Click the image for Puget Sound Energy's "downed power lines" web page.
Part of the charm of living on the Steamboat Island Peninsula is that it only takes 20 minutes to drive from the City to the wilderness. It means a lot to most people to throw your window open at night and listen to the oyster boats or the wind. I am in awe of the way eagles soar over our peninsula.
However, in the middle of cold and violent storms sometimes the lights go out. It can be out for less than an hour or up to 5 days or more! What should a homeowner do?
#1 Relax.
#2 Get, your flashlight with fresh batteries.
#3 Light your candles or oil lamp.
#4 Tune to any of these FM stations: KGY 95.3, KAYO 96.9, or KAOS 89.3. KGY, in particular, has a good backup generator.
#5 Bundle up with a loved one and read a book.
If it turns out that the outage was not caused by a drunk driver hitting a pole on Mud Bay drive, get emotionally prepared for life off the grid for a while.
Consider the following:
- Fire up your generator a few hours in the evening if you need a little heat from your electric fireplace.
- Use a couple cups of your 50 gallons of emergency water supply for a sponge bath if you smell.
- Cook a meal or 3 on your propane BBQ.
- Dig into your no-cook food for a snack.
- Stay warm and healthy and go to work tomorrow if the roads are passable.
- If you are trapped, read a couple good books and huddle up with someone you love.
by James Nugent
