Tuesday SOL 7/10/12 - Remembering life without electricity
On that Monday in January, 2009, my hubby said "We have to get prepared for the storm that they are predicting. We need to get more wood cut and in the garage, we need to make a tent over the fireplace (we have high vaulted ceilings), we need to get water" - on and on his list went. I gave him this look that said "You've got to be kidding!". We worked all morning getting things prepared. I still thought he was crazy.
Later that afternoon, the rain came and then the temperatures dropped and then... THE POWER WENT OFF. Now we have an "all electric house", which means no heat, no lights, no cooking. We thought it'll be on soon - we turned on the emergency radio to keep us up to date on what was happening - NOT GOOD NEWS. The power stayed off all day - we "camped" out in front of the fireplace for a "good" night's sleep - NOT TO HAPPEN. Between keeping the fire burning and hearing the popping/snapping of trees outside, we didn't sleep.
When we got up in the morning, we looked out and all of the trees, power lines, everything was coated with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice. It was so quiet - except for the snapping and popping of tree branches. When they would fall to the ground, they would splinter into little pieces or embed themselves in the ground. It was an eerie sight to behold.
After four plus hours of clearing our road, my hubby and a neighbor went to Lowe's to see if they could get generators. All were sold out, but more were coming in the next day and one was put on hold for us.
The generator was our saving grace. It wasn't powerful enough to run the heat pump, but we had the fireplace and space heaters. We could cook and keep the food refrigerated. We had to switch running the well and hot water heater so that we could take showers. We survived that way for 14 days until the power company could get to our road.
To lose power during the heat wave and storms has got to be even more difficult. I pray for all who have lost power and pray that it will soon be restored.
How did our ancestors live without electricity and all of our modern conveniences?
I was thinking the same thing last weekend as a small but powerful storm knocked down trees south of us. We had a great conversation about ice harvesting and ice boxes.
ReplyDeleteI also didn't realize your ice storm left you without power for 2 weeks. Wow. Unimaginable!
I still can't believe it was two weeks either! That's a loooong time without power. I'm not sure losing power in the winter is better. You had it rough trying to stay warm and not able to leave the house.
ReplyDeleteAnd our ancestors? When you don't know what your missing, you don't know what you are missing. They did what they had to do. Unfortunately, we are spoiled and rely on everything we have to "survive." But as you proved, it can be done! Memories you wish not to relive . . . but hopefully those cold memories brought you some relief in the heat!
We had an ice storm years ago, too. Along with the snapping of trees I remember the transformers lighting up the night sky with an other-worldly blue light as they "blew." I wondered then about "the pioneers" as well - but they didn't depend on the things we take for granted. I'm glad you got a generator, and I'm glad you reminded us to be thoughtful of all those suffering through various kinds of storm damage this summer.
ReplyDelete14 days is such a long time to be without power! So glad you were able to get a generator so quickly. All we can really do is try our best to prepare for natures disasters and pray mother nature doesn't do too much damage. I couldn't imagine going about my day without the modern conveniences we have. It must be time for us to put aside a little generator fund - never hurts to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteYour slice made me think of our experience on Saturday morning. We lost power for 3 hours...it was a quiet and worrisome three hours let me say-we were worried about the temperature getting up to 102! Our experience doesn't even compare to 14 days. Wow, it would be a struggle for me...I admit. I don't know how our ancestors did it either. Thanks for sharing this slice!
When I wrote last week on no power I thought the same thing....how did they live without electricity or better yet cell phones! I always say we need to appreciate what we have cause it can always be worse!
ReplyDeleteWow, like the others, we've never gone 14 days. We have a wood stove & can heat well, & even boil water & soup, but that's about it-no other hot water, or lights. How did the pioneers do it: outhouses, cold storage cellars that didn't freeze but kept things cold, lanterns, candles, bed early, etc. We have a primitive cabin in the woods in CO, have spent as long as a week there, but it was hard work just to get a meal, to keep clean, etc. I always admire the pioneers. Just think, they even made their own clothes, from spinning to cloth, to sewing. egads! Thanks for your post. I am sorry for others who've had this happen. It's tough today to 'get along'.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! One day without power is hard, but fourteen days- I can't even imagine it! Did the whole town shut down for two weeks???? Yikes! Thank heavens for your husband- I'm always one of those doubters who thinks the weather man doesn't know what they are talking about-- I would have been in big trouble in this situation!
ReplyDeleteWe had a similar experience several years ago in
ReplyDeleteSeattle, but I would rather endure the cold than be without air during the summer. I grew up in OK and lived in Houston for 11 years, so I know about summer heat and humidity. Losing power makes us more appreciative of what we enjoy each day! I'm very happy to be living in the 21st century.