[weather] WOW!!!! What a ride

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I lost power yesterday at 1:20, and it was restored at 4:30. At 8:50 it went out again. When I called the rural co-op that I get my power from, they said that if they didn't have a crew in the area the earliest it would be would be today. The power came on at 4am, so I guess they must have had a crew in the area. He was a nice guy, and the same person I spoke with when I called at 1:30. That guy gave excellent customer service, even though you could tell he was very tired.

At one point, it was said that 209,000 customers were without power in the state. Whole counties and cities (in other counties) were with no juice. One city just west of me had the power go out at the water plant, so they were asking their people to not use water. Heck, when I lost power I lost my water due to the well pump, but I planned ahead!

I had debated on whether or not to move hubbies car, and made the determination at 10pm last night to move it so that a limb or tree wouldn't crash into it. I moved my car and started to walk towards his only to find a huge limb blocking the way. I couldn't move it then, and will try in a bit.

So much rain! I'm glad it wasn't snow or I would be talking feet of snow. This rain has cleaned out the red flag burning across the state. I had to suck water out of the air vent downstairs yesterday while I had power. I have got to figure out how it gets in there. It only does it when it is a large amount of rain.

Hubby called last night around 9:30 or so. I told him of the troubles and he wished he was with me. I do too, but I understand he has a job to do. At least he was somewhere it was warm. The fireplace insert kept the house nice and warm all day and night. When the power came back on, it woke me up so I stoked it to get it good and cranking again.

I've got to go outside sometime today to do property inspection. Hope that now that it is in the 20's that the mud has frozen. I slipped and slided yesterday when I went to bring more wood into the house. Thought I hurt my foot, and the jury is still out on that one.

I'll try to take a few pictures, but I'm not sure how well they'll show up considering that it is still cloudy here. Lucky, the rain has stopped for the moment. I'm drinking a cup of hot coffee and just kicking back.

If this storm comes your way, expect a big one! Stay safe and stay warm.

apoc

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Answers

Thanks for checking in apoc, I was wondering how our Okie contingent was managing. We'll be getting something in the way of an ice storm tonight or tomorrow morning, but I'm not expecting much.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Apoc, you CAN'T hurt your foot again--yeah, I know you know that. Hurry up and get yourself some of those spiky thingies that strap on your shoes--or those little snowshoes.

Listen to Mother!

I bet you were in a small minority of people who came through with little discomfort. Good ol' doomers!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Old Git,

First, my foot has to fit inside of a shoe before I can get some spike shoes. Somehow I don't think that snowshoes would have helped in the mud yesterday. Taking the trash to the end of the driveway was the hardest, as it is about 200' long and up. I put a garbage bag around the post-op shoe to keep it from getting wet and muddy.

I had tried to get it into my hiking boot, but no go. Heck, I even tried to get it into hubby's hunting boots (waterproof), and it wouldn't fit into them either. And they wondered at work why I didn't come in... he he he. I have a hard enough time walking when it is dry.

Hopefully the doggies will be a little more calm today, so that I can bring them inside more. It's hard to keep two 60 lb puppies from ripping the place up when they want to 'play'. They are out running right now, and hopefully will burn off some of their energy. Yesterday everytime I let them out to go potty, they came back covered in mud and dripping wet. They almost knocked me down a few times playing tag. Bless their souls.

apoc

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


Hang in there, apoc!

I was concerned about you because of your foot. I knew that you had the rest covered.

Six - eight more weeks of winter!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


helen, did you have an interesting ice storm??

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


No, thank heavens! We got our bad one last year, and we're still clearing dead and dying and broken trees out. The fire hazard here went up 50% just from the ice damage last year. We dreaded this one, but it missed us.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Got an email from my Mom this afternoon about the ice storm in KC: (snipped). . .

"I am sorry you missed this exciting weather. My comment: She knows I HATE this sort of thing! She is as sarcastic as I am! You have heard of our "worst storm Kansas City has ever had", from The National Weather Service. This same group also told us yesterday, "If you leave your home, you are risking your life." And, it is worse today. It has broken trees, lines, transformers, etc. More than one million people are without electricity.Note: Not just people in the KC Metro area, but counting the other places that have felt the brunt of the ice storm This includes your brother. He and the boys have been here all day until a few minutes ago when he went back home to check on the cat and the house. Your SIL got to work o.k.My comment: My SIL is an IDIOT and this just proves my contention! He brought food from their freezer and fridge because of the possibility it could be lost by the time they get electricity back.My comment: The major utilities have said it may take up to 7 days to restore everyone's power. I have lots of big limbs down, but I don't think any hit the house. The trouble with the roads and streets is the fallen trees, limbs and power lines. The snow-removal people have been diligent - went all night in this neighborhood. The wind is to pick up tonight with more freezing rain, and to be colder tomorrow. By Saturday is supposed to start a warming pattern, but no assurance it will be permanent. Sure are sorry you are missing this as I know what fun you think it is....NOT!" (end snip)

Mom listened to me when I talked to her about the wisdom of "prepping" for Y2k, and she's fairly good to go. My brother, on the other hand, snickered and smirked and nay-say'ed the entire time. Guess he's not doin' a whole lot of that right now, is he? Heh...Hope he learns something from this! (I'm not holding my breath, though...sigh)

I hope everyone who has to deal with this 'stuff' stays warm and out of danger and is able to ride it out in relative comfort.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002


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