tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post8458804824766251717..comments2024-02-11T01:14:21.904-08:00Comments on SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA: Power, water and utilities never being restoredFerFALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07578136334334588454noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-1345936045144561192011-02-24T22:45:51.197-08:002011-02-24T22:45:51.197-08:00As the US standard of living has declined over the...As the US standard of living has declined over the last 40 years, along with declining profits for utilities and many other companies, they have been forced to reduce system redundancy in the name of efficiency. That's all I can say without revealing vital information, and I won't do that.<br />But the risk of problems in the event of the unexpected is real. Unfortunately, relatively reliable power for 8 years means nothing. Read the Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Talib.<br /><br />The prior comment about the lack of construction of new generation facilities has taken on a life of its own here in the USA. In many areas the power generation is one or two states away - NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard. Certain areas are on the brink of overload every summer. Long transmission spans make us more vulnerable. That's not a strong positive sign of systems that are "robust". Quite the opposite. About ten years ago a hot spell caused one single critical power line to "sag" (they get hot and stretch) and touch a tree - causing a rolling blackout for half a day for tens of millions of people in the West. We were lucky it wasn't longer. It impacted most Southwestern states, about 15% of the US.<br /><br />Add into this equation a world of "just in time" delivery on all retail items including food and you have a fragile economy indeed.<br /><br />New Zealand just had a monster earthquake with perhaps 100-300 dead and who knows how many homeless. Stuff happens. <br /><br />I also buy life insurance. I hope my wife doesn't collect, but its there if she needs it. That's all we're discussing here - how much survival insurance is appropriate for each person in each locale. I live in a desert. I have a 20,000 gallon pool, 100 gallons of stored potable water, and multiple RO and filter systems - "just in case". I'd need different items if I were in Minnesota.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-51597208770080762082011-02-24T10:37:09.544-08:002011-02-24T10:37:09.544-08:00In the U.S., the environmentalists have lobbied th...In the U.S., the environmentalists have lobbied the gov to make it practically criminal to build new power plants and the citizens' advocacy groups have made it nearly impossible for the utility companies to charge extra for maintenance. That will eventually lead to worse service, more brownouts and blackouts. That in turn will decrease productivity because--as refrigeration becomes unreliable--people will have to shop for perishables such as meat, dairy and eggs every day instead of once a week.<br />One more step on the road to third-world s***-hole status.talnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15526543350750013086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-5132280167709344092011-02-24T10:16:03.868-08:002011-02-24T10:16:03.868-08:00the one comment i would like to make about..'e...the one comment i would like to make about..'even an idiot gov can keep the power on a bit' rationale....my local water company's pump failed and the pump part is only made in china and because we dont warehouse parts, there were none available. took 2 weeks to get the part from china....2 weeks without water in one of the richest states in the richest country in the world.<br /><br />i think brownouts will be redefined from 'acouple of hours' to 'a couple of weeks' going forward....Darryll Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02321847758132221181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-4576186854864143202011-02-24T08:09:45.174-08:002011-02-24T08:09:45.174-08:00I think Ferfal's point is that there won't...I think Ferfal's point is that there won't be a widespread, long-lasting, continuous power cut in cities or suburbs in the US, even if we do go Third World. Why? Because the power stays on--albeit intermittently--in the Third World today.<br /><br />The US has huge power sources in terms of domestic oil and coal. Sure we import a lot as well, but that's because we waste so much. There is easily enough domestic oil and coal to keep the US from going MadMax cannibal biker-zombie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-9357029399308579352011-02-24T00:14:01.627-08:002011-02-24T00:14:01.627-08:00In a city or suburbia, you don't just need ele...In a city or suburbia, you don't just need electricity for your own modern comfort. It's all your environment that needs it.<br />You can easily live a couple days or even a week without power in your home (like fun camping at home, kids will love it), and several months with a small solar panel. Some poor people do it everyday.<br /><br />But your job is much less resillient. You are laid off within a day. Shops close too. Many public services also (worse is lack of sewage)<br /><br />So, even if you have 10 KW on your roof and nice sunny days, you cannot live like an electricity island in the middle of a large power cut. You are only slightly better than your neighbors.Pompompomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-26308728358419927082011-02-23T21:15:08.614-08:002011-02-23T21:15:08.614-08:00Anon - Power can be disrupted waaaaay up the line ...Anon - Power can be disrupted waaaaay up the line long before it gets to you. I don't buy into the grid-collapse predictions myself (not a total collapse for ever and ever at least). But you can <b>definate</b> loose power for a long time regardless of your underground cables.<br /><br />ps- I really fear that story of the criminal let go and the good guy arrested, especially during or after an SHTF scenario! :-((Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-17819204256800294792011-02-23T12:06:26.536-08:002011-02-23T12:06:26.536-08:00I almost bought into the whole “getting off the gr...I almost bought into the whole “getting off the grid” idea sold by some of the TEOTWAWKI Cassandras until I thought to myself ‘hey, I live in suburbia, and have NEVER had a power disruption in 8 years’ (the joys if underground cables). <br /><br />So I bought just enough solar and an inverter to run my pump and furnace fan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-40517587020718120382011-02-22T18:55:27.914-08:002011-02-22T18:55:27.914-08:00It might surprise Jim Rawles and like-minded survi...It might surprise Jim Rawles and like-minded survivalists that the best post-SHTF occupation might be a lawyer rather than a flint knapper or musket repairman....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com