When an ordinary thing happens in New York City, it's suddenly worthy of national obsession and worry, with live media coverage throughout because we just can't believe a building could go dark.
This might come as a shock to New Yorkers, but power goes out all over the country every day and it's not a crisis. Whole towns in Southern California and Louisiana lose power from earthquake and hurricane respectively but you don't see reporters dancing around in the street acting like God has left the universe because the lights won't come on.
And those are actually catastrophe-related power outages. Even on a regular day, transformers explode just because transformers do that and it happens all over the country. No news coverage. But part of NYC goes dark and it's historic.
That blackout covered the whole north-eastern USA and eastern Canada as well. I remember it affecting Toronto. It was first blamed on Canada (as the South Park Boys say: "Blame Canada") but was discovered to be a blown up power station facility in the USA.
The reason for the panic is the reliance on electricity. There was a time when people survived without it. Some of my most peaceful, recuperative times were spent at a vintage farmhouse in a remote area of Ontario with neither running water nor electricity.
Yeah, if it happened at night we always had candles to light, kind of making us feel like what it was like living in the past - a change of pace. The lightning flashing through the windows was far more noticeable and effective than if your lights were working. I grew up enjoying thunderstorms - never feared them.
Same. Our main problem is water, since we're on a well. When there's a bad storm coming, I scrub and fill the bathtub with water. I have a gas stove, so I can cook, if needed, and a gas fireplace that will keep the house warm enough.
I've considered it, but our power has never been out for more than 8 hours, so I've never bothered. I think there's only been one time that we had to dip water out of the tub to flush toilets.
I live in a semi rural area and some of my neighbors have a different problem. Their road is off a low section of a road next to the river ... and sometimes it floods and they can't even get out. So when the houses were built up there, a clearing for a medevac was put in, just in case.
There are a lot of poultry farms where I live. Any time the power goes out, the farmers risk losing a lot of chickens due to lack of circulation in their barns.
It would be a moderate expense. I'd get one that runs on propane, as I have a buried propane tank to fuel my cooking range, furnace, and fireplace. I've also thought about that, but power outages rarely last long in my area due to the reason I posted above - poultry houses. Since one poultry house out of power for a day could lead to the loss of $25,000 or so in chickens (or so I've been told), the power company is generally on top of it.
As far as powering the poultry houses - I imagine it would take a pretty big generator. They run huge fans to keep the temps down and get rid of ammonia. So I figure it would be a pretty big expense for a poultry farmer, to cover something that doesn't happen very often. Easier to put pressure on the power company.
I was out for 5 days after the derecho ... and have had a couple of 3-day power outages when we got the tail end of a hurricane. But you're right, they generally don't last long enough to make it worth it. I do have a small gas generator that I've never used; if we ever have another 3 day outage, I can keep my fridge going. But the cost of a whole-house generator that would power my well isn't worth it. I could lose all the food in my fridge and freezer multiple times before it would pay for itself! Plus, then I'd have to get a propane tank.
My parents had no power for a week after the derecho. Unfortunately, gas was really hard to come by, so a generator wouldn't have helped, unless it ran on something else. My brother lost power for 2 weeks, but had a diesel generator, so he was ok (except for his roof, which peeled back like a tin can).
A lot of folks there did, too, but after a week or more without power, they'd used the gas they had on hand. Even local towns were turning off their water pumps, because they had run out of fuel for their backup generators.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
So much hysteria!
When an ordinary thing happens in New York City, it's suddenly worthy of national obsession and worry, with live media coverage throughout because we just can't believe a building could go dark.
This might come as a shock to New Yorkers, but power goes out all over the country every day and it's not a crisis. Whole towns in Southern California and Louisiana lose power from earthquake and hurricane respectively but you don't see reporters dancing around in the street acting like God has left the universe because the lights won't come on.
And those are actually catastrophe-related power outages. Even on a regular day, transformers explode just because transformers do that and it happens all over the country. No news coverage. But part of NYC goes dark and it's historic.
It happened on the anniversary of the massive black out of the 70's.
That blackout covered the whole north-eastern USA and eastern Canada as well. I remember it affecting Toronto. It was first blamed on Canada (as the South Park Boys say: "Blame Canada") but was discovered to be a blown up power station facility in the USA.
There was also an increase in births nine months later due to nothing to do but have sex.
LOL. Yes, now that you remind me of that I think I recall it as well.
So? Is the crisis over yet?
The reason for the panic is the reliance on electricity. There was a time when people survived without it. Some of my most peaceful, recuperative times were spent at a vintage farmhouse in a remote area of Ontario with neither running water nor electricity.
I actually kind of miss the days when the power would go out every time we had a storm.
Yeah, if it happened at night we always had candles to light, kind of making us feel like what it was like living in the past - a change of pace. The lightning flashing through the windows was far more noticeable and effective than if your lights were working. I grew up enjoying thunderstorms - never feared them.
I love a good storm and if power goes out, I have ways to get by. I don't open the fridge so that what cold is in there, stays in there.
Same. Our main problem is water, since we're on a well. When there's a bad storm coming, I scrub and fill the bathtub with water. I have a gas stove, so I can cook, if needed, and a gas fireplace that will keep the house warm enough.
Have you ever considered having rain barrels?
I've considered it, but our power has never been out for more than 8 hours, so I've never bothered. I think there's only been one time that we had to dip water out of the tub to flush toilets.
The water in barrels can be used to water your plants, fill a kiddie pool, and other things.
When you live or work in a skyscraper - not having an elevator is a problem!
Yes, I'll bet. A real problem in the event of a medical emergency or a fire.
I live in a semi rural area and some of my neighbors have a different problem. Their road is off a low section of a road next to the river ... and sometimes it floods and they can't even get out. So when the houses were built up there, a clearing for a medevac was put in, just in case.
There are a lot of poultry farms where I live. Any time the power goes out, the farmers risk losing a lot of chickens due to lack of circulation in their barns.
Is a gasoline-powered generator a very expensive item to cover such a risk? Usually the fuel should outlast a power-outage.
It would be a moderate expense. I'd get one that runs on propane, as I have a buried propane tank to fuel my cooking range, furnace, and fireplace. I've also thought about that, but power outages rarely last long in my area due to the reason I posted above - poultry houses. Since one poultry house out of power for a day could lead to the loss of $25,000 or so in chickens (or so I've been told), the power company is generally on top of it.
As far as powering the poultry houses - I imagine it would take a pretty big generator. They run huge fans to keep the temps down and get rid of ammonia. So I figure it would be a pretty big expense for a poultry farmer, to cover something that doesn't happen very often. Easier to put pressure on the power company.
I have no idea how much generators cost, but in the event of a day without power and the loss of $25,000 maybe it's worth it for the security.
I was out for 5 days after the derecho ... and have had a couple of 3-day power outages when we got the tail end of a hurricane. But you're right, they generally don't last long enough to make it worth it. I do have a small gas generator that I've never used; if we ever have another 3 day outage, I can keep my fridge going. But the cost of a whole-house generator that would power my well isn't worth it. I could lose all the food in my fridge and freezer multiple times before it would pay for itself! Plus, then I'd have to get a propane tank.
That is why I like free range chicken farming. They are out in the open.
Same.
So do foxes and coyotes!
Good point lol.
My parents had no power for a week after the derecho. Unfortunately, gas was really hard to come by, so a generator wouldn't have helped, unless it ran on something else. My brother lost power for 2 weeks, but had a diesel generator, so he was ok (except for his roof, which peeled back like a tin can).
That was one scary storm.
I know people who keep spare gas just in case of an outage. That way, it is already on hand when needed.
A lot of folks there did, too, but after a week or more without power, they'd used the gas they had on hand. Even local towns were turning off their water pumps, because they had run out of fuel for their backup generators.