We’re now on day 5 (or day 4, I guess, depending on how you count) without electricity in St. Louis after the freak thunderstorm last week.
I found a restaurant about five miles from home with a WiFi connection (a balky and temperamental one) for a quick blog post.
The latest word in the street is that it could take another WEEK for our electricity at home to be restored. I’m sure that there will be much discussion and second-guessing on the response to this unprecedented loss of the electrical grid in the weeks to come. For example, I’m not sure that Ameren’s decision to shut down the system for letting you know how long it might be until your power is restored will be seen as the wisest PR move they ever made. I’m in favor of more transparency than less in these situations, although it is kind of fun to hear rumors and stories that your neighbors and people you run into have heard.
I’ve been using some of my time on long bike rides (noticed several wires still lying on the ground near us). Rode down to my father-in law’s house and trashed the contents of his refrigerator and freezer this morning (did ours yesterday – I was an optimist until then). He’s 88 and has been shuttling between his children’s house, as have my wife and daughter. Unfortunately for me, everyone with electricity also has cats, to which I am very allergic.
It’s interesting that, today, for the second time this year, I’ve been rethinking my disaster recovery plan – both times based on what happens in the of indefinite electrical outages.
A thought experiment for you: imagine what all you might have to do differently if you have no electricity for a week or more. It’s no wonder that Evan is thinking along these lines.
As bloggers like to say, expect light postings, if any, for the next few days.
[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog)]