Text 18061, 76 rader
Skriven 2011-11-21 23:34:04 av RUTH HANSCHKA (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av GLEN JAMIESON
Ärende: THE MESS OUTSIDE 11119
==============================
 
-> In the Philippines, during the immediate post-Marcos period, the
-> corrupt officials who ran Manila's electricity (and water) supply were
-> kicked out, but as no one else could be found who knew how to keep the
-> organisations functioning, power (and water) became in short supply
-> and "brown-outs" were instituted, whereby districts were given "two
-> hours on, two hours off" in rotation (and water came on at 1 am!).
-> The supermarkets, and a lot of homes used rechargeable fluorescent
-> lights, permanently connected.  These came on automatically when the
-> power went off, which effectively deterred shoplifters.  That was not
-> all bad, however, as in the warm, tropical evenings, when the power
-> went off and the TVs and stereos fell silent, people got out their old
-> acoustic guitars and sang the old, romantic songs to amuse each other.
-> It was very pleasant to walk around the village at those times with
-> just the moon for light.  After Cory Acquino, the next president hired
-> back the people who could run the place, and we got full time power.
->  
It was almost a pity.  Similar things happened here during our week without 
power. It was almost a shame when it came back on.
 
->  RH> I've never had one of those to mess with, but then I also use no
->  RH> propane  otherwise.
-> 
-> Likewise, but I have seen them used by caravaners and campers.

I've heard of them, but never seen one.
 
->  RH> I've seen those.  They don't tend to stay charged long, but at
least
->  RH> there  aren't any batteries.
-> 
-> The one I have includes a rechargeable battery which lasts for a half
-> hour or so, as the LED light is very efficient.

That's more than you need for a trip to the bathroom anyway.
  
->  RH> The company president just resigned; it was that or be ridden out
of
->  RH> town on 
-> 
-> And the Board of Management?

Didn't let the door hit his butt on the way out....  They should all go
too, 
but he was the one in front of the microphones.  
 
->  RH> a rail.  That's a start.  Now they need to get with the program of
->  RH> trimming  trees BEFORE the storm does it for them, and burying
wires
-> 
-> I have seen trees damaged by ice build-up; they look terrible, some
-> torn apart as major branches broke off.

Now imagine thousands of such trees.  Not to mention the ones that broke in 
half, and the ones here and there that came up by the roots.  
 
->  RH> more crews, and paying the  contractors on time.  Setting up
->  RH> contingency mutual aid plans with companies 
->  RH> in other states is necessary too.  Better communications between
out
->  RH> of  state crews and emergency dispatch, or the planning centers.  
-> 
->  RH> That ought to do for starters.
-> 
-> Transfer of Emergency Services personnel between states, and even
-> internationally, has been proved to be a very effective way of
-> reducing down time following natural disasters such as storms, floods,
-> bushfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.

Yep - as long as someone makes sure the crews know what they're doing.  We 
had out of state crews actually get here and then spend hours twiddling 
their thumbs because no one told them what to do.  Not the best use of 
anyone's time.  
 
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