catastrophe we experienced on 9-11. Likewise, the Blackout of 2003 caught many in this country completely off guard. How can our country continue its current pattern of growth and urban sprawl without adequately examining the resources needed to sustain such growth? Our country is at odds with itself over how to best handle this. How long could you survive were everything to shut down?

We should all have a personal plan of action to ensure our own survival should disaster once again visit itself upon this country. It's time to take a personal inventory, to determine what we are doing today to better prepare for tomorrow. Whether it is short or long-term, the point of the matter is that we should all be prepared. How many in America now own generators to provide electricity at home? What about a stockpile of supplies when the grocery stores are closed? Weapons to protect your family in case of anarchy? These are just some of the things considered necessary in order to survive in the uncertain world of tomorrow. Will you be prepared?

[camle]

OK, so we were without power for a few hours. that is hardly a lifde threatening event. in the grand scheme of things it's ahrdly a blip. shall we get over this, and quit trying to build ourselves up by being survivors?

it's not like anybody's gonna die if they can't watch TV for a few hours, or even (shudder) lose their A/C!

a little perspective, please

[netmilsmom]

You don't want to be around me after 24 hours without coffee ;-}!

[bets]

I would find a way to make coffee!

[bets]

I own a bike, extra food, propane for a small camp cook stove, a small water filter system, paperplates and the like, small propane lantern, candle lanterns, oil for oil lanterns, wind up radio, wind up flashlight, solar recharger for rechargeable batteries. Did I miss anything? (I used to live in FL where hurricanes were a constant issue)

[camle]

so? go to the next town and buy some. I could see if it was the dead of winter and people would die without heat, but c'mon!

geez

[Judith Anne]

The power goes out regularly in flyover country for several hours at a time, a couple of times a year. Storms can take the lines down summer or winter. The power company puts the lines back up. We deal with it. A couple of years ago, it was off here in the dead of winter for 29 hours. Phones were out, too.

What is the big deal? Do we have to build the NE an entirely new grid state of the art, that will be cripplingly expensive for the entire country (read: tax base) just so the NE will never have an outage?

Y'all can quit whining. Nobody out here in flyover country, that you look down on with such self-congratulatory superiority, feels a need to donate more taxes just so you don't ever have to do without power. And frankly, we don't care how much it costs yall. Suck it up.

[bets]

....oh yah...and a 0 degree sleeping bag.

[Judith Anne]

sorry-my reply wasn't to you, just to the NE. NY, for instance. Hillaryville. I apologize if it came across wrong. ;-D

[Core_Conservative]

It could have been much worse had the reaction time of the computers been any slower. It took just 9.5 seconds for the entire ne section of the country to go down. All the Grids are interconnected, which makes the whole country vulnerable. (I used to work for DTE)

[netmilsmom]

Where were you? Here in MI I would be driving 3 hours for that cup of coffee. Truly.
Lighten up, it was a joke. See the smilie after the words?

[milemark]

Here in Michigan we lose power for several days at least once each spring/summer storm season. The recent blackout was short and only notable for the large area it covered. Just about anywhere one lives, there is some type of possible natural disaster (tornados, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, etc...) in addition to terrorism or war. It is just good common sense to have a weeks supply of non-perishable food, fresh water, batteries and a flashlite and transisitor radio. This was reasonable preparation even before 9-11.

[Hatteras]

Usually what happens in our neck of the woods is that you re-introduce yourself to your neighbors. The first week is kinda fun. You pull everything out of the freezer and slap it on the grill. During the feast you find out what the neighbor across the way has been working on in his shop 'til all hours of the night and you find out what new tools he has and how wonderful HIS wife is that she let him buy some really great stuff. A great way to bring the neighborhood together and make your wife feel guilty enough to buy you something neat for your birthday!.

[FreedomPoster]

Bingo. There will be a large quantity of "how we survived the horrible blackout" articles in the weeks to come. They will be largely spew-worthy.

That said, most people could stand to be better prepared for disasters, natural and otherwise. 30-day supply of food and water (minimum), means of emergency heating, perhaps a generator, means of personal protection (i.e. a firearm), batteries, radios, etc.

[camle]

on my birthday in 1973, we in CTG experienced the "GReat Ice Storm" we were without power for the better part of a week, and many people far longer than that, in the middle of Decmember. The roads were coated with 3 - 4 inches of solid ice. We drove around, etc. lit the gas stove ans survived. none of us got medals or very much media attention. Crews from as far as Quebec came in to help.

it's part of life. The only ones I worry about are those who rely upon electricity to power medical equipment needed for survival.

[netmilsmom]

What kind of water filter system do you own?? I had to start at 6 to boil water for the kids baths today (they are getting ripe). Is it like a Britta??

[Core_Conservative]

I dispise my Democrap neighbors. The drug addicts/Alcholics, the bums, and the wlfare abusers!

[Judith Anne]

In my opinion, it's ignorance in action to have an entire area connected like that. States should be responsible for their OWN power--and it should be provided by private enterprise. This centralization is risky and, imho, stupid.

[camle]

We used to have a thermos factory store nearby, and the prices were dirt cheap (This was before factory stores became trendy=expensive). I bought several of their "Space blankets" which are plastic and have one side reflective material. They will keep you warm in a blizard. and I mean toasty warm. They cost me a buck apiece. LL. Bean has them for i think $20.

[Judith Anne]

Locally, home medical equipment companies and hospitals have contingency plans in place and working for every single person outside a hospital who relies on medical equipment to sustain life. Literally.

Hospitals are required by law to have generators that are actually tested every month.