It was big news during this weekend : the east coast of the US was hit by a snowstorm delivering 1 meter of snow on some places. Interesting to think then how this would affect our lives if it were to hit us. And what is then the use of technology ? My answer is simple : nothing at all …
Yep, people were informed, thanks to fairly accurate weather forecast. Supported by big computers and heavy modelling. That’s technology.
But when there is 1 meter of snow, there is no road traffic anymore. Even the snow ploughs have problems in getting through. OK, so no road traffic anymore. No trucks, no cars, no buses. Only pedestrians with sledges. Nice for the kids. No airport traffic. No trains or trams, due to issues with the rails. OK, so let us stay home. If you were informed, you can have for 1 week of food at home.
You can work from home in many instances, so you turn on your PC, connect to the internet and intranet and off you go. No issue.
But then electricity lines break under the weight of the snow. There goes the internet connection and the light. If your telephone is connected to the internet modem, no telephone anymore. OK, you still have your mobile phone on batteries. With some luck your battery time is longer than the period of no power. And the mobile base station ? No problem, they have a battery backup and generator, with diesel for, don’t know, let’s say 8 hours. If the power outage takes a few days, because the electricians cannot get there due to the snow, the mobile network fails as well.
OK, so let’s watch TV, but no TV anymore, since no electricity. So let’s listen to the radio or some music, but idem. Oh, we have an iPod, on batteries, … Ok , so let’s play a game with the kids, but no light. Oh, we have some candles … for a number of hours. But you even do not have central heating (even if it is on gas or diesel, there is an electrical “circulation pump” of the warm water.)
OK, let’s eat. Pizza, in the oven. Ah, no electricity. And you cannot order one to be delieved neither. So, let’s look at what else we have in the fridge. Ah it does not work anymore. Neither does the deepfreezer. This can be solved, since it’s cold outside, you put everywhere outside. There you find a barbecue, which can be your savyor for the meat.
OK, so let’s take a bath. In my personal case : no pressure. Since the water company needs electricity to get pressure on the water system (even with a water tower, you need to get the water up in the first place …). So, probably no warm water, or 1 hour to get a full bath tub.
OK, so let’s go to bed early (since it is dark early) and hope that in 9 months there is no big event ;-).
The point is : it is back to basics, since all this technology works on electricity … Solar panels might bring some salvation, but covered under the snow on your roof …
How would your company resist to this “stress test” ?
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