aftermath of an ice storm, and I am back!

16 years ago

Rita gave an excellent description of an Oklahoma ice storm. But, for the aftermath:

Long lines at the grocery store!

Nothing cold, as in produce, milk, dairy, frozen foods, all those shelves were empty this morning (Wednesday the 12th), which was the first time we ventured out for some more supplies.

Long lines on the streets, at the major intersections where the stop lights don't work, and where there are now 4 way stop signs.

No kerosene or chain saws, and no chain saw oil (but I got two 5 gallon containers of kerosene and a nice big new chainsaw that doesn't need any electric)!

But the bottom line for me is:

I am back! My power came back at 8:27 PM , which is sort of interesting as it went out about 8:30 PM on Monday.

But, right here, it cut back out! For over two hours. I can't believe it, but firefox still had all I typed when I "restored my session". Yipeee!

So I tried and tried and tried to start my kerosene heater, but it just wouldn't go. Wonder what I will do with those two 5 gallon containers of kerosene... :)

The power did come back on just before I went to bed. I guess, I need to fill my CLEAN (yes, Leslie I washed out my fridge) fridge, run a vacuum, and clean out the ashes from my fireplace.

Then I think I will back some cookies for the peeps working on the power lines. I know where they get their food and lunch packets. Who knows, I might even get as far as taking some to the shelter where I went to shower.

More later.

Moni

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (24)

User
16 years ago
Moni, I'm so glad to see you back! What an experience. We had the same level of storm in 1998. Makes you think about keeping a store of emergency supplies. It's going to be an interesting winter and lesson learned - everyone should keep a stock of emergency supplies.
Come to think of it - I should update my winter hoard. Toilet paper is something I never want to run out of and water!

You have a fireplace which I'm sure was very handy. We have one and a BBQ with propane outside. The only problem is trying to get the propane warm enough to run when we hit winter temperatures. We do have a bag of charcoal as well with BBQ fluid - which, in a crunch can be used to heat food.

Making cookies for the shelter is a fantastic idea. Sure to put smiles on a few faces!

Welcome back!

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Cross Disaster Supply Kit
OklaMoni
Original Author
16 years ago
mcpeg, I really had EVERYTHING a gal could use but kerosene and a working kerosene heater. My wood ran out, but it was never purchased, nor cut and stored with a several day need in mind.

I have a well stocked pantry, and GREAT camping gear which both came in very handy. :)

Also, our awesome camping headlights were great for seeing everything.

Moni
Related Discussions
The Great 2009 Ice Storm
Q
Comments (25)
An update....we are working every chance we get, weather permitting, to get the yard cleaned up. Nolon cuts out the firewood, and I drag the remaining limbs and twigs to one of the several piles around the perimeter of our yard. I keep discovering more breakage that we had missed before. It was a strange thing....many limbs split open, but did not break off. At the One Stop we talked to a couple that lives a few miles from us. He is the same age as I (She probably is too). They have lived here all their lives, but said they never saw anything like the breakage from that storm. They have a large farm, and are busy fixing fences that were downed by falled trees and limbs.(He is Nolon's barber.) I think part of the problem is that it had been unseasonably warm, and the sap was up. And talking about sap, the ends of the broken trunks on the river birch are 'bleeding' vigoriously, and have long icicles hanging down, on cold days. I way be weird, but I ate several of the sap icicles today. They have no didtinctive flavor. :-) I cleaned the debris from the base of the honey locust at the end of the house. The dafodils at it's base are getting ready to bloom! The Cornelian cherry is starting to bloom, too.
...See More
Tropical storm Cindy--and its aftermath
Q
Comments (1)
3.25" here just east of Richmond, plus a 1:30AM tornado alert which brushed by but didn't land. Tree limbs down all around and one big one on top of neighbor's car that's no where near a tree - weird. 2 of my late corn polts were flattened out. Be interesting to see how the almost ripened melons do, probably popping fresh later today as well as some big green tomatoes. But at least the mini-drought's back is broken here. Dennis may head westward according to latest projections. You Poor Gulf Coast folks ain't used to a Cat 4 storm of recent years - heaven help you. vgkg Here is a link that might be useful: Dennis the Menece?
...See More
Shumard Oak damage vs Scarlet oak in ice storms
Q
Comments (22)
shortleaf2002, that photo looks like the damage I see on many of the maples and other soft wood trees in our area. One of my oaks that is growing with a main leader trunk all the way up had lateral branches, growing off its trunk, broken about 4 feet way from the trunk. Non of them have stripped bark along the part of the branch which was not broken. Also none of the main leader trunk has bark stripped, off like seen on the modified leader trunk in your photo. I am concerned that once all the broken branches of my oaks are pruned back to the break, the side branches will look pretty strange with the short lengths of branches which remain undamaged between where they attached to the trunk and the four feet further-out pruning. My other 30 year old Shumard has a modified leader trunk starting about 8 feet up. On that tree, once the needed massive corrective pruning job is done, this might present a good time to try and shorten one of the leaders so a better main leader can develop. Of course the tree specialist, might tell me it is too late to try such a correction on the tree. I have noticed that all three of my Shumard oaks are most heavily damaged on their north and northeast sides. My Scarlet oak is not protected by any other trees or building on it's north, west or east sides. There is a two story house just 40 feet to the South of this oak, and an enormous cottonless cottonwood tree in the back yard of that neighbor's house, that cottonwood tree is southeast of my Scarlet oak, It does not make sense that the cottonwood or the two story house would have sheltered my Scarlet oak to prevent it from suffering damage. Especially since my 8-9 foot tall Green Giants growing near, in a East west line, but still just south of the Scarlet oak, collected so much ice that their tops bent over toward the north all the way to the ground from the weight of all that ice. That indicates to me that my Scarlet also must have collected as much ice on its north and east sides as my Shumards. Still it's side branches that come off its main leader trunk did not break at all. All around town, I see other shumard oaks with the same type of side branch damage as I have described mine. So that also leads me to think that the damage my shumards suffered was not specific to just my three shumards. Late yesterday afternoon our electricity was restored, and we checked out of the hotel and returned home this morning. Since returning home, I have been busy cleaning out my refrigerator and doing laundry, my DH spent the day at work, and so we have not had time to do anything to the trees yet. Tomorrow it is predicted to rain and Saturday predicted to snow about 2-4 inches. Hopefully, if I am not being unrealist, we can at least do the corrective pruning on my damaged trees by next week, several days prior to Christmas.
...See More
Severe Ice Storm Did Lots of Damage to Aborvitaes
Q
Comments (4)
i was in a hurry ... dave is correct... anything that is broken... may as well be pruned below the break ... the remainder of the branch will pop back up ... some what .... i was thinking something like a crossbow.... wood bends ... when stressed... but retain is straightness when the stress is removed .... and these can do that TO SOME EXTENT ... any tree.. not just conifers or these ... by roping.. i mean some heavy twine ... tractor supply ... 2500 feet for 20 bucks... loose ring at the bottom.. and go around and around as high as you can go.. then back down ... how they used to tie xmas trees to put on your car ....binding it all together will allow it to TRY to support itself ... then wait for spring.. and release one .. and see what shape they have .... a new post.. a few pix.. and we can come to some decision whether they are salvageable or not ... in general ... a bare branch on a conifer is dead .. ANY GREEN will allow the branch to continue life ... the issue is how many years before you are pleased with the appearance ... if you plan to remove them.. and replace them ... start with small stock ... with SINGLE leaders... to avoid the splaying... i doubt you will find large stock as such ... an IN YOUR LIFETIME storm is hard to be proactive with ... they are just going to happen ... and there isnt much to do about it ... except whine and complain afterwards .... this storm would have probably also damaged single leader plants .... good luck ken
...See More
User
16 years ago
So the next time we have our seasonal ice storm I'm coming over to your house!
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
Moni,

So glad to hear you have all the comforts of home again.

I've been reading a bit about you from your member page link. Wow! You are a real survivor. Your aborted tour, at Rising Sun, is about an hour from me. Have you made another attempt at crossing the country, or just finishing it from Rising Sun? I didn't see an update on where you had tried that...yet, anyway.

I used to use a kerosene heater. It had 2 D batteries that were used to spark it to light. Might you just need new batteries? I imagine you have checked/changed those though.

Anywho...glad you are warm and dry.

Sue
heather_on
16 years ago
Your experience tells me that I am not prepared for a winter emergency at all! I'd best start to get prepared since I suspect this winter will not be a warm one!
nodakgal
16 years ago
What an experience Moni! One I am sure you won't want to repeat for awhile!
Great to have you back!!
okwriter
16 years ago
Welcome home, Moni.
:-)
grammahony
16 years ago
Hi Moni, I'm glad to see your back, and have everything to keep you warm at least. Good idea about the batteries, for the kerosene heater. If that was the problem, you'll be ready for the next time. With the trees you lost, or maybe some of your neighbors trees, you can stock up fire wood too. If they don't want it themselves.
I'm glad you were as prepared as you were, with your camping gear. I know that all came in handy.
Welcome back.
Leslie
nan_ar
16 years ago
Glad to see you back Moni!
I am happy to know that you and your family were OK during the storm.
MIL and FIL live in Prague and got just a touch of ice the first day but the ice crusted tree limb fell on her phone line-but they had cell phones. They never lost power which was a blessing for them at 77 and 82 years old.....

Stay warm.
gramzeeinmd
16 years ago
Welcome back Moni! So glad to see you.
Here is something to think about and keep you warmer!!!
Deb
OklaMoni
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone!

I am inside, taking a break from cutting limbs with our new chain saw! Man, that thing has so much more power than the electric one. I am glad, DH didn't want me to take it back! :)

I guess, I need to take some action shots.

Sue, I have tried again, and made it. Look at the try again journal! I just took a different route.

Leslie and all, I didn't even try the battery start up, I tried matches. My "mr. fix it friend" decided my wick must be to dry, and suggested I pour a little kerosene right on it.

Still didn't work though last night, between the time my power was off yet again. I have not tried to light it this morning. To busy. First get chain oil, then gasoline, then read a LONG manual, then fill all cavities in the new chain saw, and finally... BRRRRRUMMMMM we got it started and the limbs that were still somewhat attached started falling.

We are cutting everything in to fire place length and started piling it up in the back.

Should go back out, but Jerry is still napping. :)

Moni
grammahony
16 years ago
Maybe you need a new wick Moni. I'd do that next. Don't over work yourself. And BE CAREFUL with that chain saw.
Leslie
kim_okla
16 years ago
I don't have power yet. I keep thinking it has to be back soon.

I'm looking at boarding the dogs and finding a hotel.
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
16 years ago
Kim, most La Quinta's allow dogs, you could take them with you.

Gayle
OklaMoni
Original Author
16 years ago
Kim, that is really why we toughed it out at home. DD came over with her pooches. No shelter would take dogs, and I really didn't feel like I could ask any of my friends to take in three people and two dogs.

I hope, your power comes on soon.

Moni
margad
16 years ago
So glad you are ok. The snow is heading our way. I can't wait until spring comes.
ntt_hou
16 years ago
Glad to know that you all made okay and safely!

Electricity is something that we take so granted nowadays. My life stop when the power goes out for whatever reason. Every time that happens, I'd spend the first 15 minutes thinking what to do. LOL... Everything that comes to mind needs electricity!

Welcome Back! and thanks for checking in.
kim_okla
16 years ago
I'm sorry I didn't say welcome back. I just know mine will be on tomorrow. I can stand it one more night.
grammahony
16 years ago
Kim, I do hope they get it on for you sooner. Stay safe and warm.
Leslie
summer_tx
16 years ago
That couldn't have been much fun. I know you're glad it's all over.
joyfulguy
16 years ago
Glad to hear that you came through it without too much dislocation or discomfort, Moni.

Watch those chainsaws ... mistakes can be costly to keeping one's bodyhood intact!

Small saws do for fingers - chain saws do for legs (or worse).

We wouldn't want to have to report that Moni wasn't quite all there any more!

I hope that the rest of the year goes exactly right for you and yours.

ole joyful
ronf_gw
16 years ago
Welcome back, Moni.
Ron
patti43
16 years ago
Glad you're back, Moni and Kim--I sure hope your electricity is on soon. I'd have been at that motel days ago!
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
Kim,

I hope you and your furbabies are warm, and you get turned back on tomorrow.

Do you have a battery powered laptop I'm guessing? That would be cool to have in a situation like no power.

Sue

aftermath of an ice storm, and I am back!

Comments (24)

User

OklaMoni
Original Author

Related Discussions

User

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

heather_on

nodakgal

okwriter

grammahony

nan_ar

gramzeeinmd

OklaMoni
Original Author

grammahony

kim_okla

Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle

OklaMoni
Original Author

margad

ntt_hou

kim_okla

grammahony

summer_tx

joyfulguy

ronf_gw

patti43

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

aftermath of an ice storm, and I am back!

Comments (24)

OklaMoniOriginal Author

Related Discussions

OklaMoniOriginal Author

OklaMoniOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

OklaMoni
Original Author

OklaMoni
Original Author

OklaMoni
Original Author