EDITORIAL

Battery-powered for only so long

Posted 8/6/15

Computer by candlelight. Now that sounds contradictory. If the computer is running, why the candlelight?

The answer is obvious to many of you who spent the last 48 hours in Warwick. There was no …

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EDITORIAL

Battery-powered for only so long

Posted

Computer by candlelight. Now that sounds contradictory. If the computer is running, why the candlelight?

The answer is obvious to many of you who spent the last 48 hours in Warwick. There was no power throughout wide swaths of the city following Tuesday’s severe storm. Yet, of course, battery-powered laptops worked.

And what could they get?

Cable lines were down throughout the city as well. WiFi wasn’t working. Email wasn’t retrievable. Computers weren’t of much use, unless you wanted to poke through old files and maybe even write an editorial. In that case, it’s good to have candlelight.

Warwick was an eerie place Tuesday night. Familiar streets, even Warwick Avenue and West Shore Road, lost perspective without the glow of streetlights, traffic signals and the lit windows of businesses and homes. There was a feeling people were in all that darkness, and occasionally their arms and legs appeared in the cones of headlights.

There was an air of tolerance, at least in those early hours, that this is the way it would be until crews cleared roads and restored power. And there was understanding, and compassion. People came to the aid of neighbors and complete strangers. They helped the disabled and the elderly. Everyone was in this together.

But like that laptop battery, there’s a finite reserve for tolerance.

People want to know how long they’ll be in the dark, when their refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners and, of course, their WiFi will return to life. As of yesterday afternoon, National Grid had restored power to all but 13,000 of the city’s 40,000 customers. Reports are that it will be fully restored by this afternoon.

It was encouraging to hear Governor Gina Raimondo and Mayor Scott Avedisian, and especially National Grid Rhode Island President Timothy Horan, say they understand the scope of the problem and are working to set conditions right.

But like candlelight, the charm can only last so long. We’re ready to flick the switch.

Comments

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  • FASTFREDWARD4

    somebody in a jeep is ready to switch or flip you off John. LOL

    Monday, August 10, 2015 Report this

  • patientman

    Not that a generator is a panacea but if you're a homeowner you should at least have a gas powered generator to keep your food from spoiling. Over all is wasn't that bad. The utilities and town worked their butts off and I got to use my chainsaw at a bunch of friends houses. I'm glad it wasn't an ice storm that took down the lines with freezing temperatures. A storm like that with extended freezing weather and no heat could cause havoc with waterlines.

    Tuesday, August 11, 2015 Report this