Stupid tricks up north...

[Monorail_Red]

Days like today, since Saturday, I wish I was in Florida to get away from it all!

Winter storm Alfred came through Saturday afternoon into Sunday. A lot of leaves were still on the trees, because after all it's too early to get a significant amount of snow this time of year. Well we got 2 feet of wet & heavy snow. The trees couldn't take the weight and as they fell, they took down lots of power lines with them.

The power company is making progress, but they dropped the ball on this one as they did when tropical storm Irene came through. I've been without power since Saturday evening. The power company always says they're ready for something like this, but didn't start calling in crews until Monday, almost 2 days after the storm hit. On Monday afternoon they had 150 or so crews out there, which is NOTHING compared to the extent of power outages.

The damage that the storm caused isn't really the problem IMO, it's how people handle themselves in a situation like this. There is no shortage of fuel or other consumables. After the storm went through, the temperature hasn't really dropped below 40, which to southerners sounds REALLY COLD but it's totally manageable. If it were January, it could have been -20 outside and then those without head would be in trouble.

The only storm related deaths so far were caused by only the stupidity of those people. People are running gasoline powered generators inside their homes, and inhaling carbon monoxide. Some guy flipped his ATV, which could have happened in any weather. And there was a kid somewhere else in the state who was navigating around downed primary wires who decided it was a good idea to stop and get out of the car. He stepped on a wire, and goodbye Charlie!

Then you have the people at the gas stations or the stores that don't know how to handle themselves. There's people parking at the gas pumps not for gasoline, but to get coffee and slurpies. People are causing traffic jams this way, and on top of that you have those that don't know how to drive on any day in the mix. What a mess!

But I am OK, I have a generator and I would have to say it's paid for itself this year alone. It powers the vitals: water pump, hot water heater, heat, fridge, microwave, and a few lights & plugs. Been using it on and off since Saturday, and I also needed it for the Irene related outages. I'm one of the few that has it properly hooked up by a certified electrician, so while it's in use it won't kill anybody!

Monorail_Red

[DonutGoddess]

People really seem to go wacky when their routine is interrupted and they can't get what they want right away.

Hope you get your power back soon! I did 8 days with Wilma and several days with another storm.

[CptnSkippy]

People really seem to go wacky when their routine is interrupted and they can't get what they want right away.

Hope you get your power back soon! I did 8 days with Wilma and several days with another storm.

Wilma was awesome! Unlike Frances and Jeanne, the air was cool and windows could be opened.

[hobie16]

After the storm went through, the temperature hasn't really dropped below 40, which to southerners sounds REALLY COLD but it's totally manageable.

If it ever hit 40 here I'd be on a plane for Tahiti.

[avengador1]

This is why I live in Florida now. After living in the New England area, for over 30 years, I can say that I don't miss any of that. ;)

[DonutGoddess]

Wilma was awesome! Unlike Frances and Jeanne, the air was cool and windows could be opened.

I think I have my storms mixed up. Whatever the big one was that year, it was hot and rainy afterwards.

The one that came thru in October with the cold front following, that was nice. I was working two jobs, day and night, and for a while noone called and I got some of the best sleep I've ever had...

[Big Wallaby]

...those without head would be in trouble.

Nah, they'll just make it to White Castle without incident.

Yes, I went there.

But in all seriousness, glad to hear it's not too cold, as well as the fact that you have a generator (I wondered how you were texting me). So when do they expect to have power restored to your area?

[Monorail_Red]

head

Nah, they'll just make it to White Castle without incident.

Yes, I went there.

But in all seriousness, glad to hear it's not too cold, as well as the fact that you have a generator (I wondered how you were texting me). So when do they expect to have power restored to your area?

That was a typo and should have said HEAT!

The power company estimates 99% will be back online by Sunday 11:59pm. I got my power back last night, actually. But there is still a lot without power around me. With us, a breaker tripped on the pole so they were able to make it out to our neighborhood and turn us back on. There's others around here that will require major work before Sunday. There were a lot of transformers that were taken down by trees and spilled on the roads. Still lots of cracked utility poles and downed primary lines.

Public schools closed down for the rest of the week because they're using them as shelters.

This is day 4 of no power/class on my campus. It's funny to see the college freshman happy for the snow days, but they don't realize that there's no extra days, just more work crammed into the few weeks we have left in the semester.

On the news recently there always seems to be somebody new who died from carbon monoxide and/or fires. Apparently they don't know that you can't run your gasoline powered generators INSIDE your house and you shouldn't use your charcoal grills inside, either. What the heck is the matter with people?? smh

Monorail_Red

[hobie16]

Apparently they don't know that you can't run your gasoline powered generators INSIDE your house...

Did they die with their ear plugs in?