How Are Southern Members Doing?

[DavidC]

Will it is a nice sunny day in Northern IL with just 34" of snow on the ground and more is schedule for tonight and Sunday. Day time temps are between 5 and 20F with the night around 0 to -5F. This is not to bad for us as we can still open the bedroom window slightly at night when we sleep.
We have seen pictures of down south with the light dusting of snow on the ground.

JUST BE THANKFUL FOR GOBAL WARMING!!! it could be a lot worse.

Everyone will jump for joy when that nasty fossil fuel will be gone.Probably won't be a tree left on Earth.

 

[GAmes]

We have seen pictures of down south with the light dusting of snow on the ground.

I'm not sure how you meant that. You realize that people down here are dying right? It might seem like small potatoes to you but a light dusting of snow was a major factor in the 100+ vehicle crash in Ft. Worth. The few people who live here that know how to drive in the snow are greatly outnumbered by the morons who do not. Take into account the lackadaisical attitude of the managers of the TX power grid not being prepared with over a week of advance warning. There are at least four power plants not running that could have been brought on line. We still have power in my house but no water. The water plants have frozen up apparently, something that would never happen in an area that routinely sees temps in the single digits. So if the comment was out of smugness I would thank you if you change your attitude.

 

[gsbrockman]

Well.....after about 41 hours without......we have our electricity restored. I’ve put the generator back in my garage, heavily guarded by my two hounds, but the forecast is for about another 3” to 6” of snow with a mix of up to .10” of ice. I’m not betting this restoration of power will go uninterrupted over the next 12 to 18 hours.

I’m just happy to have some heat going, more so for the sake of natural heat leakage under my home for insuring the plumbing doesn’t go south. Currently washing some dishes while the girls are having a nice, hot shower. Fairly impressed with how quickly my water heater recovers from a 41 hour lack of power. Hopefully there’ll be enough warm water for me to shed some whiskers and wash this grungy head of hair!!!!

 

[Timd32]

When we get big storms crews from all over save our butts time and time again. I'm always thankful for the crews from Ohio, WV, VA, MD who come up and spend a week or 2 in tent cities all set up for storm duty. Year and half ago they had to replace over 800 power poles from one storm.

We are truly not able to do it all ourselves. I'm sure the crews are already on the ground at the pumping stations and power plants getting things back on line or doing what they can. It is a process to restore a major power system, let alone power and water systems that are compromised. And not to forget the local workers who have families at home in the dark and cold.

Hope you guys get some relief soon, I have workers in Dallas and San Antonio, and we buy most of our gear out of Grand Prairie by Arlington, lots of impact here for alot of families. Be safe out there.

 

[JR]

This mornings coffee with the necessary fixins'

 

[Wiredawg]

As the second storm rolls in, we've lost water again. We still have not lost power, and as mentioned previously, we have big generator with lots of diesel. Looks like Saturday the storm system will be passed and will be back in the 60s. We had good snow/ice melting yesterday as high was 45°. What's going to be bad is all the broken water pipes as everything thaws.

Just my opinion, but not much of the TX power and water infrastructure is built to withstand more than a couple days of winter. Be interesting to see what the investigation comes up with for recommendations.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I was called Tuesday asked to tow big generators mostly to grocery stores, but also to critical functions and businesses. I had to decline as its very physical hitching and unhitching these units, very physical lifting the power cables for them. Just cant do it anymore.

Hope all stays well and keeps warm.

Cheers, Ron

 

[gsbrockman]

but the forecast is for about another 3” to 6” of snow with a mix of up to .10” of ice. I’m not betting this restoration of power will go uninterrupted over the next 12 to 18 hours.

We still have power....but we received upwards of the 6” of snow they predicted. Power is still holding on for the interim.

 

[Jim W]

I'm not sure how you meant that. You realize that people down here are dying right? It might seem like small potatoes to you but a light dusting of snow was a major factor in the 100+ vehicle crash in Ft. Worth. The few people who live here that know how to drive in the snow are greatly outnumbered by the morons who do not. Take into account the lackadaisical attitude of the managers of the TX power grid not being prepared with over a week of advance warning. There are at least four power plants not running that could have been brought on line. We still have power in my house but no water. The water plants have frozen up apparently, something that would never happen in an area that routinely sees temps in the single digits. So if the comment was out of smugness I would thank you if you change your attitude.

We have stupid people also driving on the interstates doing at least the speed limit and more sometimes in Northern IL and Northern IN, when conditions warrant for slower speeds. Two days ago, when Chicago was dumped on by Mother Nature with 17" of snow in a 24 hour period there were several accidents. Such as a Jeep that spun out going over the safety barrier (retaining wall) and fell about 20' to another interstate roadway below. I am not saying it lightly. But accidents happen all of the time with vehicles traveling to fast for conditions. There have been several this year that have fallen off of overpass in the area and plunging up to 70' to the ground.

 

[DavidC]

We have stupid people also driving on the interstates doing at least the speed limit and more sometimes in Northern IL and Northern IN, when conditions warrant for slower speeds. Two days ago, when Chicago was dumped on by Mother Nature with 17" of snow in a 24 hour period there were several accidents. Such as a Jeep that spun out going over the safety barrier (retaining wall) and fell about 20' to another interstate roadway below. I am not saying it lightly. But accidents happen all of the time with vehicles traveling to fast for conditions. There have been several this year that have fallen off of overpass in the area and plunging up to 70' to the ground.

I saw a video of that plunge and figured it was 70-100 feet. And the guy lived amazingly but will be in rehab for a year. That vehicle manufacturer needs to be in first place for collision testing

 

[mfurrh55]

Waiting on warmer weather!

 

[DavidC]

Now the long reach of Texas. There are at least 4 refineries shut down so that means rising fuel prices and we all know they go up like a rocket and down like a parachute.

 

[BigPapa]

32* on my front porch this morning! First time in more than 10 days.

 

[GAmes]

But accidents happen all of the time with vehicles traveling to fast for conditions. There have been several this year that have fallen off of overpass in the area and plunging up to 70' to the ground.

And if the only people who are injured are the idiots who drive too fast for conditions I wouldn't care. However, it doesn't change the fact that "a light dusting of snow" AND said idiots accounted for the deaths of several people.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

It is very sobering to read of the struggles folks are having. As Ron (Wiredawg) points out, it looks to me like the infrastructure is just not designed for such temperatures. I am puzzled as to why there does not appear to have been better contingency planning, however. I think we all know well enough now that planning for the "normal" is not adequate; you have to plan for the abnormal and unexpected. Personally, I think it is then wise to throw in a safety factor.

Vehicle crashes are another strange issue to me. My street pretty much looks like the pictures that gsbrockman posted every day from late December to early March each year. Winter is no surprise here, happens regular as clockwork each year. Yet, when the first snow and ice comes in November/December there are vehicle crashes all over the place. I don't understand it. It is like people have never experienced winter before rather than having lived it annually their entire life.

It looks like that cold air mass is moving to the east and north and hopefully temperatures will at least head back toward the normal seasonal range by this Saturday.

So, to a happier subject: I had not thought about maple syrup in my coffee, but on the other hand I do not sweeten. I add a little milk is all. I tell my wife I do not need any sugar or such because I am already so unbelievably sweet - for some reason she pretty much just ignores that comment. Huh. I did think of another maple syrup use: I had a dessert dish once: a thick slice of banana bread heated on a griddle, scoop of vanilla ice cream, and drizzled with a nice cover of warmed maple syrup. Stole that idea - has now become a home staple. Sadly, you get older and you no longer get to enjoy such things with the frequency you once did.

I am so sorry for the hardship brought upon all. I hope and pray this turns for you soon.

 

[GAmes]

It is very sobering to read of the struggles folks are having. As Ron (Wiredawg) points out, it looks to me like the infrastructure is just not designed for such temperatures. I am puzzled as to why there does not appear to have been better contingency planning, however.

According to a news report I read this morning that just like most other things you only have to follow the money. The news article said that a report from 10 years ago identified the inadequacy of the TX power grid. It recommended insulation and other steps the power plants could take to prevent super cold weather failures. It was a "return on investment" decision on the part of the power companies.

We also have this genius past governor Rick Perry. “Texans would be without electricity for longer than three days to keep the federal government out of their business,” which totally tries to deflect the inadequacies of state government and the power companies' decisions.

 

[mfurrh55]

33 deg at my place and waters running off my roof pretty good, my sister lives on Lake Fork and she said night before last a car went off of Bridge, they had several divers trying to get to them but by the time they got them out they had already died...2 people

 

[Wayne M.]

Just catching up on here.
This has been quite a winter for most of the country, but I just can’t believe what’s going on down there!
My kids watch these you tube vloggers that report on Disney happenings, and one of them got jammed up on I10 out there, and I was amazed at his account and footage. This thread is pretty amazing as well, and I hope everyone just gets through it okay.
Here in central NJ/NYC it’s been a real winter with about 25-30” total accumulation so far and hardly a day over freezing. The heating bill is a killer and the snow blower is getting a workout this year but I’m not complaining!

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

We got winter mix and snow with temps in low 20s. Looking for gradual rise today and calling for freezing fog Saturday.

Sorry in advance for this rant: I have to say Bette Midler really showed the uncaring idiot that she is posting God is punishing Texas with this weather event for Cruz challenging the election. Not trying to go political here, this is just STUPIDZ and HEARTLESS for her to post that with all the suffering folks here in Texas to have to hear. I think we have one of her CDs in our collection that's going in the trash in pieces.

Sorry for venting, but this just really rubbed me wrong.

Looking at the news on TV showing homes flooding makes me feel sorry for the folks suffering and that they don't know how to turn the water off at the main. My SIL and her husband live in Houston lost commercial power Tuesday, but my BIL set them up with a 25KW diesel generator like mine, but on a trailer. They are sharing power with neighbors, cooking and serving hot food and coffee with them. Had our little rural community of five families lost power, we would have had them over at our house to get through the bitter cold.

We're at risk of running out of propane... we ordered more last week, a few days before this weather event, but made caveat we weren't critical as we had 40% and were just smart planning on refill. They've been swamped but may call to see where we are on the pecking order. Sunday is supposed to be back up in the 60s, so end to this is in sight. Backup plan is move into the new RV that has a heat pump and propane heat. No emergency.

I Hope and Pray all stay safe and warm through this terrible weather event.

Cheers, Ron

 

[JR]

I'm seeing reports of people being overcome by CO from a multitude of sources ranging from running gas heaters indoors to generators to running a vehicle inside an enclosed garage. It goes without saying these are all accidents and I feel for those involved and I can imagine there must be a sense of desperation but I also can't help but wonder where and how common sense lost its way.

 

[Wayne M.]

Ron, I know the feeling with the propane. My new house is on propane. All my life I’ve been on nat gas in the street (city life) but now I’m a little bit rural, and about 3 weeks ago I was at 18- yes eighteen percent and waiting. The company is a large chain but I found their yard and went and pleaded with the manager. Thankfully I got a refill shortly after I threatened to bring my truck into the office if I had to come back. That and stating that I have my wheelchair bound mother in law with us really helped.