I’m in CA; we bought a generator a few years ago, as blackouts have become normalized and more common. PG and E shuts off the power when it’s windy all the time now so the lines won’t fall over and light fires. We also don’t buy and store as much expensive meat in the freezer anymore. Too risky these days to do that with all the blackouts.
I live in an area with mild weather but this summer looks to be heartbreaking and brutal for many. I hope all the old people figure out how to light a candle and get into a cold bathtub. So they can survive it.
Yep, my elderly mother is “rural PG&E” (well water)...no power = no water. She has a generator (future new purchases of generators & gas lawn equipment banned by CA BTW): https://fee.org/articles/why-california-s-move-to-ban-gas-powered-generators-and-lawn-equipment-could-leave-californians-in-the-dark/
But it is a pull-start generator (I have been making a 3 hour run up there when PG&E pulls the plug due to fire conditions)...I may have to buy her an electric start model before they are banned.