Ice Storm Update

Message

hermillion · #1 Post by **hermillion** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:55 pm

I had a lengthy message typed out, then lost my connection -- AARGH!!

Sitting in Borders, recharging my computer and sipping hot chocolate. We have been without power at home since Monday around noon, and the power company says it may be 12/18 before everything works again. We are hoping for MUCH sooner, but who knows. Tree damage is extensive, and 170,000 Tulsa homes were still out as of 10:00 last night. We have managed by using the gas stove to heat huge pots of water, hitting about 60 degrees during the daytime. We turn everything off at night and wake up to about 40 degrees. herjosie snuggles with me, and Hexe (14 year old dachshund) bunks in with Number One Son. We have a ton of candles and a couple of oil lamps, plenty of food, and are managing pretty well.

Neighbors have lost MANY trees, but there are very few gas-powered chain saws on the block, so we are putting in lots of muscle power. On the bright side, no one will need to buy firewood next year as we all have logs stacked on our porches right now! The city will haul away and/or mulch whatever is pulled to the curb over the next month or so. We didn't have houses on our block damaged, but one tree around the corner fell, crushing 2 pickup trucks and the front of the house. The tree trunk was probably 5 ft. in diameter, and just snapped in two about four feet above the ground.

School was cancelled all week, both for lack of power and inability to get kids buses/walked to school safely. There are 86 schools in the Tulsa district and 66 of them were without power at 10:00 last night. I don't know what will happen next week, but we have used up all of the snow days we had built into the year +2.

Restaurants report a 100%+ increase, but many stores have lost a whole week of business just before Christmas. Malls are open, but most people are just using them to get some warmth and light. Hospitals and nursing homes are powered now, but it was shaky for a day or two. Getting around town is tough because many traffic signals are out. It's not unusual to take 20 minutes or more of four-way-stop to get through an intersection.

Supplies and food are available, but things like generators, chain saws, and D batteries sell out as soon as shipments arrive. Some gas stations are still without power, but fuel is available. Most grocery stores have power now, so folks can get the things they need.

Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming! And here's hoping the snow that is arriving tonight turns out to be a light dusting!

peacock2121 · #2 Post by **peacock2121** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:58 pm

I love you for letting us know you are managing.

You are in my thoughts.

Bob Juch · #3 Post by **Bob Juch** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:06 pm

Ugh! The best of luck to you and your family.

silvercamaro · #4 Post by **silvercamaro** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:10 pm

We are rooting for a speedy recovery to all of Tulsa, but particularly for Hermillionland.

Also, lest we forget to say it elsewhere, thank you to all the various power company employees who have visited the Sooner State with their expertise, muscle and assistance from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Colorado and other states. We're not yet completely out of the woods, but we're getting better faster because of them!

hermillion · #5 Post by **hermillion** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:15 pm

SC, you are very right about the help we have received from power companies all over the country. We had 1500 crews staging on the fairgrounds Wednesday, getting organized and prepared to fan out across the city yesterday. Some of the workers were quoted in the paper saying they were prepared to stay through Christmas if needed. They are angels -- every one of them!

silvercamaro · #6 Post by **silvercamaro** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:25 pm

hermillion wrote: They are angels -- every one of them!

I've discovered some angels that already live here, too. While I was on my grocery store jaunt, I encountered four guys with two pickup trucks, chain saws, and ropes. They all have regular jobs, but they had just finished working a four-hour stint of hard labor in the cold to clear the porch, roof and yard of an 85-year-old woman. For their efforts, she paid them $100 total, to split among all of them, and they were happy they had done it for her.

fuzzywuzzy · #7 Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:30 pm

I have been sending ++++ vibes and prayers your way hermillion. I hope the situation gets resolved really soon so that you all are safe and warm.

Take care...

fuzzy

a1mamacat · #8 Post by **a1mamacat** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:21 pm

Glad you could check in. Stay safe and hope you get back to normal soon.

MarleysGh0st · #9 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:30 am

Thanks for the report, hermillion. What a memorable week this will be!

That Borders must be a popular place right now. They interviewed someone else on the news a couple night ago doing the same thing at another bookstore.

"We're all refugees here. Well-read refugees!"