To the editor:

The recent power disruptions in Texas and elsewhere are just a taste of what could happen if the U.S. is struck by another Carrington Event. This 1859 solar storm knocked out part of the nation’s telegraph system. Another event would knock out the grid for months resulting in chaos and untold suffering and death. Not only would people not have lights and heating and cooling, there would be widespread food and medicine shortages because delivery trucks would be unable to obtain diesel fuel. Factories producing critical supplies would not be able to operate. Municipal water systems would not be able to provide clean water.

The probability of this happening within the next century is fairly high. There was even a congressional hearing on a bill that would provide funding to utilities to replace transformers that are susceptible to being knocked out with super-transformers. Although he has much less power and credibility, Sen. Jerry Moran should introduce a similar bill and work hard to have committee hearings on it.

Clark H. Coan,

Lawrence