"it could leave 20 million to 40 million people in the Northeast without power — possibly for years"
Want to make a bet? If 20 million people are without power 2 years after a "space weather event", then I lose the bet. Otherwise, I win. (Considering how fast Cuomo was going to revoke the LIPA's charter because of their slow repairs after Sandy, I'm guessing someone will figure out how to replace a few transformers quickly.)
As for the flight diversions, I read that as, "if we had better warnings, we could just cancel the flight rather than use more fuel to stay within non-skywave radio range". Great! (Why do they use HF, anyway, and not satellites?)
> I'm guessing someone will figure out how to replace a few transformers quickly
Or those people will move somewhere that wasn't affected. Even if it means leaving a house behind and declaring bankruptcy, you won't just sit somewhere with no power (and thus no employers, compromised food supply, etc) forever.
I've been reading over-the-top warnings about this kind of thing for more than a decade. Hasn't happened yet. People have an overactive imagination for the apocalyptic.
Want to make a bet? If 20 million people are without power 2 years after a "space weather event", then I lose the bet. Otherwise, I win. (Considering how fast Cuomo was going to revoke the LIPA's charter because of their slow repairs after Sandy, I'm guessing someone will figure out how to replace a few transformers quickly.)
As for the flight diversions, I read that as, "if we had better warnings, we could just cancel the flight rather than use more fuel to stay within non-skywave radio range". Great! (Why do they use HF, anyway, and not satellites?)