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Archiver > PADUTCH-LIFE > 2003-06 > 1054912152
From:
Subject: Re: Fw: [PD-LIFE] When the electricity goes out
Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2003 11:09:12 -0400
In a message dated 6/6/2003 9:00:16 AM Eastern Standard Time, writes:
> Speaking losing power, water, etc...........I was in Alaska (MILITARY
> POST, Wildwood Station, Kenai, about 80 miles northeast of
> Anchorage)
> during the 1964 earthquake....that killed over 120 people.
That is very similar to our experience during the Johnstown Flood of 1977. No electricity, no running water that you could drink.
Fortunately, and as a credit to the utility companies, we were only without electricity for about three days, and the Red Cross made sure everyone had bottled water to drink. The local Pepsi plant sent carbonated water in cans. I was eight years old, thought it was awful, and have never liked tonic water or club soda or anything similar!
But there are so many things we take for granted, like electricity to keep your refrigerator running or to cook with (fortunately we had a gas stove), or clean water to drink or to bathe in. You just almost never think about them until they're gone.
The best I can remember, our phones were back up almost right away, but there's another thing taken for granted. (This, of course, being the days before cell phones). How would you call for help if you needed it?
I am very lucky to live in a neighborhood where the lines are underground, so we never lose power--the best fringe benefit!
Some former co-workers of mine live in more rural areas and some winters they have been without power for as long as a week.
--Debra
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