...*Shakes Head in Despair*
...CA, by itself, is said to be the 6th largest economy in the WORLD...and we have an antiquated and neglected electric grid. Other States have some of their power underground. CA politicians have raised taxes and sold bonds to raise capital to maintain and improve the grid, and PG&E raised rates in order to get money to maintain the grid, but the work wasn't done.
...Also, and I can testify on this on personal observation, our forests are tinderboxes because of very poor forest management. When I was a child, we would drive to Yosemite Park, and the forests were a bit thin in places, because natural fires burned out the undergrowth, and new trees, but didn't harm the larger trees. Now, driving the same route, the trees are side to side, and you can't walk in them because of dead matter and such, which is very thick and deep.
...*Sighs* You have rolling blackouts in 3rd World Countries, you wouldn't expect them in the US. I pray for the thousands who are affected. In addition to heaters and air conditioners, personal medical appliances used by the sick and elderly are shut down. The State was getting ready to shut down the Caldecott Tunnel, which is a large and very important link between the East Bay and S.F., but they located large portable generators to keep it open. I have also heard that some cellphone towers are being affected, so that is another problem.
...As you can see, my area is fortunate, we weren't part of the 'Phase 1' shutdowns, but there is talk of the 'Phase 2' being implemented. Local TV News since Monday included demonstrations on how to use small portable generators, and all the stores are sold out on flashlights, batteries, and bottled water. Phase 2 will be implemented at 8:00 pm, pst, so I have our flashights set out, and don't have much in the fridge, and have jugs and cases of bottled water. I even filled our bathtub, but there will be no baths.
...Ce la vie...
