Triumphrat

leftarmlogan

I don't with heights too well, though.

__________________
La strada davanti è senza limiti.

"It's a great day for hockey" - "Badger" Bob Johnson

Read my blog. Read it! http://cundalini.blogspot.com/

Silverado57

This is my first internet access in over a week...

November 6, 2012
Since Hurricane Sandy, we have been without power up here in God’s country for over a week. There is no electricity, internet, cable or phone service within about a four mile radius. Gasoline was in very short supply for the first few days after the storm creating long lines at the few gas stations that had gas and electricity to pump it. Other than driving to get places, cell phones have been our primary link to the rest of planet earth.

We are among the lucky people that have a generator for electrical power to run lights, small appliances, the well pump and the boiler for heat and hot water. We also have a wood-burning stove which keeps the whole house warm and has been our primary source of heat here for seven years. In a pinch, we could cook on it.

We were lucky that we sustained no damage to our home, cars or property. Our house is surrounded by large trees and thousands of acres of state forest. A small tree was all that came down on us, and was found leaning gently against the side of the house at the roof line. It was cut away with a minimum of drama. Although the storm brought down all the autumn leaves, plus countless limbs, branches and twigs, that clean-up is a minor inconvenience.

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. On the land around us, an oak and a hickory came down during the storm and their sacrifice is being harvested as future fire wood. Those trees should keep us warm for over a month after a year of seasoning.
A lot of folks around here weren’t so fortunate. There were a number of homes that sustained serious damage from the storm. A massive tree falling through a roof or onto a car is a big problem, and we wish those people well.
Since gasoline is now more readily available, the long lines have abated. This is a relief since we burn three or four gallons of fuel daily in the generator even though we use it judiciously.

For all of us here, our offices were closed for most of the week but things are slowly returning to normal on that front.

Within a few days after the storm, crews cut down any trees that were leaning on power lines or creating a hazard. So far, Jersey Central Power & Light and Verizon have both failed to get crews out to bring back electrical and phone service. There have been reports that power won’t be restored for an additional two weeks or more. No matter whom you are or where you’re from, you have to wonder how that can happen in America in 2012.

Some supermarkets opened after a few days. It was almost surreal to be able to walk into a fully functioning and well-stocked ShopRite to fill up a cart with food and supplies.
In contrast to places like New Orleans that descended into chaos and lawlessness after major storms, most everyone here has been quite civil. You find yourself talking to strangers when out shopping or getting fuel. Since many traffic lights are still out, drivers are giving courteous waves to allow others to merge into traffic. Except for a very few instances of “me first” conduct, everyone has been on their best behavior. That being said, there are those here who are prepared to deal with anyone who crosses that line from civility to criminal behavior.

Towns, churches, fire stations and other community centers have been active in providing water, food, charging stations for portable devices and other support for those in need.
Another happy byproduct of the storm is that we have learned to live without staring at the TV for three hours a night, and have taken to family conversation and playing cards and games at the kitchen table. It has been a welcome diversion from watching reruns of Dragnet and American Pickers. We get most of our news and entertainment on the car radio these days.

If you have never lived through a powerful storm like this, it’s something you’ll be glad to avoid. Before we lost power when the storm arrived, the winds picked up to a furious intensity, and continued well into the night. For about seven hours, it sounded like a series of freight trains roaring by. I’m not embarrassed to say that the fury of the wind and fear of a tree crashing into the house was all the encouragement we needed to spend the night in our finished basement.

We realize that a lot of people in New Jersey and New York have fared far worse than we have. For many that have already been affected by economic issues in their daily lives, the impact of this storm is creating a tremendous burden. Please keep all those in need in your thoughts and prayers.

__________________
Kevin
Luceo Non Uro
NJ USA

Billbikes

Glad to hear you're alright. I know that many cant say the same thing. 2 more weeks to get power back on sounds crazy.


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__________________
09 Sprint ST-Trident exhaust,rear fender tidy.
You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the boy.

mglemans86

Yea NJ got wacked. I lost power for 10 days and our town is about 75% up. Huge trees down everywhere. No TV for a 10 days internet OK with hot spot and cell phone ok but imaginge 10days with no tv and hold up with your wife. They expect a spike in birth rate and divorce rate. 10 foot+ surge wiped out downtown NYC subways and tunnels flooded. I did get a generator after last years 7 day outage so I did have lights, DVDs and heat. No divorce hear and thank god my wife is beyond her child bearing years.

__________________
An emotional response is not a substitute for critical thinking.

"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."
-Mark Twain

saphena

Gosh, 10 days!

My village lost power for three days two winters ago and that was bad enough.

__________________
Bob - Ringer, Iron Butt, not dead yet
Don't worry about running out fuel, carry a spare can

"Just because you're offended doesn't make you right" Ricky Gervais

Silverado57

Mr. LeMans, we also got electricity, phone and internet back after 10 days. Cable TV came back yesterday just in time for a showing of Goodfellas on the tube.

__________________
Kevin
Luceo Non Uro
NJ USA

HAP

For all who have suffered through this storm and the damage it caused, our thoughts and prayers go out to you.

The most humbling thing about this storm is the scenes of people helping people. After living through IKE here in the gulf it is proof that we can and do come to the aid of our neighbors, in times of need, Katrina aside. Those injured physically or financially will ultimately get help when natural disasters strike.

Be safe to all those still living in the black out areas when using generators, watch out for your sick or old neighbors and be patient, for help is coming.

dogtired

Personally, I would break out the salt shaker and tequila.

I find the fact that people are being civil to one another while in dire circumstances returns some of my belief in human nature.

__________________
I'd do me...

Deuteronomy 25:11-12

Billbikes

Just to add a bit from my experience. I don't live in the areas affected, but I live close enough that I've passed through the areas for many years.
I hail cars into and out of the port of Newark, and north Jersey.
From the last count I heard, 24,000 new and used cars were destroyed from flooding at the port.
I know Hertz at the three NY area airports,(Newark, JFK, Laguardia) lost at least 1500 rental cars. Since the storm we've been transferring cars from as far away as Buffalo, Boston, and Columbus to replace the damaged cars.


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__________________
09 Sprint ST-Trident exhaust,rear fender tidy.
You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the boy.

LEE

@silverado and Mg....glad you both are doing okay...my son james lost his for six days... I never saw a storm do so much to my home state while I lived there....