Plucked from today's news...
"Worsening solar storms could shut down telecommunications, ground airline service and even lead to global blackouts, scientists and government officials warned in Washington, D.C. People need to be aware of the dire consequences a massive solar storm could have on the global infrastructure, Helena Lindberg of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency said at a panel discussion on solar storms at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting this weekend.
"A small flare leaves the sun, upper left. Scientists say we're entering a new solar cycle characterized by more intense and frequent solar storms."I'm not talking about days or weeks, but several months without electric power, blackouts, across large regions of Europe and the U.S.," she said"
The current solar cycle peaks in 2012.
OK. If you have been a regular reader of this blog you will know I have been suggesting this for more than 3 years, and also suggesting that my readers try and take certain precautions to minimize the adverse effects if this should happen. And no the so-called experts are validating it.
But it could be much worse, because of certain little-known facts that even "solar experts" are not aware of. They DO know that a large solar flare could easily knock out all power grids in an entire hemisphere, or even world-wide. And they say it could last for "months". But that is a huge understatement due to facts they have not considered. Such a blackout, should it occur, could last for as long as 10 years or more. The reason: blown transformers must be replaced. Currently there are only two countries that manufacture transformers - China and Brazil. And neither has a whole lotta love for America. Assuming they still have power so they CAN manufacture transformers, which is unlikely, they may not want to ship any to America - no one at the bottom of the hill is going to help the King of the Hill to get back on top. America would be at the mercy of the world.
And even if they do ship to the U.S. you can be sure we will be the LAST customers on their list.
If we were to begin building our own transformers, first we would have to find or create new sources of electricity that do not require transformers so we can fire up a facility. And it could take up to 10 years or more to build enough transformers to get our grid back up.
In short, it would be a disaster capable of destroying America. And that is no exaggeration.
What can you do? You can set up at least a small solar or wind set-up capable of running the basic necessities - your water pump and your refidgerator. You could stock up on MRE's (meals ready to eat) that do not require refridgeration or even cooking. You can buy some heirloom seeds (store-bought seeds cannot reproduce healthy seeds for next year) and start a small garden so you can cab some foods, and provide fresh food when the grocery stores are empty.
If you live in the north, install a woodstove so you can keep warm when the power is gone.
Basically, insure you can get food, water and if you live in the north, heat. These are things you require for survival. Everything else is just icing that could be done without if necessary.
If you take basic steps, you cannot lose. At worst, you will be able to survive many a catastrophe - even a small one where an ice=storm knocks out power for a few days. At best, no catastrophe will occur and you canb rest easy knowing you are ready, anyway. You can't lose by being prepared.
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