SkipCaptcha
12,693
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mLine 1:
Line 1: − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Slightly expanded the article, Added hyperlinks, Proof read
A '''blackout''' is a [[power]] loss affecting many [[electricity]] consumers over a large geographical area for a significant period of time.<ref>http://www.energy.ca.gov/glossary/glossary-b.html#b</ref>
A '''blackout''' or '''power outage''' is a [[power]] loss affecting many [[electricity]] consumers over a large geographical area for a significant period of time.<ref>http://www.energy.ca.gov/glossary/glossary-b.html#b</ref>
If a blackout lasts for more than a day or two there be be [[looting]] or after longer perhaps [[rioting]] in the [[urban decay|urban]] areas.
Blackouts are a loss of functionality of the [[Power grid|electrical distribution grid]], they can be very wide spread or very local. A ''Rolling blackout'' is an intentional shedding of load by a power utility due to insufficient power generation or inadequate power transmission capability. Regardless of the cause, a blackout can affect the population adversely.
If a blackout lasts for more than a day or two there be be [[looter|looting]] or after longer perhaps [[riot|rioting]] in the [[urban decay|urban]] areas.
==Effects==
Blackouts are an often over-looked but potentially very serious [[disaster]], depending upon one's location ([[urban]] or [[rural]] and [[:Category:Survivalism|stored provisions]]. Blackouts are most severe in [[population density|heavily populated]], apartment dense areas that rely on [[refrigeration]] for [[food storage]]. When the power goes out the [[food]] spoils quickly, the windows on high-rise [[apartment]]s won't open for ventilation, and apartment dwellers can't easily exit their buildings. People become stranded in elevators, and travel can be constrained due to the traffic control and mass-transit systems going down. There can even be a breakdown in [[law and order]] (see [[WROL]]) due to a widespread urban blackout.
==Examples==
The most famous case of a blackout turning into civil unrest is the [[New York City]] Blackout of July 13-14, 1977. Combined with widespread [[hysteria]] regarding the [[serial killer|"Son of Sam"]] serial murders and a brutal [[heat wave]], the city suffered widespread [[looting]], property [[[crimes]] and [[arson]]. [[Riots|Rioting]] continued during daylight hours despite [[police]] presence, and there were 31 neighborhoods that suffered [[looting]] and [[vandalism]]. There were over 4,500 [[looter]]s arrested during the two days and 3,776 people were arrested for other charges while the NYPD suffered 550 casualties. A total of 1,616 stores were damaged and 1,037 [[fire]]s were set for an estimated total damages of over $300 million.
==Preparation & Mitigation==
[[Preparedness|Preparation]] for a blackout begins by looking at your home to determine what are your critical systems that require power. For instance, it may be your [[furnace]] or electric baseboard [[heater]]s, [[air conditioning]] unit, water pump, or your [[refrigerator]]/[[freezer]]. Next, look at what systems or devices would suffer if a [[power surge]] (spike), power drop ([[brownout]]), or outage (blackout) occurred without warning. That may be your [[computer]], home entertainment system, or home [[security system]]. Then, prepare to mitigate the damage and power loss by taking some or all of the following steps:
* Adding [[Surge protector]]s to non-critical but expensive systems, such as entertainment centers, [[TV[['s, DVR's, etc.
* Adding [[Uninterruptable Power Supply|Uninterruptable Power Supplies]] ([[UPS]]) with [[battery]] backups for critical systems that need time to properly shut down, such as PC's and laptops.
* Replacing electrical appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, [[stove]]s and water heaters with alternatives such as [[natural gas]], [[propane]] (LP), or [[kerosene]] powered appliances.
* Have a [[telephone]] line (land line via "copper wire" or [[DSL]], not [[voice over IP]]) that can be used without power, for example, a corded phone without an answering machine.
* Have enough [[flashlight]]s, [[candle]]s, [[radio]]s, [[amateur radio]], and [[battery|batteries]] for the entire family.
* Adding an emergency [[Generator|generators]] with [[fuel storage]].
* Going completely "[[off grid]]" and becoming [[self-sufficient]] through an [[Alternative energy| alternative power system]].
== Historic Blackouts ==
* 1977 New York City Blackout of July 13-14, 1977
==See Also==
==See Also==
* [[Looting]] or [[Rioting]]
* [[Looting]] or [[Rioting]]
* [[WROL]] - [[SHTF]] - [[TEOTWAWKI]]
* [[EMP]] - [[Electromagnetic Pulse]]
* [[Flashlight]]
* [[Flashlight]]
* [[Solar energy]] and [[batteries]]
* [[Solar energy]] and [[batteries]]