Let's talk about what we can learn from the storm.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about what we can learn from the storm.

The US is being hit with a pretty bad winter storm, and there are a couple of different things we can learn from it. For the newer viewers, this channel has a long history of trying to educate people about how to deal with disasters or inclement weather. even though we keep most of it over on the second channel called The Roads with Belle. So before we go over the teachable moments, just some quick tips.

Right now, hundreds of thousands are without power and at least 30 have reportedly been lost to the cold. So remember, when dealing with cold, it's easier to keep a small area warm than a large area. If you lose power and heat, setting up tents indoors can help trap heat. Extra blankets and towels layered over the tent can help insulate more. If you don't have a tent, you can use your dining room table and use blankets, pillows, or even just laundry piles to make walls.

Make use of body heat. It's time to snuggle up. Remember to be safe with any heating method. Open flames and fumes can be killers. Alcohol doesn't really keep you warm. We have a lot of other tips on the channels if you want to look at the emergency preparedness playlists.

Okay. So, what are the teachable moments here? Obviously, being prepared for the type of disasters and emergencies you have in your area is important. The effectiveness of preparation is multiplied if you have a network of people who know to check on you and you check on them. It helps establish duplicate resources and plans. You have to put together your resources and network before you need them. If you don't have one established, take this as your cue to start putting it together.

Now, the important political bit that ties into current discussions. The US is currently experiencing a lot of tension and discord. And there are those with fantasies of glory hoping things escalate to something full-blown. If you look at totals from recent conflicts, the civilian numbers pretty much always outnumber combatant losses.

In some timeline where things have escalated into full-blown conflict and this exact scenario played out. This same storm, the same outages, the electricity and heat wouldn't be coming back soon. The resources simply wouldn't be there to have crews out working around the clock. How long do you think the outages would last? How many people do you think would be lost? How does any of that make America great? How does it help those on the bottom? Maybe those people telling you to hate your neighbor because it gets clicks don't have your or the country's best interest at heart.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.