While we didn't officially have a tornado, there was still damage in our area after some recent storms. Trees are down, and power lines and power poles, and a huge billboard. Our mail box was tossed in the street and our neighbors siding was ripped off their house. We lost electricity for ten hours and there are still many in the county with no power on day two.
One person from our neighborhood was on his way home when the storm whipped in. He just made it home and pulled in the driveway when a large tree fell and crushed his truck. One second one way and the tree would have crushed him in the cab instead of the truck bed. One second the other way and the tree would not have hit the truck.
It was slow today at work because it was still storming this morning. However, people started trickling in to purchase ice to try to save their food, propane or charcoal to cook with, and batteries. Fried chicken from the deli was also very popular today.
Whenever anyone started complaining I gently reminded them of Japan. As soon as they though of it they said, "You know what, this isn't so bad."
We sat in the living room and talked and we took early naps. Later at night one of those giant power trucks stopped right in front of our house and sent a man up in the bucket to repair a line. We opened the curtains and the grandbaby fresh from his nap pointed and cheered for his very own Tonka truck show.
It is not too bad to lose power in a warm state. I would hate to lose power in Michigan or Nebraska. I would die. Here, I am fairly well prepared for an emergency. We have food, water, batteries, candles, and charcoal. I could probably survive for an extended period, perhaps a month. How long could you go without electricity?
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Probably not for an extended period of time. We bundle up if our power goes out. At this time of year, we don't have to worry about our food spoiling. We could just put it outside and it would be cold enough. The summers are hot and humid though so then it's a different story.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, we have gas heat and a gas stove. We would be okay. I'm glad everything is okay with you. It's pretty scary when trees come down on cars. There were several deaths in our area because of high winds and trees coming down.
ReplyDeleteI can't even fathom Japan's misery. It's too overwhelming.
Worse case scenario in the winter: we have a fireplace. And a lot of scrap wood. But electricity being out would mean food loss in the freezer, unless it was cold enough to put it outside. Summer would mean massive food spoilage. I could get by without the AC, but throwing the food out would kill me.
ReplyDeleteI look at the pictures coming out of Japan, read the stories coming from Japan, and just say a prayer.
Several years ago, folks in our area (KC) went without power for a week in the middle of winter. Good to hear that everyone is okay.
ReplyDeleteWe live in an all electric home. Seemed like a good idea at the time it was built; now-not so much!
ReplyDeletePlans are in the works to have an Earth Stove in place before Old Man Winter returns.
I distinctly remember an April ice storm that left jillions of Nebraskans without power for a week in the 1970s. That has stuck in my mind because of all the spoiled food, and many inconveniences in the chilly weather. In the 1980's there was an ice storm so bad that it knocked power off in my sister in law's neighborhood and everyone gathered for days to eat pancakes she made on her wood burning stove in her living room!
Haiti and Japan and Libya and Yemen; Afghanistan, Iraq and Ivory Coast...weather is the least of their worries.
That grandchild of yours is blessed to have family who makes the best of every situation.
Love,
Mother Connie
Yes, the southeast Michigan friend will chime in!
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, if winter power outages last more than a few hours, people flock to whatever hotels have been able to stay open. Red Cross will also open up a shelter in affected neighborhoods.
Spring and summer power outages are annoying, but at least one can suffer through it at the house.
Quite a few residents in my area have generators. Reason: Sump pumps are necessary for some of our city homes; while the township homes need to keep their water wells running.
We don't have a generator yet but probably will get one someday. Otherwise, my family is pretty well prepared for tornado season.
The longest outage I've had recently was just under 48 hours in 2008. Followed by a 12-hour outage a couple of days later.
In actuality I could probably go for some time w/o electricity since we live in Texas. It wouldn't be pretty and I would be a bitch supreme, but it could be done.
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