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Fair ~ High: 81°F ~ Low: 59°F Wednesday, May 22, 2013 |
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Addicted to powerPosted Saturday, February 7, 2009, at 7:36 AM
I tried to think of a kinder, gentler term than "addicted," but I just have to admit it - I am absolutely, completely, mentally and physically addicted to power. Electric power, that is.
I didn't realize how strong this addiction was until the ice started coming down on Monday night. When we woke up on Tuesday morning without power, we thought it would be as it always is, maybe a few hours or a couple of days and everything would be back online. As I roamed about the house in my warm, fuzzy jammies on Tuesday half-heartedly attempting household chores, I was constantly distracted by the crack and snap of ice and trees. The trees around our house and at my mom and dad's have shaded my family for generations and every time one of the huge limbs came crashing down it felt as though we'd lost another good friend. My power withdrawal began Tuesday at dark. While a Coleman lantern does shed a romantic glow, it does not quite offer the convenience of a light switch for bathroom breaks. Our DVD player was fully charged so we were able to watch almost all of a movie before the battery died, and with little else to do we went to bed at 8:30 p.m. Wowie, no electric blanket to provide a preheated bed - I was beginning to really miss my power. Wednesday morning, cold in most of the house, warm around the gas stove. A little bit of warm water, at least a camp cook stove, but no power again? We wandered around outside like gawking tourists just looking at the damage. Those huge crashing noises during the night turned out to be the huge power poles along the highway. This is really bad we thought. We made it to town, waited in line for gasoline, checked on the Chamber office and at the Slicer Street Church of Christ shelter. We started seeing the extent of the damage along the highway and somewhat in town. Dark comes again and we're ready for bed about 7 p.m. We're also really ready for a nice hot shower. I spent Thursday at City Hall, where I learned that things were very serious. I was also initiated into emergency management and knew that we were in good hands. And so it continues for us and for thousands in the area. Power is being restored as quickly as it can be done. Although I am almost getting accustomed to the quiet and the dark, I am ready for a little television and most certainly anxious for a hot bath and a hair dryer. If there is a good side to this devastation it is another power - the people power that always rises to meet the most difficult circumstances. In every neighborhood people are helping each other, along every street progress is being made. No matter which direction you travel, you can see truck after truck from local and visiting utility companies. We send our heartfelt thanks to all of these folks, our city and county officials, our emergency management teams and the scores of volunteers who are helping to overcome this situation. Herein is our greatest power, and that is an addiction that I hope we never overcome. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Good personal account of the situation, Jan. Very well-written.
Coupled with the map on the homepage, we in the north can get a little idea of what's going on down there in Kennett. I'm wondering if your community was hit even harder than Dexter (which I haven't seen yet). I was in Sikeston yesterday - the shattered trees look like Springfield did in '07, and power companies are still hooking up individual houses. I've heard that Sikeston is 70% restored.
This would appear to have been a 100-year-plus ice storm.
Thanks, all -
My apologies for the lack of blogs since August - it is not because I don't have anything to say, sometimes so much running through my head that it is difficult to stick to one subject.
Kennett is at about 50% power, with more poles & lines going up every day. The Pemiscot Dunklin Co-op area is maybe around 30%, with full power expected by mid-March. It is awesome to see truck after truck roll through and the hundreds of linemen (that's male and female) working into the night to restore power.
It is also inspiring to see all of the businesses open and the many volunteers out working to feed people or assist in other ways. The "gimme" folks are out, sure, but they are way outnumbered by the true givers.
Appreciate the comments and info, and I promise to keep the blogs coming!
I would be interested to know how YOU determine who the "gimme folks" are.
Ruth - I try to stay away from the other site you mentioned because it tends to bring out the very worse in folks. I do hope the DDD continues its excellent coverage of the storm, the recovery and the aftermath.
bbsage - Gimme folks can be any age, gender, race, religion, or income level. My definition is those who continually have their hands out with little respect for themselves or others. I have been in situations where I needed help and thankfully there were those willing to come to my aid. I have never been in a situation where I felt inclined to leave my trash a few feet from a trash container while I waited in line to receive aid.
No problem, Ruth. The line crews also have taken some great photos so we'll see what we can get posted. Thanks for your good wishes.
Jan,
First, I'd like to give my "hats off" to the diligent light crews that came in and helped restore our power here in Kennett and the County! There are still a few spots without power run to them, but those areas will be gotten as needed.
I had gone out and bought an ATT Cell Phone so that I could take advantage of the "friends and family" deal that they had going... only it's still a $1/day! UGH! But, in talking with my sister, who was in Florida, she had told me this: "You don't mind camping out in your house!", talking about the ice storm we had a few years ago and I had to bring my mom up to my home and we stayed at my house till power got hooked back up in Senath! I survived this '09 Ice Blitz only because I had the training when I was in Boy Scouts, the Army and my own personal experiences. I went around to all my neighbors' houses first, when I got dug out of my "iced in driveway" and then I went around and visited all my renters to see how they were surviving... I then went around flagging the downed lines going across roads and paths with orange tape to warn people that they were there. I just did this on my own..noone told me too...tried to call City Hall, but my phone went out the 2nd day into the storm... so couldn't use the landline. Had to use my trusty CP's... Also got a power inverter going to run a b&w tv and my powered antenna so I could have some type of news and some type of entertainment. I finally hooked up my VCR up to the inverter and could watch about 6 tapes then the 12v car battery would go down and had to be recharged. I got my Police scanner going by attaching it to a 12v lawn mower battery... I had CLG&W tuned in to listen to their deal. Almost felt like a command center here...lol.
I had some people tell me I was McGiver with all my deals I rigged up...well it's using common sense in times when things are getting tough that the tough get going and surviving. Just hope others learn that one can survive, if you just put your thinking cap on and utilize what you have got. I do it all the time.
I have a saying I made up years ago, it goes like this: "We the willing, lead by the unknowing, have done so much with so little for so long, that we are now able to do anything with nothing!"
I hate to report that my vow to monitor my power use lasted long enough for me to turn on the TV, run the washer and dryer, take a long hot bath using most of the hot water, all while leaving a couple of extra lights on. I did adjust, though, once I realized I was back in my bad habits and I hope to remember how little we actually have to have to make do.
Thanks for the comments, everyone - I received a great story from a family member that I will submit as soon as I figure out how to decrease the size without minimizing the details. I haven't forgotten you, Bill!