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10 things the recent D.C. power outage taught us about a real, large-scale collapse
Natural News ^ | 7/8/12 | Mike Adams

Posted on 07/09/2012 4:27:31 PM PDT by Kartographer

#1) The power grid is ridiculously vulnerable to disruptions and failure

#2) Without electricity, acquiring food and water in a major U.S. city can become a difficult task

#3) Most people are simply not prepared and therefore worsen any crisis

#4) Cell phones are a fragile technology that can't be counted on in an emergency

#5) The internet is wildly vulnerable to natural disasters

#6) Many people have no clue what to do in an emergency

#7) 911 and other emergency services are quickly overwhelmed or completely offline

#8) A national grid-down situation would be far more complex to repair

#9) Modern cities are built on systems that have little redundancy

#10) Mother Nature will humble humanity

(Excerpt) Read more at naturalnews.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: disaster; preparedness; preppers; survival
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To: grumpygresh

Get one. Know how to operate and maintain it.


61 posted on 07/09/2012 7:33:00 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: ChildOfThe60s

Most water supply treatment processes begin with relatively clean water,, then filter it, add flocculation for further treatment, and either chlorinate and fluoridate for further killing of any germs in the supply.

Contaminated water doesn’t specify the type of contamination,...bacteriological, chemical, odor, appearance, turbidity, color,...etc.

A century ago, most rural ranches and farms in the mid west and western states had well water which looked like iced tea from corrosion of the well pipes. It was plenty healthy, but nowhere near the appearance of today’s tapwater.

Most municipalities will have a 1 day to 1 week reservoir of water supply available at water usage rates of 250-300gal/capita/day. It is quite feasible to survive on less than 5gal/capita/day.

Building codes place the highest priority on fire protection, with most potable water main also used for fire fighting.

Read up on the topic from those who work at it for a living over several generations. AWWA and ASCE are professional sources to study this low tech solution.


62 posted on 07/09/2012 7:38:31 PM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: PapaBear3625; OldPossum

I think what has happened, is that those copper wires used to go all the way back to a telco central office where there were big battery strings and generators to run an old-school switch. Now, those copper wires go back to a big tan box somewhere fairly nearby, and turn into fiber optics and VOIP. There are a few hours of battery there, and then you’ve got nothing.


63 posted on 07/09/2012 7:40:06 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Yardstick

“It’s that sweet moment of begging, the big Get Even, that lies at the dramatic heart of your hobby. It’s what gives the whole thing its zest and what really compels you.”

I’m saving myself and don’t care what happens to you now, so you won’t have a chance to beg - my door will be shut and locked and alarmed - I won’t know you are there and don’t care.


64 posted on 07/09/2012 7:41:30 PM PDT by Marcella (The power to tax is the power to destroy.)
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To: Kartographer

I have a Centurion 8kw natural gas generator. It has been excellent over the years. Naybors are dark, while we are cozy, listening to music, watching TV, and posting on Free Republic. But if the SHTF, you need to prep for solar or candles. There will be no electricity to pump the natgas or gasoline.


65 posted on 07/09/2012 7:46:16 PM PDT by SgtHooper (The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.)
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To: publius911

In 2008, after Ike, power was out but my old time plug in the wall phone worked.


66 posted on 07/09/2012 7:46:46 PM PDT by Marcella (The power to tax is the power to destroy.)
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To: Marcella

Oh do please go on. Tell me more about your fantasy — the one where you bar the entrance to your hidey hole and wait it out as the zombie scoffers die on your doorstep. I’ll just be taking some notes as you ramble.


67 posted on 07/09/2012 7:52:46 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Kartographer

Gotta agree with you, Kart. Adams gave us a decent report. I particularly read his analysis of the digital infrastructure.


68 posted on 07/09/2012 7:57:19 PM PDT by Old Sarge (We are now officially over the precipice, we just havent struck the ground yet)
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To: FreedomPoster

Thanks for that info. I was not aware of that.

Well, at least the phone will last awhile. The phones that depend on wall switch power go right away.


69 posted on 07/09/2012 7:58:54 PM PDT by OldPossum ( "it's" is the contraction of either "it is" or "it has"; "its" is the possessive pronoun)
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To: Kartographer

I wish someone would invent a reasonably priced, propane only powered small a/c unit. Just large enough for one room, with an insulated cold air duct to pump in the cold air with a fan, so the rest of the unit could be outside.


70 posted on 07/09/2012 7:59:19 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: Old Sarge

Very fair of you to give credit where credit is do. Many have not that ability.


71 posted on 07/09/2012 8:07:13 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Kartographer

Question here.

Did our rulers have to go without power?

Bet they didn’t.

Kinda like North Korea.

The rulers don’t get inconvenienced.


72 posted on 07/09/2012 8:08:02 PM PDT by Texas resident (November 6 - Vote Against obama)
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To: VeniVidiVici

Cell towers still need land lines. Something most people don’t know.


73 posted on 07/09/2012 8:08:13 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Kartographer

That list points out very clearly that everything we take for granted can be compromised and out in a blink of an eye.


74 posted on 07/09/2012 8:10:29 PM PDT by bgill
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To: Yardstick
As such, they are the chief villains in your revenge fantasies.

Not at all. If you had read the list you would understand the unprepared are part of the problem and not the solution. Why should those who take care of themselves be forced once again to take care of the angry, dysfunctional, immoral, degenerate, Pollyannas?

Just want to know. You seem to have all the answers, or is that projection on your part? Fear should lead to preparation and not envy. Envy is the greatest sin.
75 posted on 07/09/2012 8:10:48 PM PDT by PA Engineer (Time to beat the swords of government tyranny into the plowshares of freedom.)
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To: Yardstick

“Oh do please go on. Tell me more about your fantasy — the one where you bar the entrance to your hidey hole and wait it out as the zombie scoffers die on your doorstep. I’ll just be taking some notes as you ramble.”

You have the fantasy - guess you get off on these.


76 posted on 07/09/2012 8:16:42 PM PDT by Marcella (The power to tax is the power to destroy.)
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To: Paladin2
It's always a BIG deal when calamity hits DC or NYC. Not so much in flyover country where folks seem to get hit more often and are more prepared to cope, on average.

Katrina caused NO to completely collapse and people were hollering on bridges that the water bottles weren't chilled properly. A few weeks later when Rita hit, people got down to the business of cleaning up and getting things back to normal.

77 posted on 07/09/2012 8:18:18 PM PDT by bgill
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To: grumpygresh
Any recommendations for generators?

A propane generator is your best bet. Most propane companies will install a large tank free...pay to have it filled and it will keep forever. Have them install a hook up for your generator and you have a source of power for a long time. Much better than gas that will go bad relatively quickly and will run out very quickly if the shtf.

78 posted on 07/09/2012 8:22:48 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: OldPossum
Because of this situation I have an old style, hard-wired phone in my house. It keeps on going when the power goes out.

The budget would eased quite a bit if we didn't have to have backups to the phone but out here it's hard to get a cell signal so we have to have land lines. Only one phone is still the old kind. Cable goes down way too often as does the internet so in an emergency, it's a toss up if anything is working but at least we have several options. That's why I don't like bundling.

79 posted on 07/09/2012 8:26:05 PM PDT by bgill
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

They used to have propane refrigerators. You could buy one of those, stick it through the wall and then leave the door open when you needed to cool the room.


80 posted on 07/09/2012 8:27:18 PM PDT by Paladin2
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