{"id":7002,"date":"2013-10-10T20:35:11","date_gmt":"2013-10-11T02:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/?p=7002"},"modified":"2013-10-11T10:40:42","modified_gmt":"2013-10-11T16:40:42","slug":"blackout-are-you-prepared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/?p=7002","title":{"rendered":"Blackout – Are You Prepared?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you prepared for a catastrophic blackout across the United States?<\/span><\/p>\n

On November 13 and 14, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will participate in the GridEx II 2013 Preparedness Drill,<\/a> one of the largest drills in our country\u2019s history.\u00a0 The drill will simulate a \u201cgrid down scenario,\u201d and will look at what would happen if our country\u2019s electrical grid system was crippled by both physical and cyber-attacks.<\/p>\n

The drill will implement North American Electric Reliability Corporation\u00a0 (NERC)<\/a> and industry response plans to assess areas of cyber-security and physical security that may need improvement.\u00a0 Thousands of public service utility workers will team up with National Guard members, FBI antiterrorism experts, and other officials from government agencies.\u00a0 Thus far, more than 150 companies and organizations have signed up to be a part of the drill.\u00a0 Besides assessing the grid\u2019s capabilities to withstand attack, another goal is to see how the different governments would react as supplies of everyday necessities dwindle in response to a catastrophic loss of the grid.<\/p>\n

A number of other organizations are getting involved as well, offering free on-demand and online preparedness videos as well as presenting a prime-time media event depicting what might occur during a total blackout.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, October 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, the National Geographic Channel will present a 2-hour movie event entitled \u201cAmerican Blackout<\/a>,\u201d which imagines the story of a national power failure caused by a cyber-attack.\u00a0 \u00a0The movie follows 10 days during a catastrophic blackout across the U.S.\u2014no lights, no cell phone service, no ATMs, no gasoline, no services, food shortages, and worse yet, no escape. \u00a0Said to be told in \u201creal time\u201d by those who kept filming on cameras and phones, the film is described as \u201cgritty, visceral and totally immersive.\u201d\u00a0 The filmmakers combine \u201cstartling user-generated footage from recent real blackouts and disasters like Hurricane Sandy intercut with the dramatic shot footage in feature film style.\u201d\u00a0 The movie will focus on what it really means to be totally powerless, and will follow the struggles of Americans as they try to make their way through the chaos in hopes of survival.<\/p>\n

Coincidentally (or not), Hearst Magazines is also currently offering its magazine subscribers opportunities to preview free on-demand and online videos regarding disaster preparedness.\u00a0 In emails sent to subscribers, the subject line reads \u201cDisaster Prep \u2013 The Time is NOW!\u201d\u00a0 Produced by the experts at \u201cPopular Mechanics\u201d and \u201cGood Housekeeping,\u201d<\/a> the videos include strategies on how to prepare for, survive, and thrive in the aftermath of such a crisis.<\/p>\n

With possible threats from natural disasters, financial uncertainties, and cyber-attacks, it\u2019s a good idea to be prepared for a multitude of possible catastrophes.\u00a0 Especially vulnerable is our aging power grid system.<\/p>\n

According to the authors of \u201cGridlock<\/a>,\u201d former Senator Byron Dorgan and David Hagberg, the U.S. power grid system is one of the most vulnerable aspects of America\u2019s infrastructure and is very likely the next target of a terrorist or cyber-attack.\u00a0 Based on former Senator Dorgan\u2019s in-depth knowledge of energy policy and defense, the book reveals the fact that a number of high-level officials believe foreign powers have already infected our electrical systems with a crippling computer virus. \u00a0The CIA knows it\u2019s there, but can\u2019t remove it without destroying the computers it has already infected.\u00a0 America\u2019s electrical grid system is in big trouble!<\/p>\n

In a 2013 Congressional report on grid vulnerability,<\/a> \u201cMore than a dozen utilities said they constantly, sometimes on a daily basis, face attempted cyber-attacks.\u00a0 One utility said it was the target of about 10,000 cyber-attacks each month.\u201d\u00a0 And these numbers do not include widespread power outages due to severe weather.<\/p>\n

Will America be left in the dark and powerless, or will we be able to see our way through the darkness and chaos?\u00a0 Do your part!\u00a0 Be prepared!\u00a0 Make checklists of exactly what to buy at the hardware store and learn what resources you\u2019ll need to survive.\u00a0 Learn how to stay warm and dry and protect you and your loved ones.\u00a0 Keep ready supplies of water, food, medicines, batteries, and other necessities on hand at all times along with ways to purify water and cleanse the air.<\/p>\n

We may not know when the next disaster will strike, but we know it\u2019s only a matter of time.\u00a0 The good news is you can be ready!<\/p>\n

Link to article in print on GCN’s website:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.gcnlive.com\/wp\/2013\/10\/11\/blackout-are-you-prepared\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you prepared for a catastrophic blackout across the United States? On November 13 and 14, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will participate in the GridEx II 2013 Preparedness Drill, one of the largest drills in our country\u2019s history.\u00a0 The drill will simulate a \u201cgrid down scenario,\u201d and will look at what would happen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7002","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-articles","7":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7002"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12066,"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7002\/revisions\/12066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbadamslive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}