This region is blessed with plentiful water (the largest lake
in the region) fertile soil (lake beds left behind by receding ancient
lakes), and geothermal energy in some areas. Like the Rogue River
region, the Klamath Falls
region might be a good area to consider for someone who has strong
business or family
ties
to
Northern California. In a grid-up scenario it would be a great place
for a retreat. However, in a grid down scenario where a mass out-migration
from California could be expected, it might be marginal. because of
the
high elevation, you should build some large greenhouses! Buying land
in a geothermal active locale be ideal. That way both your home and
greenhouse could be geothermally heated. But keep in mind that it takes
electricity
to operate geothermal hot water circulating pumps. So in the event
of a grid down situation, you will need a fully-capable photovoltaic
power system.
Klamath Falls region crops: Hay, wheat, barley, oats, onions, potatoes,
and sugar beets. Very nutritious blue-green algae is also skim-harvested
from Klamath Lake.
Statistics (for Klamath Falls):
Average high temperature in August: 83.
Average low temperature in January: 19.9.
Growing season (Lakeview): 100 days.
Average snowfall in January: 3.6”.
Advantages: Plentiful water. Removed from the Interstate-5 corridor--which
would be the likely Golden Horde route. Less snow than other parts
of Oregon at
similar elevation. Many homes in
and
near
Klamath
Falls
have
geothermal
heating! Downwind from Portland only on rare occasions.
Disadvantages: Shorter growing season an less crop diversity than lower
elevations in the region (such as the Umpqua Valley.) Proximity to 35+
million Californians.
Grid Up Retreat Potential: 2 (On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best)
Grid Down Retreat Potential: 5 (On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best)
Nuclear Scenario Retreat Potential: 2 (On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best)
Still No Body Armor Reimbursement for Deployed Troops (SAs: Supporting Our Troops, Field Gear, Body Armor)
The Associated Press just reported that nearly a year after
Congress required the Defense Department to reimburse soldiers
who
purchased
their own
Kevlar body
armor to protect themselves during Iraq deployments, the
Pentagon still hasn't figured out how to do so. This is not surprising
since last year DoD officials
criticized the plan as “an unmanageable precedent that will saddle
the DoD with an open-ended financial burden.” Methinks it is
a sad state of affairs when we send our troops in harm's way with insufficient
equipment. Regardless of your opinion about the Iraq war, I think
that we can all agree that we need to provide the best gear possible to
insure the safe return of our service members. It is also important
to send them letters
and gifts for encouragement.
