Cause and Effect of a Grid Down Event

Anyone who has ever gone through a power outage (I’m willing to bet is just about everyone) knows that it seems like life just stops without electricity. Literally everything we buy, and use is associated with electricity in one way or another.



Take dog food for example. While you don’t need to plug a bag of dog food in, the factory where it was made relies on machines, and light for people to see. It also requires fuel which is made in refineries to get that dog food to the grocery store.



A short-term power outage would probably be an inconvenience, while a more extended grid down event would have dire consequences the longer it lasts. Regardless whether we are talking about a power outage that lasts a few hours or a complete grid down event, there are some precautions we can take.



Possible Power Outage Causes



Before we get into the large-scale events that could cause a power grid failure for an extended period, let’s go over the more likely short-term power outage scenarios. While the larger disaster scenarios are very important because of the dire consequences, power outages are easy to prepare for, and a good starting point.



When you find yourself without electricity, and you know it’s only for a short period of time, the basic power outage supplies will do fine. I’ve put together what I call my “lights out kit” which is just a plastic tote with all the essential power outage supplies like flashlights and batteries.



Suggested Reading: Alternative Energy & Power Outage Supplies



Power Company Issues



This could be caused by human error, equipment failure, or routine maintenance, but power companies are bound to have issues. Considering the population and our electrical needs, the electric companies do a good job of keeping the power on.



Effects: In a situation like this, the odds are we will be without power for less than 24 hours. In this scenario the power company is likely to know the cause of the problem and be able to react very quickly.



Natural Disasters



Most power outages that cause the grid to go down for an extended period are caused by natural disasters. The amount of people affected, and the time they are affected depends on the severity of the natural disaster. A tornado will do far less damage to the electric grid than an earthquake or hurricane.



Effects: A power outage caused by a natural disaster could last days, weeks, and even longer. In a natural disaster the priority is always safety and saving lives. Power will be restored as soon as possible, but depending on the damage, it could take a while.



Suggested Reading: Preparing for Natural Disasters



Man Made Causes



Possibly the most common cause of a power outage is human error.