Imagine a time when there was no such thing as Internet, e-mail, ATM and credit cards, cell phones or 911 service. Now think back further to a time when they was no electricity – no TV, refrigerators, electric heaters or water pumps.

How did people survive without such amenities?

Many Curry County residents found out Sunday as power went out from Port Orford to the California border for eight to 12 hours.

All it took was high winds – which are forecast to continue through Friday.

While Brookings-Harbor and the surrounding area escaped the brunt of the storm physically, individuals and businesses throughout the region found themselves unable to connect to the Internet, use e-mail, cell phones and fax machines. Shoppers had to use cash and write checks because ATM and credit card machines were inoperable.

Here at the Curry Coastal Pilot we couldn’t e-mail news alerts or post important information on our Web site for our readers. It was frustrating, to say the least.

We were also alarmed to hear that, during Sunday’s power outage, many motorists were not stopping at unlit intersections, placing other motorists in mortal danger. Oregon state law states that all interections where traffic lights are inoperable are to be treated as four-way stops.

This week’s series of storms is showing just how vulnerable we and our technology are to Mother Nature’s malevolence. It’s important that we have the means to survive, for days if necessary, without power, Internet, cell phones and our credit cards.

This means having enough food, water, first aid kits, candles, batteries, flashlights, blankets, gas in the car and cash. If you don’t have these things, get them now before the power goes out again.

This wasn’t the first major storm of winter. It won’t be the last.