| Surfing the internet a few weeks ago I came across a | | | | created another set of challenges. The traffic signal |
| product that blew me away. I live on a small remote | | | | lights on the streets were all dependent on electric |
| island in the pacific in a very rural area. We are | | | | power so they did not work as well. This caused |
| dependent upon the importation of everything, and I | | | | traffic jams and congestion on the few roads we |
| mean everything we use on a daily basis. Oil, food, | | | | have. As residents went to the grocery stores, lines |
| textiles, clothing, and medical supplies just to name a | | | | were forming as they had to be let in, led by flashlights |
| few, have to travel thousands of miles to get here. | | | | in small groups because the stores had little or no back |
| Whether its by air or cargo ship, there is always a | | | | up power. You get the picture. There were many |
| delay to get needed supplies in a timely manner. | | | | other instances that are to numerous to list. |
| We experienced a small earthquake here a few | | | | Now, back to the product that blew me away. What I |
| years back and it really opened my eyes. Living in | | | | came across was a small, portable power generator. |
| California most of my life, we are used to earthquakes | | | | This unit will store up to 1800 watts of electricity. It is |
| on a pretty continuous basis. The cities and | | | | not powered by gas or propane, but can be powered |
| communities around where we lived, are pretty much | | | | by the electricity in your home or the Sun. Wow, I have |
| prepared for the aftermath of a large quake. It is a | | | | known about solar energy for years, even have solar |
| way of life there. Police and emergency services are | | | | power panels on my roof for heating water. The |
| dispatched, back up utility systems and power | | | | beauty of this thing is not only can you use green |
| generators are engaged and there are plenty of | | | | energy to generate power in an emergency situation, |
| grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and other | | | | you do not even have to own property to set it up |
| businesses that can be tapped for consumption. | | | | and use it. Totally portable. It only takes up about 4 |
| It is not that way here. We found out within a few | | | | cubic feet to store it and sets up in a couple of |
| hours that the island was basically shutdown. The only | | | | minutes. Very convenient. |
| electric company we have, shut down the power grid | | | | I am quite skeptical and I needed to see this unit for |
| to the whole island. There is no "Natural Gas" company | | | | myself. So I ordered one from the manufacturer. After |
| provider. Most homes are not even equipped for it. So, | | | | a long 4000 mile journey over 8 days, I finally received |
| in a time of emergency there is nowhere to turn. | | | | the unit and put it to the test. It performed every bit as |
| Some residents did have backup gasoline power | | | | well as it was described. I am now even more blown |
| generators, but since there was no power, the pumps | | | | away! Now, I have my own Solar generator that can |
| at the stations would not even work. Most residents | | | | work for our family in any kind of situation. Emergency |
| were unprepared and drove to the nearest grocery | | | | or just for recreation. When the "grid" goes down, we |
| stores for food, ice, and other essential items. This | | | | have a "work around". |