Do You Feel Like Preparing for Extreme Weather?

     Environmentalists tell us that humanity's pollution has changed the weather patterns of our planet and that in addition to the degredation of our eco-system we can now expect more flooding and high winds.

     I have reason to believe that there is at least a grain of truth to this, because of the unusually bad weather that I saw last week.

     Even if the pundits are incorrect, it's prudent to prepare for the worst, which means not being entirely dependent upon the "grid" or "system" in which you find yourself.

     When the winds come, expect the trees to topple and take power lines with them.  Will you have light and heat?  Do you have the means to produce elecricity? 

     If you have a gas fireplace, gas water heater and gas stove, will they work without an electric starter?  Do you have a back-up power generator powered by this same gas or will you be pouring gasoline (or some other highly combustible liquid) into a hot engine to get electricity?

     Do you have solar panels or even solar powered garden lights?  If you're in the habit of burining candles, you might not feel like you've gone back to the stone ages.

     If you live near a forest, the power company could easily take over a week to restore power, unless you're fortunate enough to have underground power lines.

     Of course, you will have huge messes to clean.  Does it seem possible that ruining the environment causes a chain reaction that leads right back to your own back yard?

     Call it "Karma" if you like.  And if you're one of those people that actually understands these cause-effect relationships, you might as well prepare for the aftermath of the damages caused by those who do not.