Depending on circumstances, that could be a problem.<br><br>But it's more lilkely that we'd attract unwanted attention by being the only well-lit house, or the only one with heat, or the only well fed people.<br><br>During the 1998 blackout in Canada many of those with backup generators found that they were very conspicuous- they were the only well-lit houses in the neighborhood, and of course the noise of the generators running. Many found that their generators (which had to be outside for ventilation) were stolen within hours of being started, usually late at night. This is one of the reasons that I chose to use kerosene for backup heat and light.<br>____________________________________<br>Power outage January 5-February 8, 1998<br>Duration: Up to 33 days in some areas.<br>Geographic area: Four provinces in eastern Canada; four states in the northeastern US.<br>People affected: 5.2 million.<br>Cost: Combined insurance losses in Canada and US exceeded $1.2 billion.<br>Cause: Ice storms took out more than 1,000 major transmission towers and 35,000 wooden utility poles.<br>Effects: The storms were directly responsible for 45 deaths; 100,000 Canadians were forced to take refuge in shelters.<br>