Four years ago today, Hurricane Irma slammed into the Virgin Islands, knocking
out electricity for several months. Today, the power utility is celebrating the
occasion with multiple blackouts. Four blackouts so far today. And it's still
morning.

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"Cousin Ricky" <rickysttATyahooDOTcom> wrote:
> Four years ago today, Hurricane Irma slammed into the Virgin Islands, knocking
> out electricity for several months. Today, the power utility is celebrating the
> occasion with multiple blackouts. Four blackouts so far today. And it's still
> morning.

I think I remember that... Puerto Rico was out of power for a long time. And one
of our (perhaps more embarrassing) presidents threw a roll of paper towels at a
reporter, or somebody.

Even in California I can't recall ever having lost power for months at a time.
At most we've only been out for over a week due to the snow knocking down power
lines. (It's not all sunshine and beaches in the Golden State... I live at a
high elevation where, when it snows, it tends to know a /lot/. And we usually
have to shovel it out by hand :S)

Hopefully you won't be stuck without power for too long. Do you have a
generator? Solar recharging units for any mobile devices, etc.?

Sam

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On 2021-09-08 5:33 PM (-4), Samuel B. wrote:
> "Cousin Ricky" <rickysttATyahooDOTcom> wrote:
>> Four years ago today, Hurricane Irma slammed into the Virgin Islands, knocking
>> out electricity for several months. Today, the power utility is celebrating the
>> occasion with multiple blackouts. Four blackouts so far today. And it's still
>> morning.
> 
> I think I remember that... Puerto Rico was out of power for a long time. And one
> of our (perhaps more embarrassing) presidents threw a roll of paper towels at a
> reporter, or somebody.

At least he was able to be educated that Puerto Rico is ruled by the
USA.  He thought the USVI had its own president!  After Assface was
elected, many Americans said, "Not my president!"  I objected to saying
this on the grounds that it is better to accept reality, however
unpleasant; but after he gave our governor that field promotion, I
wondered if "not my president" was accurate for me after all.

> Hopefully you won't be stuck without power for too long. Do you have a
> generator? Solar recharging units for any mobile devices, etc.?

The electricity is stable for now.  But this will happen again.  It
always does.

We got a generator after the storms, but due to our endemic power
problems, it got run into the ground.  We are in the process of
installing a new generator.  More specifically, my brother is
supervising installation, which is to say it will take at least 10 times
longer than estimated.

My car can recharge the phone.

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On 9/8/2021 5:33 PM, Samuel B. wrote:

> 
> Even in California I can't recall ever having lost power for months at a time.
> At most we've only been out for over a week due to the snow knocking down power
> lines. (It's not all sunshine and beaches in the Golden State... I live at a
> high elevation where, when it snows, it tends to know a /lot/. And we usually
> have to shovel it out by hand :S)

After Sandy, we were 17 days without power, 4 days until I could leave 
the neighborhood.
I thought I was clever being one of a few with a whole house generator 
(now everybody has them).  Then I realized I was spending $50/day in 
gasoline; or $1500/month for electricity.


-- 
dik
Rendered 50,081,587,200 of 50,081,587,200 pixels (100%)

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Cousin Ricky <ric### [at] yahoocom> wrote:
> (...) ; but after he gave our governor that field promotion, I wondered if
> "not my president" was accurate for me after all.

As far as I'm concerned, all US presidents are just faces. Nothing major changes
under different administrations, except for maybe things gradually getting
worse. Sure, the people get a bone thrown their way occasionally and we still
have certain rights and benefits... but the tiny policy changes only seem like
moves to placate the populace while the higher-ups continue to do what they've
always done behind the scenes (e.g. make war and favor corporations over the
people).

> The electricity is stable for now.  But this will happen again.  It
> always does.

Glad to hear things are back to normal, more or less. Here's to hoping it stays
stable.

> We got a generator after the storms, but due to our endemic power
> problems, it got run into the ground.  We are in the process of
> installing a new generator.  More specifically, my brother is
> supervising installation, which is to say it will take at least 10 times
> longer than estimated.

Haha, well at least it's getting done, right? :D

Personally, I have no practical electrical knowledge. Fortunately for my family,
though, my brother recently set up a generator that was gifted to us. This will
be the first winter we've had one. With any luck we won't have to burn candles
this year.

> My car can recharge the phone.

What's a car anyway, but but a portable gennie? ;)

Sam

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Dick Balaska <dic### [at] buckosoftcom> wrote:
> On 9/8/2021 5:33 PM, Samuel B. wrote:
>
> >
> > Even in California I can't recall ever having lost power for months at a time.
> > At most we've only been out for over a week due to the snow knocking down power
> > lines. (...)
>
> After Sandy, we were 17 days without power, 4 days until I could leave
> the neighborhood.
> I thought I was clever being one of a few with a whole house generator
> (now everybody has them).  Then I realized I was spending $50/day in
> gasoline; or $1500/month for electricity.

How were you locked in?

There was an incident close by a couple winters ago: a person was stuck inside
his home because of all the snow, but nobody knew. He was running out of
supplies. The power was out, so there was no possible way he could call for
help. (Phones don't often work like they used to... land lines are becoming
extinct.) Anyway this person was a single older gentleman, had no phone or
internet service, and as a result was truly at the mercy of the elements. (We
were nearby and didn't even know!) It finally took the man seeing the snow plow
drivers outside and flagging them down, and they almost didn't notice the him
then. He must have been there for days, maybe even a week. ':/

Back to your comment: yeah generators can be expensive. Especially when gas is
not cheap. Still, it might be worth running them conservatively to avoid
catastrophe...

Sam

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