JWR;
I am 69 year old Connecticut native, grew up on 100 acre farm in Eastern Connecticut during the 40’s and 50’s. [The late October 2011 snowstorm caused a lot of damage and the lengthy power failures upset a lot of people. See: Tempers flare over six days of Connecticut power outages.] I know most of the hardest hit areas, and am also a prepper! Like most of New England, our state was clear cut during the 1700s and 1800s. I have seen old photos of our rolling hills with nary a tree to be seen. As a child on our farm, I never remember a winter power outage, and I do remember big snow/ice storms! This is because the 2nd and 3rd growth timber was small and not overhanging power lines, and the many rural subdivisions had not yet been built. Most people lived and worked in our then wonderful cities and the local manufacturing plants.
Over the last 30 to 40 years, due to higher taxes, many businesses have left, people have left the inner cities and been able to buy a new home in the suburbs. We have had a huge residential building boom, and people were happy to live in mostly upscale communities with tree lined lanes. We are paying the price!
We had many power outages in last August due to Tropical Storm Irene, and most people were not prepared with supplies, and most could afford the basics. They did NOT learn! We have become soft and dependent on the Government! They complained in letters to the newspapers, and to television reporters, and even complained about the MREs given to them from the local fire departments. My little shoreline town is a very wealthy town and even here, they complained and many were not prepared. Even the elderly people have not prepared!
Propane stoves and companies that sell the tanks and service them are readily available in our state, and are safer and easier for our aging population to operate. We have one in our living room with three large tanks. Enough to take us through most of the winter. These citizens can afford to do this, but have chosen not to. For a few hundred dollars, they could have a little camp stove, a twig stove, a sterno stove, a charcoal grill (we have all of these) and dried and canned food. No need to go hungry or freeze to death. Food from the freezer can be put in large plastic totes, weight the lid down with rocks or bricks and put it outside in the shade. We have five months of cold here, and the frozen food will stay frozen.
I am equally frustrated that the town officials do not have town meetings to talk about how to prepare. In fact, though my elderly sister and I want to keep a low profile, I think I will e-mail our Town Selectman and tell him that I will personally give a brief talk and provide a list of what every homeowner should have so that they are safe, warm and fed when the next outage occurs.
I have read all of Cody Lundin’s books, your books, the Army Survival Manual and other such literature, and we had parents who were always prepared. Perhaps I can get through to some of our citizens! – L.H. in Lyme, Connecticut
Letter Re: 2011 Connecticut Power Outages
