…yeah, it was Live Free and Die Hard (or, #4 of that series). Here’s the link.
I loved that movie! Still find myself re-watching it when I notice it on the schedule.
Shortly after the beginning of the movie, government-linked services – electricity, phones, gas, and other sources of energy start failing, rather abruptly, leaving people unable to function.
That’s the part where I have to suspend my hard-won knowledge of how MOST of America works. In contrast to the helplessness of the public in the movie, having experienced power outages of a week or more in duration, I know that the average person is relatively resilient.
Rather than stand around helplessly in stalled traffic, AMERICANS would assess the situation, and start self-organizing to fix it.
We’d push broken cars, trucks, and other vehicles out of the way. We would tend to the seriously injured, and figure out where the nearest hospital was located. Then we’d ‘appoint’ regular citizens as unofficial cops, and get the traffic moving.
How do I know that?
I have lived in many places, and seen what happens when power outages occur. Those outages included, auto fuel, electricity, gas, and phone.
Real quick, someone figures out a work-around for the situation, and life gits going!
In 1969, there was what has been called The 4th of July storm in the greater Cleveland. That windstorm toppled trees 6-8 feet in diameter, taking out all power in my hometown, Lakewood, OH.
We got no notice. Many of my neighbors and friends were at Lakewood Park for the Independence Day celebration when, suddenly, the storm was THERE! Four people died at the park that day, from falling debris mostly. Lakewood was point zero for the storm.
What happened within a short time period?
Neighbors in proximity to the park took in strangers, helping them get dry, reach their families, if possible, and feed them. So, Americans self-organized, and dealt with the crisis.
Power began failing quickly. I lived in an old neighborhood, and many people had gas stoves, furnaces, and fireplaces. So, they started using the backup systems.
The damage was widespread. Within a short time, people were warned to shut off their gas, until the company could assess whether it was safe.
No problem – people pulled the barbeques out of the garage, put in some charcoal, propane, or wood, and got cooking the food that wasn’t going to make it with the power out.
My dad had a brilliant idea – he used the phone book (remember those?), and found a few meat-packing facilities. He loaded up the contents of the freezer into cardboard boxes, and drove off to the next county to the west. He made a deal to store his food in their freezer until the power came back.
He also found a place with dry ice, and loaded up. While he was out, he picked up a few oil lamps and backup oil.
I remember we lost some milk, but we were able to ride out the aftermath of the storm comfortably. With the lamps, we were even able to play cards for entertainment.
We adjusted. Without government to tell us what to do, or provide the necessities of life, we managed.
So, for that matter, did most of our neighbors.
Years later, there was a major blackout of power where we lived.
“On August 14, 2003, a cascading failure of the power grid plunged more than 50 million people into darkness in the northeast US and Canada. It was the most significant power outage ever in North America, with an economic impact north of ten billion dollars.”
Our son was staying with a friend who had 4 kids. He walked 4 blocks to our house, and asked if he could take the ice cream and other frozen desserts that wouldn’t make it without power. We weren’t going to use the treats, so he left with the kid’s wagon loaded.
It’s hard for many people to fathom, the way that Americans manage to be self-resilient. Government, rather than being the ones that solve problems, is often the source of even MORE problems.
After Helene hit NC and other states, FEMA generated quite a bit of ill will in that region. They tried to FORCE people to leave home, and live like domesticated animals, being provided with food and water, and kept there with threats and force.
Pshaw! As my WV relatives might have said.
In Appalachia, people don’t stand around waiting for the government to act. Unlike other disasters, where FEMA herded human beings into captivity, where they docilely waited for food, water, and instructions, the hillbillies just said, “You and what Army?”
FEMA left a bitter legacy in that region. Hill folk are used to doing without, and relying on friends and family for assistance. The update in September, 2024, minimizes the problems.
I have a dear friend, a radio operator located near the NC/SC border, who has been active since the beginning. She has been running a regular net to handle requests for assistance, whether that is food, water, or help with locating vulnerable family or friends in the affected areas. Much of the area where damage was greatest is located in relatively isolated places, where the infrastructure – roads and bridges – is still not in operation.
Project Helene is still active, but their focus has shifted from emergency assistance to teaching the radio skills to enable people located in remote areas to make contact when need arises, and there is little available phone/cell service.
If you have a few extra dollars, you could put them to good use by donating them to the project.
It doesn’t make sense for the federal government to have an agency that HINDERS disaster recovery. If FEMA won’t change to be helpful, then eliminate it.
