Category Archives: power lines

This Time I’m Ready

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     Here comes Sandy.  Last year at this time, the northeast experienced a freak October snowstorm that took down trees, and knocked out power to many.  My family went without power for 9 days.  It was frustrating as everyone around us seemed to luck out, but a small group of homes were left in the dark because of a large tree that fell on our road.  I thought I was prepared for the storm, and I was ok for about 4 to 5 days, but around day 6, things got harder.  My house got colder, I was running out of water, eating was a challenge, and a certain kind of fatigue set in.  There were lessons learned, and the experience taught us to always be prepared.

      I always have a large supply of bottled water stored away.  We use it at times during the year, but it is replaced as soon as it is consumed.  Those of us with homes that run on a septic system know how hard it is to deal with a lack of water.  Last year I filled the tubs and collected water from melting snow.   This year, I already have gallon containers of water in the basement, numerous buckets and containers filled, and the tubs will be filled.  I have a stash of nonperishable food and all my laundry is done.  I have flashlights, but I have found battery operated LED laterns that provide more light and are easier to carry around.  The only item I have not invested in is a generator.  I don’t have a baby, anyone ill or elderly, and we seemed to survive last time without one so it hasn’t been on the top of our list.  I will however, crank the heat up if the storm seems to be strengthening just to keep the house warmer longer.

     Despite all the upset, my kids are taking it all in stride.  Having gone throught it before, they are loaded up on books, charged up some games, and put batteries in a couple of old boom boxes.  I’m hoping that it will not hit us too hard, and that all the tree work that was done on my road will prove to be adequate.  I’m still leary about the 2 or 3 dead ones I see standing, but hopefully they will not fall.  My philosphy in these situations is that there are always those worse off.  I will probably fare better than my cousins in New Jersey.  I know that the people near coastlines will suffer damage to their homes.  I also know that for my area this in not Katrina or Haiti, and that I will not suffer for years to come.  It’s all perspective.  I’m praying that all survive.

9 Days, 8 Nights. It Wasn’t a Vacation.

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 On October 30th, a freak snowstorm hit the Northeast.   Since the trees still had leaves, the wet, heavy snow snapped many limbs and branches.  In some cases entire trees fell, and as they fell, down came the power lines.  Here in Connecticut, the damage was extensive.  Over 800,000 residences and businesses were left without electricity.  For many of us that meant no heat, water, or lights.   The first days were tolerable, but as time went on it became harder to stay warm, find water, and figure out what you could eat for each meal.  It has been over a week since the power has been restored.  Looking back there were some moments that were humorous, and others that became thought-provoking.

 These were the moments that I found humorous.   No matter how hard you look out the window, the utility truck does not appear.  You can finally justify why you kept that old shirt hanging in the closet for the past 15 years.   You found  listening to a show about coins on NPR quite entertaining.  You wonder how people with generators are able to sleep at night.   People told me that they had power, but were going crazy with no cable or phone.  I just smiled.

 These are the moments I found thought-provoking.  Water is a valuable resource.  I became obsessed collecting it.  I had buckets set up all around my house to catch water as the snow melted.  I filled other buckets with snow and brought it inside to melt.  Of course this took some time as the house eventually got down to 45 degrees.  Heat is something not to be taken for granted.  I found myself going out during the day with my 2 girls just to warm up.   You wonder how people who do not have heat are able to survive a winter.   It is extremely difficult to eat when your refrigerator is out, and you can’t use the stove.  I haven’t complained about cooking lately.

 My favorite comments on the outage came from the media.   A 75- year-old man called into a radio show and stated that at least we still had our houses.  He had a friend in the mid-west who lost his house to a tornado.  The radio host differed with him, but the caller was right.  Also, I can’t remember the number of times that people compared this storm to life in colonial days.  The question was “How did they do it?”   The answer?  Better than us.  Their life involved burning wood in fireplaces, and collecting water for drinking and cleaning.  They didn’t have cell phones or ipads to worry about, and communication flowed through the community.

 Lastly, I have to say I was surprised how well my children handled the whole ordeal.  They survived a week without television or the computer.  They played cards, checkers, colored, and read books.  They dragged out toys and made up their own stories.  They learned how to cope in a difficult situation, and were grateful when the power was restored.  It reminded all of us that we need to appreciate a roof over our heads, clean water, lights, heat and a life filled with comfort.  There will be times in life that will be challenging.  One week taught us that we can survive.