Storm Power

The San Francisco Bay Area was hit by a powerful rainstorm the past few days. It started Thursday night and by Friday morning it was pouring with wind gusts up to 80MPH. It's still raining now, and supposed to for several days.

I took the bus to work that day, and was soaked by the time I got into the office 2 hours after leaving the house. They shut down the bus line shortly after I got off because the highway closed in San Rafael due to 2 semis falling over on the Richmond Bridge. Power was going out all over (including our house) and some friends are still without power 36 hours later. I feel fortunate to have the lights back on.

Of course, the reality is that this could, and does, happen anywhere, often much worse. The weather is so unpredictable, and we've come to rely upon street-hung power-lines to keep us going, which can so easily be cut by falling trees. Why is it that the things we take for granted are the most important?

Do yourself a favor go to the store tomorrow and make yourself a simple survival kit: water, canned foods, flashlight, battery powered radio. You might think you'll never need it, and I hope you won't, but it just might come in handy the moment you least expect it.