Life Off-Grid When You Least Expect It

For the majority of people who live off-grid in the U.S., there is an element of choice to their circumstances. They might have chosen to be self-reliant, to avoid the hassle of dealing with power companies. They may have moved to an area where they know services are scarce, but decided to brave it all the same. The degree of preparation that this kind of preparedness allows means that the transition can be relatively smooth.

However, those of us who choose to keep all our modern conveniences often neglect to consider that living off-grid in a developed, western country could always become a necessity. While most of our daily lives run fairly smoothly, sometimes a catastrophe can occur that is out of anyone’s control, but that knocks out power grids and supply lines, sometimes for days. Having the ability, if not the desire, to live off-grid can be a great way to avoid some of the very real consequences of being suddenly cut off.

We here at Aldelano encourage you to think about how some of the ways preparing for off-grid living can help you in the event of disaster.

Whatever the Weather

The vast expanse of the United States is made up of beautiful, varied terrain, from rocky mountains, to desert flatlands, to lush forests. This diverse landscape means that there is also a huge difference in weather conditions, which often means a lot of unexpected events that can leave people without a steady power supply. People who live in Tornado Alley tend not to think much about twisters in their daily life until one sweeps through a city, much like those living in California may not think about earthquakes despite living on the San Andreas fault. Natural disasters like these – tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, severe storms, floods and much more – are not something anyone can prevent, and often can’t even predict.

The lasting effect of a natural disaster may have far-reaching effects, knocking out power lines for miles around, sometimes for days. This is often a situation where people find themselves thinking of the consequences of an undetermined time without power – when it’s already out.

Off-Grid by Accident

Sometimes circumstances that require off-grid living might not even be caused by a natural disaster. In 2003, an estimated 45 million people in the U.S. and 10 million in Canada were affected by the New York blackout. Many of those affected would not get their power back until two days later. What was the cause of this major and immensely disruptive loss of power?

A software bug.

What could have been an easy-to-manage local blackout, spread through New York and Ontario. Many workers had no idea it was happening until it was too late.

The key consideration to take away from these kind of disasters is just how unpredictable they are. Being ready to live off-grid is a big step towards having a survival plan in the event of a disaster. Aldelano offers exactly the kind of solar-powered devices that can go a long way when it comes to living without power, even if it’s only temporarily. Our Solar ColdBox and Solar Watermaker both power themselves, and have proven their use in regions where living off-grid is simply a way of life, not an option. The expertise we put into our products and the simplicity and convenience of putting them to use is a great way to be ready for the unexpected.