A grid down event or even a small power outage would affect our lives much more than it would have just a couple of decades ago. When the lights go out, it will mean much more than that. Everything we do these days requires electricity, and depends on internet access.

Even if you don’t use the internet to pay your electricity bill, the electric company uses it to keep the machine running. In a large-scale event, no electricity would mean supply lines being cut off, no work, no public services, and none of the modern conveniences we have all come to depend on.

In a small-scale blackout, the consequences wouldn’t be so dire, but they would be inconvenient at the very least. In a small-scale situation, we might just be trying to keep our food cold, and keep the kids busy. In a large-scale event, it would truly be a survival situation.

The (Thin) Silver Lining

In a short-term power outage, the situation will be what we make it. If we choose to dwell on the negative, it is probably going to suck really bad. If you choose to make the best out of a bad situation, we could use it to our benefit.

Bonding Time: With all the distractions we have these days, it’s pretty easy to just ignore each other…especially when it comes to teenagers. With all these “conveniences” gone, it would force us to talk to each other.

Practice Time: Having nothing else to do but stare a a blank TV screen also affords us the opportunity to sharpen our skills. It’s also the perfect opportunity to teach those who are apprehensive about prepping how, and why you do it.

SPP208 When the Lights Go Out

Possible Causes

Power Grid Failure: The U.S. power grid is alarmingly vulnerable! In the last 125 years our power grid has been pieced together starting from the east coast and slowly stretching to the west. In a recent podcast we had Jim Cobb on and he used the analogy of adding on to a home.

There are a number of scenarios that could cripple our power grid, and depending on how it happened, could take quite a while to fix. Even in a short-term power outage, having electricity for medical equipment is important for some people.

EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse): There are quite a few misconceptions about EMP’s and what exactly we need to do to prepare for an event like this. This is also an area of preparedness that most of us are lacking in.

We know an EMP or CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) will do damage, but how much depends on a few factors such as it’s power. The damage could range from affecting small electronics, to totally disabling our power grid and automobiles.

Natural Disasters: While a natural disaster wouldn’t completely disable the power grid, it would cause power outages. How long this lasts depends on the natural disaster. Preparing for a power outage that only lasts a few hours or a few days is fairly straight forward, yet most people would be SOL.

Power Outage Supplies

In the show this week, Lisa and I mainly talked about preparing for a short-term power outage. Whether you are talking about a short-term or long-term situation,