Last week, Fairbanks got hit by a good snow storm, big deal. Then it rained. So what? Then the wind came up with 50 mph gusts, blowing down hundreds of trees which were bearing the weight of heavy wet snow.
The power went out all over the valley, thousands of homes without power.
We lost our power sometime during the night, big deal right?
I have a generator.
Problem was it was still sitting at my shop, not hooked up to our house. I didn't worry too much about it, our woods stoves kept the house warm enough, propane cook stoves gave us hot meals, but when we were told it would be several days before power came back, and by the third day tired of melting snow on the stoves for flushing toilets, I decided to drag the genset out of the snow.
I didn't know enough about this genset to do anything with it the first day, besides get it started in 10 degree weather.
A friend got it wired in on the 4th day, and we had power, running water and flushing toilets!
Cool huh?
The power company had us back on line a few hours later.
Still, I was and am disappointed in my procrastination. Why had I waited for this to happen to set up my generator? My battery pack for the house is still sitting in my shop, not hooked up to anything. I don't have any fuel stored up at the house like I keep telling myself I would do.
What if it was the normal -40 during this time? A lot of folks would have been in a hurt box, and I was ill prepared to help anyone.
I guess the point I am trying to make is, don't wait until necessity forces you to take action.
On day one of the outage here, I heard stories of generators being cleared off the shelves, as well as water, batteries, flashlights and candles.
Fred Meyer threw away their fresh food after 8 hours, so the supermarket wasn't going to help much as far as fresh food.
So stock up a little food, it can't hurt. Even if you just grab 2 extra cans of food on every shopping trip.
Maybe have some extra fresh water on hand? Batteries? A few candles? Don't think you can go grab it after the emergency happens, because it isn't going to work that way.
I have found some neat water pumps for those who have their own wells, it fits down your well and you can actually pump water into your home system to charge it up.
You can't expect to grab some extra propane or fuel after the fact if the local station doesn't have power to pump it.
Plus, I think it is good to have extra beyond what you need so you can help those who are in worse shape than you are.
In a real crisis, say a financial meltdown, you certainly shouldn't think you will just blow your neighbor away because he knocks on your door to ask for some food for his kids.
I think times are close, when things are going to get very bad, very very bad. Power may be the least of one's worries. So do yourself, your family, and your neighbors a favor, store up a little now.
Encourage your families and friends to do the same.
Ask them what they would do if they don't have the State to run to for help.
I don't see why small communities can't make it through what's coming.
But it's up to you to make it happen.
Be an asset to your family and friends and neighbors, not a hindrance, or worse, a burden.
I especially think it is important for Anarchists (or Voluntaryists), to be ready. What better example can you show, when it hits the fan, than to say, " I know a better way than to run to the State," and by being the example yourself.
If you are just as needy and caught off guard as your local Statist, who is going to listen to you?
The message of Liberty is more than words and philosophy; it requires action, diligence, and self discipline.
The power went out all over the valley, thousands of homes without power.
We lost our power sometime during the night, big deal right?
I have a generator.
Problem was it was still sitting at my shop, not hooked up to our house. I didn't worry too much about it, our woods stoves kept the house warm enough, propane cook stoves gave us hot meals, but when we were told it would be several days before power came back, and by the third day tired of melting snow on the stoves for flushing toilets, I decided to drag the genset out of the snow.
I didn't know enough about this genset to do anything with it the first day, besides get it started in 10 degree weather.
A friend got it wired in on the 4th day, and we had power, running water and flushing toilets!
Cool huh?
The power company had us back on line a few hours later.
Still, I was and am disappointed in my procrastination. Why had I waited for this to happen to set up my generator? My battery pack for the house is still sitting in my shop, not hooked up to anything. I don't have any fuel stored up at the house like I keep telling myself I would do.
What if it was the normal -40 during this time? A lot of folks would have been in a hurt box, and I was ill prepared to help anyone.
I guess the point I am trying to make is, don't wait until necessity forces you to take action.
On day one of the outage here, I heard stories of generators being cleared off the shelves, as well as water, batteries, flashlights and candles.
Fred Meyer threw away their fresh food after 8 hours, so the supermarket wasn't going to help much as far as fresh food.
So stock up a little food, it can't hurt. Even if you just grab 2 extra cans of food on every shopping trip.
Maybe have some extra fresh water on hand? Batteries? A few candles? Don't think you can go grab it after the emergency happens, because it isn't going to work that way.
I have found some neat water pumps for those who have their own wells, it fits down your well and you can actually pump water into your home system to charge it up.
You can't expect to grab some extra propane or fuel after the fact if the local station doesn't have power to pump it.
Plus, I think it is good to have extra beyond what you need so you can help those who are in worse shape than you are.
In a real crisis, say a financial meltdown, you certainly shouldn't think you will just blow your neighbor away because he knocks on your door to ask for some food for his kids.
I think times are close, when things are going to get very bad, very very bad. Power may be the least of one's worries. So do yourself, your family, and your neighbors a favor, store up a little now.
Encourage your families and friends to do the same.
Ask them what they would do if they don't have the State to run to for help.
I don't see why small communities can't make it through what's coming.
But it's up to you to make it happen.
Be an asset to your family and friends and neighbors, not a hindrance, or worse, a burden.
I especially think it is important for Anarchists (or Voluntaryists), to be ready. What better example can you show, when it hits the fan, than to say, " I know a better way than to run to the State," and by being the example yourself.
If you are just as needy and caught off guard as your local Statist, who is going to listen to you?
The message of Liberty is more than words and philosophy; it requires action, diligence, and self discipline.
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