As I write tonight, the 2015 Blizzard is beginning to hit the North Eastern (US) states. In some areas, the snow predictions are showing several feet of snow. There are also forecasts predicting hurricane force winds. And one report I heard spoke of flooding from the ocean tide. For me there are several concerns that I have as I watch this storm:
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Power Outages: I am not an expert in power lines, but it would stand to reason that, with as much snow that is predicted combined with the high winds predicted, there will be at least some power outages. This would take several hours or days to reconnect and turn back on. The restoration would be hampered by the snow—depending on the amount that fell. I think the cities have done their best to mitigate power outages caused by traffic accidents by shutting down the roads, but the winds alone potentially may blow enough to cause some outages.
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Lower Income Residents: One second order effect of the power outages would be the unproportioned effect on the lower income people. While the lower income people, many times, live in the areas that are susceptible to power outages—they are the least prepared for these outages. Many times these same people lack the proper heat sources to keep them warm through the night.
- Fire: With any power outage, there is a risk for fires. People get cold and attempt to stay warm by turning on the gas stove. This is very dangerous; as it adds carbon monoxide to a closed space. Combined with that, there is the potential for a gas fire to explode in the home. The fire situation is complicated by the fact that the roads are at time impassible, due to the amount of snow, for the fire trucks to arrive quickly. This slowed response puts neighboring homes at risk. Thankfully, the cities are planning for a faster snow removal strategy, but the risk remains in the smaller back roads and alleys.
These are just my thoughts on the dangers that await these cities under the storm warning. Please pray for these communities as they dig out and attempt to keep people safe from harm.