weekend about four days after the LA windstorms.
I lost power on account of storms numerous times when I lived in the
South, but this was actually the first time I can recall it being so
long or widespread. I had to throw out all the food in the
refrigerator, after KP found that the grocery stores in neighboring
cities with power had two hour waits at ice making machines.
LA had a city-within-a-city feeling, with those caught in the blackout
moving around shell-shocked, while the rest of the folks went about
with life as normal. Despite the mess, it was reassuring to know that
a few miles away everything was still working, and it made me wonder
if anyone had done psychological modelling of how long lasting and
pervasive a breakdown of power and communication grids would need to
be to have a good chance of tipping society over the brink and into
unrest.
Obviously, there is a defineable gradient between the circumstances
where your neighbor stops by to see if he can borrow batteries and
where he stops by to cannibalize your family.
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