Friday, September 19, 2003
OBSERVATIONS ON POST-ISABEL FREDERICKSBURG: Went out for a drive this morning. Lots of trees down. Lots of folks out with their chainsaws. The entrance to the dump was packed with pick-up trucks and trailers full of tree branches and other debris. One thing to be said about this area: folks are self-sufficient in many meaningful ways. No namby-pamby wait around until FEMA or the state government comes around to save us. We’ll do the job ourselves thank you very much and we will get back to work as soon as the power is back on.
Went to a nearby 7-11, one of the only places with power. Appears to be a generator because the lights were dim, no A/C on etc. A long line of people waited for coffee. The atmosphere was silent and a bit tired. Got to thinking about how complex and amazing our system is. There is no real reason why the dimly-lit, dirty-floored, many shelves empty 7-11 couldn’t be the normal reality. Yet, truckers, power companies, workers, distributors, manufacturers all work within an incredibly complex web of interdependence to keep the lights on, floors clean and shelves stocked. Are there downsides to this system? Sure. But it is remarkable how well things work most of the time.
Went to a nearby 7-11, one of the only places with power. Appears to be a generator because the lights were dim, no A/C on etc. A long line of people waited for coffee. The atmosphere was silent and a bit tired. Got to thinking about how complex and amazing our system is. There is no real reason why the dimly-lit, dirty-floored, many shelves empty 7-11 couldn’t be the normal reality. Yet, truckers, power companies, workers, distributors, manufacturers all work within an incredibly complex web of interdependence to keep the lights on, floors clean and shelves stocked. Are there downsides to this system? Sure. But it is remarkable how well things work most of the time.
