Shockingly, we got power back Monday night, the power line is still on the ground, but we have power (the other end of the street, just got power back on Wednesday). WS called the BIL in Francestown and he came to get the generator as he didn’t have power. Tuesday, I got home and emptied all the coolers (official and make-shift) and re-stocked the fridge, put away all the lamps and candles that we had used, and set up my desktop computer (the modem, wireless router and other things had been disconnected for use with the laptop, using the generator). BIL brought the generator back Tuesday night and WS offered it friends, with no takers.
Wednesday, there was about 4” of snow on the ground, so I shoveled. Thursday, I put away the rest of the stuff that had been used during the power outage (blankets, totes etc) and filled both wood racks. I expect there to be plenty of snow on the ground when I get home, so shoveling will once again be my entertainment for the night.
The power line being on the ground is making me nervous. No, that is not true – all the snow we are getting while the line is on the ground is the part that is making me nervous. At the rate we are supposed to get storms (6-12” today and 12+” Sunday – maybe some sleet mixed in), the line may be on the ground all winter. That is not good as it is on the side of the house where the oil tank is – and the tank will need to be filled soon. I’m guessing that will be a problem for the oil delivery guy.
We (read: WS) have to tape off where the line is so no one accidently touches it – which means cordoning off from the street pole to the front corner of the house and to the back corner of the house. That effectively cuts off the oil tank and the snowmobile trail to the back of the house.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining about the power company because they have done a phenomenal job, with crews are working hard/long hours to get people back on the grid. NH has gone from 40-50% of the state being without power to 3-4% of the people being without power at the present time.
In the next week (or 2), the no access to the oil tank will be the hardship, but more importantly, this weekend, the snowmobile trail will be a hardship for WS :)
It really is phenomenol how much work power company crews can do in a short time. Of course, they probably do as was done, years ago, in the Kansas City area where Journeyman electricians (and perhaps Apprentices, too) who did not normally do line work, were called out to help. Your grandfather was always called out for duty at such times. As much as he suffered from the cold (the weather was never too hot, for him), I know it was a huge sacrifice for him to participate; but, I never heard him complain about the emergency duty he pulled. It helps, too, that electrical crews are pulled in from states outside the affected area, in a massive outage.
You've reminded me how different it was back in the days when we had convection furnaces (still used in your grandparents' house when it was sold in 1994). Lack of electricity didn't bar our using the natural gas furnace--unless, of course, power to the equipment in the gas supply chain was lacking. I still appreciate being able to use the kitchen range when the electrical power is out; however, if we had an extended power outage, even this well-insulated house would get cold!
Posted by: Cop Car | December 21, 2008 at 04:15 AM
You are probably right about Journeymen and, perhaps, apprentices. They are also taking shortcuts like leaving the wires on the ground as long as they aren't damaged otherwise. I see many places on my way to work that are like us; where people have power, but their lines are on the ground. Also, any poles that have snapped, or are enven leaning against lines, but are not in danger of falling (or taking down wieres) are being left, so that they can restore power first, then come back and clean up later.
Unfortunately, the snows we are getting aren't helping the crews out any!
Posted by: Bogie | December 21, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Just as medical people exercise triage, so must utility people. Let's hope that this coming storm isn't as bad as predicted. Right now, we are sunny with 12 and 12 (degrees and miles/hour). I'm thinking of maybe taking the bicycle out. Your laugh for the minute: while eating breakfast, I spied a pan of sticky buns that I had baked, yesterday, and put on the porch railing to cool. Fortunately, I had covered the pan with aluminum foild; but, it's a wonder that the wind or a critter didn't topple the pan--it wasn't even "centered" on the rail!
Posted by: Cop Car | December 21, 2008 at 11:09 AM