What will you do when the Grid goes down?

Americans are being warned through television commercials, major news networks and talk-back radio about the dangers of solar storms. The warnings are being instigated by NASA scientists who believe that massive solar flares generated by solar storms could cause, “An avalanche of blackouts carried across continents by long-distance power lines (that) could last for weeks to months..”

Apparently we are approaching the end of an 11 year cycle, where the sun has been relatively calm but we are due for a solar maximum cycle, meaning bigger and more frequent solar storms, hence the warnings.
Solar storms occur when sunspots erupt in a flurry of charged particles. In the right conditions, and if directed our way, these solar “flares” can create extra electrical currents in our magnetosphere.

This has happened before, in September 1859 when the Earth was blasted by one of the most powerful solar storms ever.  But because of the lack of electrical infrastructure and dependence on electricity back then, people were only mildly inconvenienced when telegraph offices were set on fire. Now that our world is thoroughly criss-crossed by electrical power grids, which are particularly vulnerable to these extra currents, we can expect a lot more damage to our high-tech world-as-we-know-it.

The electrical grid acts like an antenna directing these currents into high voltage transmission lines causing transformers to overheat and burn out. Think about what it will mean to have no power for days....weeks or even months!

But before the grid goes down, radio and mobile phone communications, GPS and satellite will be shut down by the high energy particles and radiation as the solar storm approaches Earth. Aeroplanes and ships would have major difficulties with navigation and communication – accidents could happen.

What would No Power mean?

• No light
• No flushing toilets
• No electronics – they not only won’t operate but could also be shorted out
• No internet
• No fuel – fuel pumps need power and besides, your car might not start anyway
• No access to money in the bank
• No water – electricity pumps the water to your home
• No food – supermarket food supplies would quickly run out due to looting, hording and inability to restock
• No access to medical care
• People going crazy, stealing, hurting, killing, just to get stuff

Be Prepared

I admit that this is all pretty scary and we can’t do much about the crazies but we can at least stock up on food, water, medical supplies, vitamins and supplements, candles, matches, torches, batteries and a few other necessities just in case. This is what NASA has been suggesting to US citizens. Guess our government hasn’t thought past the carbon tax idea!

Anyway, in the words of some smart guy (Mike Adams) on the internet, “Don’t be Scared, Be Prepared”.

Solar saves the day

Don’t think that you’ll be fine just because you have solar electricity. Unless you’ve opted for a “stand-alone” system, you’re going to have the same problems as everyone else. Back-to-the-Grid seemed like a good idea at the time...  Learn more in my next blog.