Part 6/11:
Once the initial shock wears off, the reality of a long-term outage starts to take its toll. For some, essential medications that require refrigeration, or medical devices powered by electricity, present immediate health risks. Others may find their days becoming a mix of adapting to newfound freedom and grappling with the encroaching anxiety over resources.
As days turn into a week without power, unpredictability looms over essential needs such as food and water. The water supply—another vital utility—relies heavily on electricity for pumping and treatment. Without it, even non-essential aspects of modern life begin to unravel quickly, leading to panic concerning vital waste management systems as sewage treatment facilities struggle to function without power.