[EBH]

We had experienced the extended power outage a few summers ago. People started to panic when they realized water is pumped inland from the lake and without power, there is no potable water.

More locally, I had batteries, propane, firewood, food and could even make my morning coffee. Had neighbors over for breakfast off the firepit and dinner was shared around their fireplace. It was actually kind of nice for a few days. As we listened to the radio for news of when things would come back online, but suddenly the real outside world didn’t seem to mean as much, didn’t seem as pressing.

Maybe it was because we were prepared, but even the announcement to conserve drinking water didn’t frighten us.

[MamaB]

When a big tornado came through here a few years ago, we depended on Facebook. The local stations posted on their FB pages which stores had power, where gas and ice were located, etc. I kept my phone charged in my car. I did go out once and people were treating each traffic light like 4 way stops. It was amazing. It was a very interesting time.

[Travis T. OJustice]

In a couple year stretch, I lost power for about 5 days average each during Tropical Storms Irene & sandy, and an early season snowstorm that took out a whole load of powerlines.

My kids all remarked on how nice it was to have no power (we had plenty of water, including hot water as we didn’t lose gas service) and how much simpler it was with no internet, myspace, facebook, twitter, TV, and especially, SCHOOL.

They still talk of those days with fondness.