[geeks] power (was Mr. Bill)

[John Francini]

> Gustav, Ike, Katrina and several nameless tornadoes around central  
> Indiana all reek havoc on hard-working citizens and businesses alike.

The debris left behind after a storm can indeed reek after the storm  
has wreaked its havoc.

> Heart-breaking tales of lost homes, cherished possessions and  
> injured loved-ones break hearts and evoke strong emotions. In the  
> midst of all this tragedy I began to wonder about a practical and  
> mundane matter; electricity. We have overhead power lines across  
> much of the United States, and as we've seen they're extremely  
> vulnerable to the elements and even an errant motorist. Given we've  
> had about a century to perfect electric generation and transmission  
> in this country why can't we bury power lines to ensure continuous  
> operation in times of peril? The cost of constant repairs after  
> storms should balance the cost on the burial and management of the  
> cables. Additionally, continual electrical service will enable water  
> treatment plants, gas stations, and other essentials key to modern  
> living to continue operations throughout disasters. Why can't this  
> vulnerability in our infrastructure be fixed?

I don't understand this either. The only places that seem to  
consistently bury utilities are planned upscale housing developments,  
condo complexes, and the downtown/central areas of cities.  The rest  
of the country's utility companies seem to be content with putting  
wires on sticks and wondering why they come down in hurricanes/ 
tornadoes/ice storms.

john