Editorial: We're powerless and need to prepare

I don't know about anyone else, but the first thing that pops into my head when there's a power cut at home is to make a cup of tea ... then I realise I can't.

Staff from our local council, power supply companies and contractors are working flat out to clean up the mess left by this week's horrendous winds. By all accounts there were trees and branches down across the district with some areas hit worse than others. Tuesday's weather was bad enough but just when we thought it might be over, we were subjected to another night of wild winds and rain, leaving some 1000 homes in Rotorua without power.

We are so reliant on electricity these days that it's impossible to contemplate how we might survive without it.

So the rest of us feel for all those affected - no hot showers, barbecuing in the rain, food in your fridge and freezer spoiling ... no cups of tea.

It is such an inconvenience and given the price of food these days, the value of losing what you've managed to stock up in your freezer alone is nothing to be sniffed at.

A thousand homes without power equals a lot of people inconvenienced but it's a situation we should perhaps be more prepared for in future.

Our weather has changed quite dramatically over recent years and storms or "weather bombs" are becoming more frequent.

The need to be prepared in case of a major disaster was underlined for us following the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch where people were without power or any basic services for much longer than it's likely residents who had their power cut here this week will be.

These sorts of occurrences serve as reminders that we should be prepared for just about any eventuality.

Mother Nature seems intent on testing us with much greater frequency these days.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

email: editor@dailypost.co.nz, text DP then your message to 021 241 4568, or write to editor, PO Box 1442, Rotorua.