EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

The electricity is off today at the farm. Only for the day and due to a couple of power pole replacements on our rural road.  This is not an emergency, but only an inconvenience. But it is a reminder of the incredible dependency we have for this energy source. There are all the lights, cooking, and heat, as well as any electronics, such as computer, internet and TV.

I am well-acquainted with living without electricity. Some of you know that I spent a dozen years in Africa, largely in rural projects, where we lived with small generators and kerosene. It didn’t take long to establish a routine of using simple lights for our living quarters, recharging batteries while running the generator in the evening, cooling on small kerosene stoves, etc.  This actually became a comfortable lifestyle, partly because it was predictable. We didn’t expect electricity, and compensated for the lack of this and other ‘western conveniences’.

Here in Canada, I unashamedly admit to being lulled back into these conveniences. I think nothing of flipping a switch or turning the knob for that limitless hot water. Until it’s suddenly not there. Then I’m reminded of the possibility of power being out – not for a few hours, but for days, maybe weeks, even months. I have written in previous blogs about an EMP (Electro-magnetic Pulse), that could either be natural, from a massive solar flare, or human-induced, from a non-lethal nuclear explosion. Imagine a colossal bolt of lightning. The electrical grid would be fried, and, if large enough, the elimination of this energy source could literally change the world. Just use your imagination as to the chaos, and possible anarchy that would result if your home, neighborhood, and town had no electricity for, say, three months.

I am excited to see advances in solar and other alternative energies, especially at a home or community level. The more we can get ‘off the grid’, the less this threat impact our lives. We should consider alternative sources of energy to be ‘stored’ for the ready. Don’t be overwhelmed. We already do this, without knowing it. A can of gasoline, batteries, firewood, even candles are forms of stored energy. Our mindset should be to expand these. Before we know it, we’ll realize that we can get on quite well and for a considerable length of time without ‘external’ energy sources. As I’ve mentioned before, we don’t have to become doomsdayers, but only reasonably prepared for emergencies that might occur.

I think I’ll start now, since the battery on this trusty laptop is beginning to go!

Thanks for reading.