100% Power Outage in Puerto Rico

[Maverick]

Back in 1700 their were an earthquake off Washington State known as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake estimated to be a 9.2 (due to hit again we call the big one) the tsunami wiped everything out on the Washington coast 2.5 miles in killing everything below 75 feet, this same tsunami hit Japans eastern side wiping out villages over a mile in bellow 66 feet. Imagine that same quake today, Washington tsunami warning would only be 5 minutes to evac. It is estimated from the States emergency planers, FEMA and the USGS that 1ok people would die from the quake alone, they can't even come to a number for the tsunami casualties in this State alone, now add the US Western coastal areas from Alaska to California not counting Japan, an Cascadia earthquake scares Japan enough they have full time seismologist stationed here.

Lets not mention the tsunami would reverse the Columbia river flooding every low land 80 miles up stream, that includes Vancouver (washington) Portland up to the Bonneville dam.

 

[Brent S]

Back in 1700 their were an earthquake off Washington State known as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake estimated to be a 9.2 (due to hit again we call the big one) the tsunami wiped everything out on the Washington coast 2.5 miles in killing everything below 75 feet, this same tsunami hit Japans eastern side wiping out villages over a mile in bellow 66 feet. Imagine that same quake today, Washington tsunami warning would only be 5 minutes to evac. It is estimated from the States emergency planers, FEMA and the USGS that 1ok people would die from the quake alone, they can't even come to a number for the tsunami casualties in this State alone, now add the US Western coastal areas from Alaska to California not counting Japan, an Cascadia earthquake scares Japan enough they have full time seismologist stationed here.

Lets not mention the tsunami would reverse the Columbia river flooding every low land 80 miles up stream, that includes Vancouver (washington) Portland up to the Bonneville dam.

It still surprises me how unprepared people are for natural disasters. I'm not just talking about prepping with a bug out bag and some food stores either. When buying a house, the biggest expense most will ever purchase, why not do a little research? Like looking at a flood plain map, or google what kinds of events took place in that area over the last few hundred years and how overdue is the expected next one? Something like a flood zone can be countered by building on stilts, or some reinforcing in hurricane country. There can always be unexpected things in life, but a lot of these natural disasters shouldn't be a surprise. Anyone who doesn't think New Orleans is going to flood again or that Florida isn't going to get hit by another big storm is blind.

 

[Maverick]

It still surprises me how unprepared people are for natural disasters. I'm not just talking about prepping with a bug out bag and some food stores either. When buying a house, the biggest expense most will ever purchase, why not do a little research? Like looking at a flood plain map, or google what kinds of events took place in that area over the last few hundred years and how overdue is the expected next one? Something like a flood zone can be countered by building on stilts, or some reinforcing in hurricane country. There can always be unexpected things in life, but a lot of these natural disasters shouldn't be a surprise. Anyone who doesn't think New Orleans is going to flood again or that Florida isn't going to get hit by another big storm is blind.

How many events like Harvey, Irma and Maria does it take? No one learned from Andrew Katrina and Sandy. Apparently events like these don't happen enough, people/local government seem not to remember these events beyond 30 days once power is restored and streets cleaned up (being sarcastic)

 

[TexasFreedom]

Brent,

When you buy a house, you find out then and there if it's in a flood plain (assuming you get a mortgage). No need to research it. Your bank may require that you get flood insurance.

But note that the majority of homes that flooded in Houston were not in the 100 year flood plain. That's what most people think about: 500 or 1000 year flood plains are far beyond their life span. And things like water reservoirs releasing water, water pump failures, etc, are things that are really hard to anticipate.

In reality, if people really optimized to reduce risks, nobody would live anywhere in Florida. Huge parts of CA would be vacant. I'd wager that the homes of 25% of the people in the world would need to be vacated. Sorry, risk is part of life. Your life is a wager you take every day in several ways, and one day within 120 years you will lose. If every moment was focused on reducing that risk then you'd never enjoy life. So worry not. Don't be stupid, but use your brain & don't worry.

 

[Brent S]

How many events like Harvey, Irma and Maria does it take? No one learned from Andrew Katrina and Sandy. Apparently events like these don't happen enough, people/local government seem not to remember these events beyond 30 days once power is restored and streets cleaned up (being sarcastic)

People really do have a short attention span.

 

[DrHenley]

People really do have a short attention span.

Yup.

For many years we vacationed every summer at a rented beach house in Perdido Beach, Alabama. Perdido Beach is pretty well protected because in between Perdido Beach and the gulf, there is Innerarity Point, Ono Island, and Perdido Key, acting like a triple layer of barrier islands. Some damage in a couple of hurricanes, but nothing destroyed other than wooden piers. We watched things go up on Perdido Key (directly on the gulf), and then get blown down, and then a few years later go up again after the memory of things getting blown away fades.

And we just shook our heads.

 

[Gazrok]

Being in Central FL, and far inland, by the time any storm hits us, it should just be Cat 2 or 1.... Which is why we were all so terrified when the projections said hitting us at Cat 4! Thank goodness they were wrong. We saw Cat 2 conditions only (bordering on Cat 3), as the eyewall went over. Was amazing to watch on radar as it did. In a non-SHTF scenario, I can't say enough how important cell phones are.

 

[DrHenley]

Looks like many people in Puerto Rico will be without power until next year some time:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/without-power-until-next-year-puerto-ricans-are-leavingmaybe-forever

VIEQUES, Puerto Rico—Joe and Maria Bernard cook in the dark over a gas stove outside their small hotel, the Tropical Guest House. “The days feel shorter,” says Maria, “we just have 12 hours of daylight to get everything done.”

When it gets dark, the entire island of Vieques is dark.

This is life on the world-renowned tourist island. And it’s going to be life for at least the next six to eight months, if not longer, before electricity is restored here.

Only 8 percent of Puerto Rico’s electricity has been restored as of Sunday, and the old grid is irreparable in many places, aside some quick fixes.

“We had a plan to modernize our grid before Maria, which involved private companies, we called it PREPA 2.0. We were going to present at a Caribbean summit,” Ricardo Ramos, the head of Puerto Rico’s electric power utility, PREPA, explains. “After Maria, we reached out, and those companies demanded $25 million down payment upfront. We didn’t have the money.”

Without a massive infusion of federal aid, Puerto Rico will only be able to temporarily fix the cracks but not overhaul the whole system. And with no reserves—the island filed for bankruptcy last May, unable to meet its obligations on a $77 billion external debt—it’s like borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. It’s status as a commonwealth deprives it of the customary waivers and block grants other hard hit areas like Texas and Florida received after their hurricanes.

 

[Gazrok]

I'm still a bit surprised how LITTLE coverage this gets in the news.

I mean, though not a state, Puerto Rico is US folks, as in us, and as in the US. It is part of America. But we are (for some reason) being blinded by what's truly going on there.

It's going to take a MASSIVE infusion of federal funds, not to just supply emergency supplies, but to completely rebuild their infrastructure. Why isn't this being more talked about?

Instead, we are inundated by stupid tweets, or whether some millionaires kneel on a field. And while the LV shooting is a genuine tragedy that certainly deserves coverage and discussion....Puerto Rico is likewise worthy of some press attention, but isn't getting it.

 

[Brent S]

I don't envy the people down there. Without power it's like going back 100 yrs in time. Camping is great for a few days, but I've really gotten accustomed to electricity, toilets and running water and restaurants.

 

[Gazrok]

I don't envy the people down there. Without power it's like going back 100 yrs in time. Camping is great for a few days, but I've really gotten accustomed to electricity, toilets and running water and restaurants.

Yep. Irma was a great wake up call for me, and identified a hole in my preps I never even realized I had. Two holes, to be fair....at least for short-term events. (lack of ability to charge a cell phone (solved) and how bad it sucks to be without AC in FL (solution in progress))

 

[jimLE]

my main hole in my preps,for when it comes to staying home and power outages..is no back up generator yet for my fridge and freezer.yet.i do need a solar panel charging station,for my phone,flashlight batteries and tablet,as a backup plan thoe..

 

[Maverick]

It's hard to feel sorry for Puerto Rico, they done this to themselves by over selling bonds, they were warned in the late 80s by Congress they needed to deal with it's debt, instead of dealing with the issue they maintained the status quo selling bonds and the people continued to vote the SOBs back into office year after year after year causing the infrastructure to suffer, today they are reaping what they sowed. They didn't listen in the 80s and now they cry today blaming the Republicans, fxxk em! They had no growth drivers strictly relying on bonds, huge huge government for it's size, extremely large unfunded pension liability $7 billion. Puerto Rico receives 20+ billion a year in Federal aid (population under 4 million) with the big portion going to welfare over 2 billion, the money was plundered (some call it mismanaged)

Puerto Rico is a $103 billion economy, also receives 20+ billion a year in Federal aid, they are $70 billion in debt with a population of less than 4 million and an infrastructure in disrepair creating a bigger mess than need be after the hurricane... feel sorry? hell no.

If anyone that should be feeling sorry it's the Puerto Rican citizens for what they are doing to the US taxpayers and let that bxtch of a mayor from San Juan sink in the whole she helped dig!!!

 

[Gazrok]

I will agree with you there. In many ways, Trump was dead on in his criticisms, but much like the NFL protests were.....wrong time and place....

I'm not even saying we SHOULD bail them out...only that we ARE GOING TO....simple as that. It's silly to pretend otherwise...if history is any indication. In many ways, it's an expansion of the experiment. Just like runaway long Democratic cities are facing the same fate....the territory of Puerto Rico is basically an example of it on a grander scale.