Annie comes from a family of electricians, three generations deep. So, when the 2003 Northeast Blackout knocked out power for 50 million people, she started asking questions. She turned to her own personal expert on the matter, her dad.

This episode is the answer to how electricity actually gets to your home, why the power grid is basically the biggest machine humans have ever built, and what its age and vulnerabilities mean for us in an era of climate change.

It starts with knowing how it works, so we can be a little less at the mercy of it all.

Mentioned in this episode:

Come What Mayday Emergency Essentials

Joint U.S.-Canada Power System Outage Task Force Report (April 2004)

Practical Engineering - YouTube channel by Grady Hillhouse

Tell me your six year-old self could have resisted sneaking pieces of this beautiful, colorful electrical tape if tempted day after day? If you can say that honestly, you're stronger than me.

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Music courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

John Runefelt feat. Easton / You've Got It

DEX 1200 / The Lost Forest

Martin Gauffin / Permittivity

Hampus Naeselius / My Moon and Your Stars

Blue Steel / VOLTAGE

Rachel Sandy / The Art of Being

Meet Annie: oldest child, snack provider, always ready for anything.

After (gently) bugging people about getting their earthquake and wildfire kits together for years, she finally gathered up all her knowledge into Come What Mayday.

This is the origin story: a lovely yet tough-as-nails grandma, a little kid’s obsession with learning about the olden days, and a belief that preparedness works better as a group project.

Welcome!

Visit comewhatmayday.com to learn more or download the transcript.

Music courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Lama House / While We Still Breathe

Gavin Luke / Intonation

Gavin Luke / Emulsion

Come What Mayday is for anyone who doesn't want to make disaster preparedness their whole personality, but sure would like a plan.

We see the cracks in the status quo: Climate disasters. Infrastructure failures. Supply chain chaos.

I know...you know ....we all know....we should prepare for an uncertain future of ours, but where do we even begin?

I'm Annie, and I made Come What Mayday, because I want to normalize talking about the impact of these things with our families, friends, and neighbors. So we can have the knowledge and skills to face what comes our way together.

Because when things go sideways, we're our best bet -- and being ready for anything is one of the most tangible ways we’ve got to look out for one another in these times.

Everything is a lot less scary with a plan and a friend.

So, join me, and let's make a plan.

comewhatmayday.com

Music courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Helmut Schenker / Omnia