"The President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) was tasked to examine the nation’s ability to respond to and recover
from a catastrophic power outage of a magnitude beyond modern experience, exceeding prior events in severity,
scale, duration, and consequence.
Simply put, how can the nation best prepare for and recover from a catastrophic power outage, regardless of the cause?"
“The power grid is a prime target for attack by nation states, and it is not fair for ratepayers to bear the full burden
for this national security function,” said the report, which looked at the potential of a “catastrophic” half-year blackout that could impact 75 million."
"The attack could also come with no notice and last half a year. "
Long-duration, lasting several weeks to months (at least 2 months, but more likely 6 months or more)
due to physical destruction to equipment, such as transformers or transmission lines;
or the severity of the event resulting in limited work force to repair damage,
or inability to create or transport replacement parts," said the report.
The reality is that the power grid is at risk, and several attempts by terrorists have already occurred, most notably in California .
Also, most of our power transformers are made in foreign countries (very few made in this country), assuming they have power,
and we are dependent on a supply chain that relies on foreign transportation, and already delivery delays of as much as a year
from time of ordering until delivery, even under current favorable conditions.
See Post #33 if you wish to read the original government document
from "The President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC)".
H/T to TADSLOS, metmom, and LucyT !
BTTT
Shortly after 9/11 our electric company stupidly decided to replace the cyclone fencing around the substations with tall brick walls thus hiding any nefarious activity inside.
A few years ago, during a very cold spell, they, again stupidly, decided to cut power in a round robin way for 20 minutes in each section. Of course, when they turned the power back on, several transformers blew and they had no replacements. Here, our power went off in the early morning and it wasn’t until after 5 that we got someone out to turn it back on at the pole because the switching station wouldn’t work. They weren’t going to come fix it for a couple of days despite this is an elderly community and many were out of heat. Cough, don’t ask how we got them out that evening.
From what we learned is transformers are made in China (!) and electrical companies have them on back order if on order at all. They’re expensive and take a long time to manufacture. Bottom line, if/when the power goes, people will be hurting and there will be no one and no supplies to get it back up in short order.
Half a year? This is government work so make it 5 years.
it should be at least the priority as anything we have armed services stationed for overseas. To be honest our grid is a hell of a lot more important than Ukraine or South Korea.
While I have purchased Life, Health, Car, Home and other insurance policies most people don’t have any insurance for society as we know it going away.
What will you do when you can’t get to the grocery or that it wouldn’t do any good if you could, they don’t have anything?
What will you do when the temperature outside is 10°F and will be for the next few weeks and the gas company doesn’t have any.
What will happen to all that food in the refrigerator when you don’t have any electricity for 2 or more months?
Since I am an old man I don’t want to be put out horribly when the SHTF. A generator is useless. I have two of them but they won’t last long, there won’t be any fuel for them.
When people see that I have solar cells on my roof they think I’m crazy or a tree hugger or something. When the power goes I don’t even know about it until a neighbor tells me.
We cook with electricity because the sun makes it for us. I’m just hopefull I can make enough in the winter time to keep the heat pump going to keep the house warm so I don’t have to use up all my wood in the fireplace. I originally put a lot on the roof so as to provide a/c in the summer. I have enough when the sun shines but so often where I live we will have a long stretch of cloudy days. We make enough to get by on cloudy days but only if we don’t use the A/C.
I have enjoyed having the solar. I enjoyed doing the research to decide what I needed. I can’t say I enjoyed installing it, but none of the electricians I tried to hire to do it felt competent enough to do it. It isn’t complicated but it looks that way.
If this article doesn’t scare you then you either have Solar electricity on your house with A LOT of food and water stored or your stupid.
Be prepared.