How can an urban resident (Apt or flat) prepare for a massive power outage in winter?

Question

Such an interruption of the electricity supply might come from a regional storm, earthquake, nuclear attack or terrorist attack on power supply sources and terminals etc. It would discontinue electric supply for days, weeks or months. Because we have become so dependent on electricity for our day to day life this would come as a real challenge for life.

The result of such an outage would be loss of lighting, loss of heat (if heat is electric), loss of use of electrical appliances (refrigeration, TV, phone, all kitchen appliances and electric medical appliances etc.), Loss of fuel for auto since gasoline (petrol) pumps are electric, loss of street lighting and traffic signals in short you would be plunged 100 years into the past.

Quite apart from the physical depravation of an extended power loss the psycholigical readjustment may be the most problematic. How can one best prepare psychologically?

Answer 1

Well I guess food can be kept outside. Prior to the "event", seal your windows. Store batteries and candles, lots of them. Flashlights too - obviously. Get yourself a crank radio (uses no batteries), and if you want a generator. I don't know if storing fuel is possible, but if it is, do that too. Don't forget blankets, and appropriate clothing. Maybe some skies in case you're snowed in!!
During the blackout in 2003, many people were without power for a week (and some even longer)! Life went on, stores were open, and kept their purchase records on paper. Although there was a lot of food that went bad, it was summer, and we barbecued mostly everything right away! Thank goodness it wasn't winter - but it was scary at night, knowing that alarms didn't work, and automatic locks weren't working! The telephone worked though, and people really pulled together to help out.
I think it's all right to be prepared, but there is no use being obsessed about the issue. Things happen, and in most cases it would be too late to stop them.

Answer 2

you have no theory what you're speaking approximately. Restoring potential to 3/4 of a million residences takes time, notably whilst there is ice on the lines. there isn't any longer something Obama can do to velocity up the approach. application crews in Kentucky are working as speedy as they are able to and have stated as in crews from different states. in case you had bothered to do your study you're able to see that Obama, final week, signed emergency declarations making the affected counties eligible for federal help and has been very conscious of greater effective requests made by using the governor. The communities are not outraged. Articles i've got examine from Kentucky information retailers have compliment for FEMA and the nationwide shelter. this is been sluggish in places yet expectancies must be real looking in a challenge like this.