Grid
The grid is the vast, interconnected network of power plants, transmission lines, and distribution systems that delivers electricity from where it is generated to where it is used. In the United States it is not one system but several, and you can learn how the US power grids divide the country. From a prepper's perspective, the word also covers the public services that run on that electricity.
Why the Grid Matters to Preppers
Modern life runs on the grid, so when it fails, other systems fail with it. Water treatment and pumping can stop. Fuel pumps, refrigeration, payment networks, ATMs, and much of modern communication can go dark too. That is why preppers aim to be self-reliant and ready for disruptions to the grid.
Severe weather, cyberattack or physical sabotage, overload during peak demand, a major coronal mass ejection, or an EMP can all take it down. Read about the biggest power outages in US history, and check the grid blackout risk by state where you live. Then learn what to do during a power outage, and plan your backup power before you need it.
