Major statewide power failures due to the bush fires...

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

We had quite a dramatic day yesterday with power failures and soaring

heat temperatures. There was a recorded temperature of 42C yesterday.

Most shops had to close. Major shopping centres " blacked out " and

people were left in darkness. Some of them thought there was a bomb

attack when they heard a loud bang of something being dropped. Most

people ran out into the streets. Then there was chaos on the streets,

as traffic slowed down because the traffic lights went out also.

Pedestrians had to take their chances at ducking in between traffic

as it crawled in searing heat temperatures. The sensible ones walked

to the waterfront to at least try and cool down a bit.

 

What had happened was that there was electrical failure when the

State of Victoria's power supply succumbed to bushfire damage and

extreme demand (air conditioning). Firefighters are really up against

it. We have friends who are Fire Fighters, who have told us that

trees, etc. have no sap left in them, and are like tinder, if

lighted, which makes things very volatile, especially during times of

searing temperatures. Even the hospital where my husband works, lost

power for an hour. They had to revert to " code brown " arrangements,

which are reserved for natural disasters to ensure that any further

problems did not have an adverse effect on their services.

 

i was just glad we were at home. i did not mind suffering a bit of

heat. They recommend that people should stay at home (if possible), have plenty

of drinks, cool showers, and reduce physical activity. At least the telephone

service does not go out, as it is on a different supply than the electricity. i

also just put my attention away from heat, and by putting it on the Spirit, i

felt a Cool Breeze flow!

 

Anyway, today it is quite cool, like about 25deg.C. The temperatures

change so drastically. Incredible, isn't it.

 

violet