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It is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. We heard an explosion, and we were in the dark for 9 ½ hours. For the third time in as many months, the electricity in our neighborhood went out. The underground cables that supply our electricity are failing and in time will no longer be repairable. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) our nation’s electric grid, the infrastructure that transmits and distributes our electricity, is in a similar condition.
Some of our nation’s electrical grid predates the 20th century, but most of it was built in the 1950s with a life expectancy of 50 years and was not originally engineered to meet today’s demand, nor severe weather events. There are 640,000 miles of transmission lines where portions are so overloaded that they are unable to shut them down for needed repairs and upgrades because it would cause a collapse of the remaining system.
When a person looks closely at the facts and data, as reported by multiple congressional, military and intelligence agencies regarding the infrastructure that provides us with energy we see that our electrical system is at risk, whether it be from a solar event, a physical attack, an online attack, or just a simple cascading failure from being old and overloaded. Each of these studies states that it is not a matter of if, but when it will happen. Each report indicates that the interruption will be for an extended period of time, even up to several years.
We have no control over such a large infrastructure, but we do have control over whether or not we want to continue depending on that source of electricity, which also provides our food, fuel, communications, and even our sanitation, all of which we depend on for our daily existence.
The choice is simple, continue to depend on a fragile and overloaded system or create your own source utilizing modern technology that is readily available. Yes, such a choice will cost time, effort and money. It must be noted, however, that everything we currently surround ourselves with, our houses, cars, and toys have cost time, effort and money. Again, the choice is ours. While we still have a functioning infrastructure, now is an opportunity to redirect thought, resources and efforts towards being self-reliant.
By joining with us and others associated with Operation Self-Reliance, one does not need to make such a transition alone. The resources are many and there are others like yourself who are determined that they do not want to be a victim of circumstances. Get on the “Path to Self-Reliance,” as offered by the Academyosr.com. In addition, seriously consider the Utah OSR Land Cooperative as a community of like-minded people, who are on the same path. There is a way to avoid dependency on our disintegrating infrastructure.
God speed,
Philip J. Gleason
Director |
