The Lessons for U.S. in India’s Power Outages

We’re vulnerable. Perhaps we’re even more vulnerable than our neighbors in India.

That’s the lesson we should take away from the recent, sweeping power outages over two days in India. They hold some powerful lessons (some might say warnings) for us (or U.S., as you may prefer).

Just in case you missed it, the India blackout in July was the largest ever, by a huge margin, affecting about 670 million people. The nearest to that record power outage impacted only 100 million people in Indonesia in 2005.

Of course, the U.S. has had its share of major power failures over the years, the greatest being the Northeast Blackout of 1965 that touched seven states. In 1977 the New York City blackout saw looting and rioting in the streets. And who can forget the California electricity crisis of 2000 and 2001, when energy shortages caused intermittent rolling blackouts over 12 months. These are only a few of the dozens that have afflicted this country.

Power experts argue that an India-like event is not possible in the U.S. because of the way our power grid is structured. But in almost the same breath, they acknowledge that the complexity of our system makes it vulnerable. As in so many past blackouts, a seemingly minor, single incident can produce a cascade of failures that can bring down major segments of the power grid in a heartbeat.

In a recent Washington Post article, noted experts said that we are not building enough new power plants to replace our aging fleet. A recent Reuters report says that the rate of power plant construction is in decline. And while we presently produce a comfortable power surplus, the failure to add new generators will potentially leave us with shortages in the not-so-distant future.

So what personal lessons can we take away from these events?

First of all, in the event of a major power outage, experts caution us not to panic. Staying calm allows us to address the issues methodically, one at a time, rather than being panicked and overwhelmed by them. This is probably the best advice in any emergency. But it certainly applies to power outages because we are so dependent upon electricity in our everyday lives.

When an outage does happen, we have a hard time adjusting our thinking. Take the example of the person who decided to “get some laundry done” while the power was out, forgetting entirely that the machine operates on electricity. Imagine the surprise and the embarrassment when the washing machine refused to function!

We’ve all experienced this lapse in judgment during an outage. It’s almost universal because we have come to take electrical power for granted. It seems like it should always be there, our faithful and obedient servant. We simply fail to understand the broad effects an outage can have, so we overlook the ramifications.

Of course, people feel helpless in a blackout, literally powerless in every sense of the word. A feeling of helplessness or powerlessness can be a devastating thing. It can certainly affect the clarity of your thinking in a crisis.

The remedy to such detrimental emotions is to learn to recognize them when they arise. Recognizing them as such will help us deal with them. Use the confidence in your preparations to help relieve the anxiety. It will allow you to more capably help yourself and those around you. You will be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Planning ahead, before a major outage, is a good preemptive move. Such planning should include:

Select or create a place, one room in your house that can be closed off, one best suited as a temporary refuge such as a basement or dedicated shelter, where you can safely ride out the outage with a few amenities or creature comforts.
Air conditioning or heating is an early victim of power outages. Depending upon your climate and the season, provide for heating and warming in your dedicated shelter area. Heating or cooling a single room will certainly be easier than a whole house. And don’t forget the virtues of insulation in such a circumstance.
Know how to recognize and treat heat stroke or heat exhaustion in case the outage comes in hot weather.
Plan for increased water consumption in hot weather conditions, jackets, hats and extra clothing in case of cold weather conditions.
Prepare alternate lighting, using devices you prefer such as flashlights (include spare batteries), candles, lanterns, etc.
If it is economically feasible, secure a solar or gas powered backup generating system. (Include a reasonable supply of fuel as well, for obvious reasons.)
Lay in an emergency food supply. Make it sufficient for sustained outages. Pick food items that can be consumed with a minimum of preparation.
Obtain a battery- powered radio for emergency announcements. Where available, it will keep you in touch with the outside world, helping to alleviate feelings of isolation or despair and will direct you to emergency aid.
A cell phone and a method for charging it such as a solar charger. In power outages, a cell phone can be very useful, but it can also be unreliable. Don’t become too anxious if it doesn’t seem to work properly. Cell networks will be almost certainly be jammed and cell towers may or may not function.
Prepare or obtain a “bug-out bag,” an easy-to-carry bag or backpack. Sometimes also referred to as a “grab ‘n’ go” or 72 hour kit, this can be vital in case you need to move on a moment’s notice.

This list is necessarily incomplete in that your personal preferences will dictate your specific plans for outages.

For more information, go to: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/needtoknow.asp

With more than 40 years of experience providing the best in food storage at the highest quality, Augason Farms is the place to turn for all your food storage and emergency preparedness needs. Great taste and wholesome products have been our hallmark for generations. When you choose Augason Farms, you’re not only selecting food you can count on, you’re getting delicious peace of mind.

By Anthony E. Larson
Augason Farms Copywriter

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