and, apparently, some other states in the center part of the country are getting a hint of what it is like for more rural folks.
We plan for power outages. They are, if not expected, at least likely during winter storms (or summer storms). we are generally the first to lose power and the last to get it back….City folks? Yeah, they generally live life expecting that if there is an issue with power, or water, or any other service, a couple of guys with a truck will come and fix it in an hour or so.
Therefore we that live in a more rural area, where this is often not the case, either have alternative sources of electrical power, or alternative forms of heat (or both).
I have a small genset for outages lasting only hours. I have the BIG genset for outages lasting days….’Cause if I need the well, then I need a bigger generator, but that burns LOTS of fuel. so I prefer not to fire it up unless I need the well….and with a bit of planning, I can run everything else without the big genset….I use wood as my primary source of heat, with the natural gas furnace as a backup….both need electricity for the blower, but the woodstove will keep the house warm even without it, albeit at a loss in efficiency..
Lots of folks have whole house generators for this reason…..
Very few use electricity as the primary source of heat though…most use Dead Dinosaurs (or other forms of carbon) as their means of heat and use the electricity to run the fan.
Perhaps this might make the city folks have a better understanding of what Rural folks have to deal with (likely not though…they will forget in a month or two) and be less open to the upcoming envronmental/Glowbal Warming/Climate Change initiatives….
I have a cousin in the greater Dallas Metro area who has found this whole debacle an enlightening experience……Being as she lives in an All Electric house…..
Us small town folks DID preplan…