Just wanted to let you know my family and I have survived the 'Blizzard of 2009' safe and warm....but it's been dicey.
Winter occurs in the Southern Appalachians with several 'small' snowstorms each winter. Here in the populated areas it's usually get a few inches and then the sun comes out and everything is back to normal after a 36 hour delay. That's hardly brutal BUT, a couple of times a decade, the 'perfect storm' blows up when plenty of moisture barreling in at hurricane speed from the Gulf of Mexico meets up.....often over eastern Tennessee......with an Alberta Clipper bringing Canadian cold in from the midwest.....
Friday was one of those 'Big Ones' and it 'piles up' nicely compared to the other four or five biggest ones (say 1967, 1977, 1987, 1993, and maybe 1996) that I recall in my 47 years.
So.....no pictures....maybe soon..... we wound up with around 15 inches of snow in my hometown.....up to and slightly over two feet in the outlying areas. The electricity failed about 26 hours into the storm and I was prepared with a fire laid but unlit in the fireplace.
Didn't need the fire as my mother's power was restored Saturday afternoon. We simply moved over there hiking in 300 yards uphill as her drive was impassable due to three or four large downed trees.
We had lights, heat, and ample food. We had quality family time. We barely noticed the absence of cable tv and internet service. It was a good place to be snowed in as opposed to in an airport or aboard an Amtrak train.
Now....48 hours later and the power has been restored at our house.....just this morning as a matter of fact. I've come back to clean up a bit and get ready for the family to return later this afternoon. We expect temperatures in the 40's today and maybe near 50 tomorrow so probably by Tuesday afternoon we'll be able to get a vehicle up to where my mom's drive is blocked and get those trees cleared. I'll port in essential groceries and mail when I retrieve my wife and daughter.
Oh.......it's good to have power!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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PS - Commenting on the other storm thread raging - YES, Amtrak is exasperatingly poor sometimes when the unexpected happens.
However, in my experience, Amtrak has never failed to get me to my destination on the day I was expected to be there.
That has not been the case with the airline industry which once delayed me about 18 hours in Rockford, IL.....and not due to snow either.
I've also had two other overnight air delays but those were both courtesy of the US Army and may or may not really count.
It's good to have a warm, dry, clean home......even with 15 inches of snow in the yard.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I'm glad you are almost back to normal. I know what it's like as we have many trees in our yard and even a heavy rain storm can cause the power to go off. No fun. Many is the night we slept in front of the fire place. But if the pioneers could survive without electricity so can we.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by train lady: I'm glad you are almost back to normal. I know what it's like as we have many trees in our yard and even a heavy rain storm can cause the power to go off. No fun. Many is the night we slept in front of the fire place. But if the pioneers could survive without electricity so can we.
Lived without electricity for 8 months once during my enlistment in the US Army.... of course that was myself and a unit full of other more-or-less trained soldiers as opposed to being concerned about my wife and our 4-year old daughter.
Here in 'civilization' we've made do with a fire a number of times when the power has failed. Lunch Saturday was an adventure with leftover BBQ heated by candles!!! My wife had first suggested peanut butter and jelly sandwiches......to which I replied "we're not that desparate yet!"
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Glad you've weathered the storm, David. Don't know if you saw my other post, but up here we never got any snow--though some is expected (or worse, ice) for Christmas.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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