Sounds like Georgia and Tennessee are expecting to get hit by quite a winter storm tomorrow. Are the kitties doing their emergency drills (like making sure they know where all their favorite toys are stashed)?

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2002

Answers

Yes, we are due for what "they" now call A Significant Winter Weather Event. I don't know why, Ice Storm seems so much easier. Besides teh freezing rain, we are likely to get snow and sleet. THere have been ominous rumbles about power lines and trees. I do know the cops are planning on calling in extra folks tomorrow and will be doubling up in patrol cars.

The kitties are leaving me notes which remind me to heat up their warmie disks in the microwave. I already have some wood next to the fireplace and I'm charging up batteries, of course. The gas canisters are within easy reach and the gas hot plates are in the utility room. The canned heat is in the closet and the battery-operated lights and oil lamps aren't far away. I think we're okay. The only other thing I need to do is grind some coffee. Trust me to leave the most important thing to last! (I even remembered to top up the bird feeders and put out new suet cakes. Tomorrow I'll put some warm water out. Oh, reminds me, read yesterday that racoons need water with their food because they don't make saliva.)

The storm is supposed to hit tomorrow evening and night and go on into the following morning. If that's true, then I expect we shall have some power outages around here.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2002

Soc always heads for the closet or, if I'm in bed, under the covers when a thunderstorm is due (before we can hear the thunder). I think we've had him about four years and this tunneling has always been his schtick. Tonight he crawled under the covers for no reason--that I could determine. Certainly no thunder around and we've had colder nights than this. Is it possible he knows we're going to have bad weather tomorrow? I took note of the time he tunneled--it was 7:51 p.m.

He couldn't possibly think we're going to lose power, i.e., heat--could he???

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2002

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2002

Btw, the green on the map is mostly freezing rain but the radar doesn't know the difference, "they" say.

And now for the usual panic stories--I love 'em! The Hungarian and I are due to go to the Post Office today and we're leaving 15 minutes early so we can pop in the grocery store to try and buy bread, lol! I can easily bake some but we like to go and watch the folks buying, for some weird reason, frozen food by the cartload!

Icy blast predicted today in Triangle

By Jim Shamp : The Herald-Sun jshamp@heraldsun.com Dec 3, 2002 : 10:11 pm ET

DURHAM -- The bread and milk were already disappearing from some store shelves Tuesday afternoon as Durham area residents responded to the season’s first winter weather advisory.

The National Weather Service issued a Triangle area weather advisory Tuesday for this afternoon and tonight, calling for freezing rain possibly accumulating as ice up to one-quarter inch thick.

Meteorologist Kermit Keeter [can you believe that name? Poor guy!] said nearby counties from Orange westward could get even more wintry weather in the form of inch-thick snow topped by a glaze of ice.

"It’s important that people stay abreast of forecast updates," said Keeter. "We expect the onset probably in early to midafternoon, probably pretty light to start with, but rates will probably pick up toward late afternoon, with the bulk of precipitation during the evening and overnight hours."

Duke Power is bracing, said spokesman Tom Williams. "It’s clearly something we’re taking very seriously." He said if an outage occurs customers should call the utility’s toll-free, automated outage reporting line, 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766).

Katie Kalb, Durham’s director of public works, said the city was loading its 18 salt-spreading dump trucks, all of which can be fitted with front-mounted snowplows. About 1,000 tons of salt and more than 200 tons of sand to mix with it were available.

Kalb said most crews might initially be stationed near bridges, "because we know they’ll ice up first."

Durham Public Schools spokesman Michael Yarbrough said schools officials will announce any decision this afternoon and by 5 a.m. Thursday if there’s a need to close schools or delay their opening.

Durham Area Transit Authority said buses may be delayed by weather, and customers are encouraged to call 688-DATA (688-3282) for detailed information on routes and delays.

Sales of bread and milk picked up Tuesday at local stores.

"It started already last night, but we really see it today," said Charlene Sorrells, manager of the Flowers Bakery thrift store at 1511 E. Club Blvd., Tuesday afternoon. "Usually Tuesday is a medium day, but I’ve doubled sales just today. I swore my boss called y’all and said, ‘Report bad weather coming in.’ " [And today will be madness, lol!]

Behind the thrift store is the firm’s wholesale warehouse, from which 11 bread truck drivers distribute two daily tractor-trailer loads of baked goods to grocery stores and restaurants throughout the Durham area from Flowers’ bakery in Jamestown, near High Point.

"We’ve been able to meet demand today," she said, "but with this storm coming in, the stores won’t be sending any day-old bread back to us here at the thrift store. So things will get slim."

George Carroll, a relief driver for the Pet Dairy, 300 Muldee St., said the wholesale milk distributor was also feeling the effects of the weather forecast.

"We just got a call from a convenience store in Rougemont 10 minutes ago, saying they’re cleaned out," he said Tuesday afternoon. [Rougemont is about 20 mins north of Durham.] "They must think something’s gonna happen up there. But we can’t do much for them because we have orders already here for tomorrow."

Carroll said he expected some 2,000 extra gallons to be shipped to help cover storm shortages today -- a fraction of what the firm could sell if its trucks had room for more.

[I'll report on storm psychos later, lol!]

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Mebs has got to be having problems in Arkansas. BrookS, is this lot due to come up your way after it makes life exciting down here?

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

We're supposed to get a few flurries tomorrow, that's all. (Of COURSE it's heading this way, you send ALL your nasty storms this way...)

Yesterday afternoon I e-mailed a consultant I'm working with in Greenville SC that I hoped he wouldn't be nailed by the ice storm. He politely responded (5 pm) "As for ice, it is much too early in the season and way too warm today (almost 60) for any winter weather this far south." So this morning I e-mailed him a weather radar map showing the snow line was already south of him. But he probably already knows that. Such denial!

Helen, apoc, did you survive ok what passed through Oklahoma?

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Not too bad here, right on the edge.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Consultant just e-mailed me back (9:30 am) to say: "The air is so dry at the surface, that nothing is reaching the ground right now. But watch out tonight!!" Sounds like is paying a bit more attention.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Will try to send this "winter weather event" on up. Yes, it's overhead here too but dry air is preventing it from reaching the ground here also. Best estimate for the bad weather to start hitting the ground is between 1 and 5 this afternoon. Ice accumulation estimates are now said to be one inch overnight, "less than an inch" tomorrow morning. Got to be some power outages.

Went to the yuppie whole foods place, drank coffee, watched the scum loading up on kefir and tofu, lol! There were 4 half-gallons of milk left and people were buying water 6 galls at a time. Plenty of bread--the local Ninth Street bakery must have doubled their output last night. I think the hezeviest buys were on imported beer and wine, hehe. Gotta give it to the yups, they know where their priorities are.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Ha! Checking various of the weather.com forecasts. Raleigh NC (where another consultant hangs out) is to expect many hours of a "wintery mix". Sounds so Martha! Not nearly as uncivilized as layers and layers of ice.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

hmmm, can't decide between just sunblock or dark tanning oil. humidity is a bit up here, but the clouds now and then are helping to keep the mugginess down. good thing the a/c is working.

the black birds are having a great time out back. I noticed they've been diving into the pond for bathing. funny to see them swimming for the edge.

At least they aren't eating the fish! they bring bits of dogfood from a neighbor's and dunk em in the pond a few times then sit around munching. a regular bird picnic.

Miss Kitty finds the whole of it very uninteresting. Bunky, on the other hand, got himself a dove. that was a mess. Now we have to contend with where and when the mate will join it. Did you know that the doves do that? If one is killed, the other sits around not eating until it either dies or something gets it.

hmmm, maybe I should put on a shirt with sleeves to keep from getting burned.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

The rain started freezing on the power lines and trees around here Tuesday afternoon, hours before it was supposed to start. The weathermen called for all the freezing rain to turn to snow around midnight. Well, it finally started snowing about 11 am today. Last night I turned on the outside lights to see a wonderful winter display of ice on the trees. They sparkled in the light.

Bad news was that one of the huge branches from an old oak tree was about to touch the ground. This morning, the branch was touching the ground with more leaning in that direction. That direction was right square towards my livingroom. Seems like a few more smaller branches were about 6' off my roof. I just hope that the tree doesn't fall. It took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get into work. The roads were mainly just wet, but everyone was going slow as we couldn't tell where any black ice would be located. Going home will be altogether another matter. I have watched the streets outside my building turn from wet to slush. With the snow coming down now, they are turning white.

I plan on leaving early to pick up my son as soon as his school lets out and head for home. I want to be safely tucked away in my hopefully warm livingroom before all the crazies take to the roads. I was surprised with the amount of ice on the trees this morning that I didn't have one down somewhere along the driveway. I didn't. I may by the time I return home.

At least this year, I can walk and will be better able to handle any situation that comes up than I was during the ice storms of Jan and Feb of this year.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Apoc, we're rapidly following suit here. Conditions have deteriorated FAST and we have sleet, thick, with big flakes of snow. It's very noisy outside as the frozen rain hits various hard surfaces. The ground has begun to white over. Give it an hour and we'll have the proverbial winter wonderland. The scanner is chattering, full of wrecks and instructions. No hell for leather on emergency response. The Watch Commander has just ordered telephone reports on wrecks if no injury and driver agrees.

We'vehad the scariest trees cut down around the house but there are some very tall pines back there. . . DOn't think they'll come down in this kind of weather, though, it's the hardwoods, as you can see.

Snowflakes are now as big as half-dolars, up from quarter-size since I started to type this. I'd better go and do some more preps, not quite finished yet.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Be sure and treat your walkways so they aren't slippery you guys. i don't wanna hear about anyone slipping and breaking a leg or a hip.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

WOW. . .

Brings back memories! And NOT good ones, either! :-/

It's a really cold day here on the Hilltop - right at 39° and blowing. We're not in this mess (thank goodness), and sure feel for y'alls who are.

Hope everybody stays snug and warm and Barefoot is right . . . be careful out there!

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Got some Ice Melt. Not going out anyway.

Just heard on Weather Channel, Greenville is getting freezing rain, BrookS.

link

link

I know it doesn't look like much but there's thick ice on the roads.

[edited to speed up loading. - barefoot]

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Y'all stay warm and please be selfish with that storm!! I need another day or two of dry roads.

Barefoot, I love how you chime in with those FL weather forecasts when we're chatting about incoming winter storms. You know, someday the climate in FL will change, and you might be seeing snow, too! (;

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

bite your tongue, meemur!

Actually, I did wake up one school morning to see white all over everything outside. I wasn't impressed. i went back to bed. I lost a lot of plants that time. Stayed hom from school, too. heh heh

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

mail's here. just got a tomato catalog.

Totally Tomato

http://www.totallytomato.com

Not exactly totally tomato, I see some peppers in here.

is it too early to think about tomatoes, guys?

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

They were wrong about this clearing off by noon. We've got sleet mixed with wet mist and heavy snow. Ground is covered and everything off the ground is coated. We'll lose power before morning. I hate using the handpump in the dead of winter, but it's a nice amenity to have for the animals.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

Should I go to the store for bread and milk?

(;

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

My good friend at the station was exhorting people to go buy bread, milk--and cat litter! Then added as an aside that you can also use the oitter for traction if you get stuck.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

11:40 a.m. According to 911 communicators, transformers are "popping" all over town. They can see the flashes from the 5th floor center at police HQ, whose windows face away from the downtown area and tall buildings. Fire folks being dispatched to numerous blown and burning tranformers, some also setting neighboring trees on fire. The poor cops are running hither and thither to various alarms, going off as the power goes out.

First tree down reported--and it's on a power line.

We have freezing rain still, sounds kinda like a rain stick but not as melodious, and it's forecast to keep up all night. I already have a sleeping bag handy and the hot discs heated up. We shall be very lucky to keep our power with all these trees around here.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2002

snuggle up and stay safe.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

I gotta go to work.

I hate the first storm of the season: there will still be idiots in SUVs (usually from LA) driving at 70 mph on the freeway. When it's this slippery, sensible traffic slows to around 45 mph.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

It's supposed to start here about midday. Just expecting snow, and it should be an amount I can take care of myself if I can tackle it in a couple of shifts. (With my parents out of the house, I haven't had the urge to line up the plowman yet this year.)

Barefoot, don't you know that bird shit is yummy fertilizer?

Git, I probably won't harrass the guy in Greenville, but good, sorta, to see he's eating his icy words!

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

ah, yes, but it doesn't do too good on the soles of my feet, or on the walkways. It also looks bad on the leaves, these huge drops of unwhiteness running down the elephant ears and banana and heliconia leaves. Very unattractive. reminds me of a blue dress...

I noticed the traffic cam is down. Haven't seen OG around, although if she is she's prolly busy with the scanner and all.

Hope everyone is safe on the roads today. and tonight.

I have a couple errands to run today. sure is muggy out there. we might get a shower or two today, with some chance of storms late tonight. it's 78 already outside. too too humid.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

This may be why we haven't heard from Ms. Git:

http://www.wral.com/news/1820816/detail.html

State Wakes To Downed Power Lines, Trees

POSTED: 6:01 a.m. EST December 5, 2002 UPDATED: 7:15 a.m. EST December 5, 2002

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The first storm of the season glazed roadways, closed schools and left hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians across the state without power Thursday.

Freezing rain continues to fall north and west of Raleigh and is expected to continue through midday with highs in the low to mid 30s. Winter storm warnings continue through 10 a.m. for parts of the WRAL viewing from the Triangle northward. It is likely freezing rain will continue in this area through lunchtime with accumulations of ice up to another 1/4 inch.

Up to an inch of ice had accumulated on trees and power lines in some places overnight, and the lines and limbs just snapped under the weight.

Utility crews were working round-the-clock to restore power across the state; however the number of people without power continues to increase through the morning.

At 7 a.m., Progress Energy reported 337,405 outages in its northern region, which includes Raleigh, Durham County, Pittsboro, Henderson, Roxboro and Dunn.

There are 48,000 outages reported in north Raleigh, 66,000 in Cary, 56,000 in Garner and 7,700 in Fayetteville. The company aims to have power restored by midnight.

Statewide, Duke Power said the winter ice storm that has interrupted electric service to more than 660,000 customers. In Durham, 59,000 customers are affected and in Chapel Hill, 13,000 custoemrs are without power.

The N.C. Electric Cooperatives report 144,235 outages statewide. Crews have been restoring power through the night and several counties have experienced outage reductions.

There are 3,300 outages reported in Wake County, 12,000 in Cumberland County and 2.500 in Durham County and 8,500 in Orange County

People should always stay away from downed power lines. All downed power lines should be treated as if they were energized and potentially deadly. Anyone who sees a downed line should stay away from it and call their electric utility or 911.

Slick roads and downed trees and power lines could make morning travel hazardous.

The state Department of Transportation reported that it had about 5,500 workers clearing highways across the state, and was using 45,000 tons of salt and sand, 2,000 dump trucks, 550 graders and 200 front-end loaders.

City of Raleigh crews have been working throughout the night salting streets, bridges and overpasses.

Raleigh Police urge motorists to use caution if travel is necessary. Many stoplights are not operating due to power outages. Icy conditions exist on most streets throughout the city.

The state Highway Patrol responded to hundreds of accidents but reported no serious accidents.

A number of school systems are closed Thursday including Wake, Durham, Orange, Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Chatham, Edgecombe, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash/Rocky Mount, NorthampNorthampton, Person, Vance, Warren and Wayne County schools.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

The snow just started here!!

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

Just posted (3pm) on TimeBomb:

Hi guys, I am right outside Charlotte NC....the local news is reporting 1.2 million in North and South Carolina without power...we have a lot of ice, trees weakened from the drought are falling all over~...they are saying on our stations that this is worse than hugo and some will continue to be without power for 3-4 days....some areas they are showing on the news look like war zones and I believe I heard they have declared state of emergency.....they are sending in crews from 8 other states to help~...it's really cold, and shelters are being opened and I am very blessed to have electricity today~

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

it passed us by here in central arkansas.....we got a VERY light dusting of icy snow

i've been off the computer for over a week now (pulled a muscle in my back, and could not bear to sit at all!)......but the first place i wanted to check was here to see if OG had managed to keep her power on

looks like she's one of the 1.2 million

i heard on fox news that the power repair crews in the carolinas were having a heck of a time getting around due to the trees down in the roads

hope OG and the kitties are all safe and warm

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

I'm sure OG is snug, warm, and dining on luxury canned items, eating better than I am tonight with my beans and franks.

The bulk of the storm missed us in Cols. We had 1.5 inches that messed up the morning commute, but nothing like what she's facing. Brrrrrrrr!

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

Just posted over on TB2k that Durham, NC is under a dusk to dawn curfew due to power outages.

Hope OG is ok.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2002

She must be having a power outage. Normally she sends this trash up in my direction when she is through with it, but I had less than 3 inches of snow (didn't even bother shoveling). I can see that without power she might have her compass directions mixed up.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/340/nation/Worst_ice_storm_in_years_de vas:.shtml

Worst ice storm in years devastates the South; heavy snow blankets Northeast

By Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press, 12/6/2002 05:30

The East Coast is looking forward to warmer temperatures as it tries to recover from storms that packed a punch like nothing seen for decades in the South, leaving more than a million people in North Carolina wondering when their their power might be restored.

The forecast called for warmer temperatures in the eastern United States on Friday.

The storm which many compared to recent hurricanes for its scale of destruction coated trees and roads in ice, snarled air travel around the country and kept children home from school in a large part of the East.

The Carolinas were the hardest hit as the weight of ice and snow snapped tree limbs and sent them crashing onto power lines. In Raleigh, the crack of buckling pines and oaks sounded like gunfire during hunting season.

At least 22 deaths had been blamed on the storm since it blew across the southern Plains earlier in the week, including a Virginia woman who police said froze to death after her car slid off the road and got stuck in a driveway. Up to a foot of snow fell in places from New Mexico to North Carolina.

The storm hit the South first, then moved its way toward the Northeast, where major cities including New York and Philadelphia were blanketed with snow Thursday.

''It's horrible out there,'' said Errol Carter, a lawyer from Edison, N.J. ''I live less than 10 minutes from the train station, and I almost got in two accidents on the way there.''

More than a million North Carolina residents were still without power early Friday, including more than 300,000 customers at Carolina Power & Light and 980,000 of Duke Power.

The storm was ''probably the largest single-event power outage we've had in this state,'' said Bryan Beaty, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley and South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges both declared a state of emergency, and hundreds of repair workers were streaming in to repair damage to power lines.

''It will be an extended time for us to get the last customer on. We need to prepare for that,'' said E.O. Ferrell, Duke Power's senior vice president for electric distribution.

Outages also hit areas of Virginia and West Virginia. It was the second day without power in parts of Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Some 3,000 travelers were stranded at North Carolina's Charlotte- Douglas International Airport. Travelers faced cancellations and long flight delays at the New York City area's LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark, N.J., airports.

The storm's effects on air travel spread far afield. Northwest Airlines canceled 14 flights to the East Coast from Minneapolis.

On the ground, highway traffic slowed to a crawl or stalled behind wrecks. Commuter buses ran behind schedule. And commuter railroads in the New York City region added trains to cope with an increase in riders.

The steady snowfall in New York City turned busy avenues and sidewalks treacherously slick, but tourists busily snapped photos.

''This just seems like the way New York should be, you know?'' said Jennifer McDaniel of Detroit. ''The snow and the lights and decorations it just seems right.''

''I love it,'' Doris Ross said in Hagerstown, Md., as she picked her way down a partly shoveled sidewalk. ''Everything slows down. Everything's calmer.''

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/339/nation/State_by_state_look_at_effe cts:.shtml

State-by-state look at effects of storm

By Associated Press, 12/5/2002 22:20

Snow and ice storm's effects on states.

ARKANSAS: Two storm-related deaths, power outages down Thursday from peak of 60,000 customers, up to 4½ inches of snow, some schools closed.

CONNECTICUT: Some schools closed and most on half-day schedule, up to 8 inches of snow by evening.

KENTUCKY: Six deaths, about 4,200 customers blacked out Thursday, up to 8 inches of snow, at least 55 of the 176 school districts closed.

MISSOURI: Four deaths, more than 100 schools closed, up to 10 inches of snow in Ozarks.

NEW JERSEY: Up to 7½ inches of snow, at least 240 of state's 597 school districts closed, state and county government offices closed early. Delays and cancelations at Newark airport.

NEW YORK: One death, some New York City suburban schools closed and some upstate schools sent kids home early, up to 10 inches of snow forecast on Long Island, flights delayed up to three hours.

NORTH CAROLINA: Four deaths, about 1.3 million customers blacked out, 7 inches of snow on Blue Ridge Parkway, hundreds of schools and businesses and many government offices closed.

OKLAHOMA: Several schools closed for second day, up to foot of snow and half-inch of ice, about 60,000 customers without power at peak of storm but most service restored by Thursday.

PENNSYLVANIA: All Philadelphia schools closed and many others statewide, rash of accidents closed section of Pennsylvania Turnpike east of Pittsburgh.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Two deaths, nearly 300,000 000 customers lost power, some schools closed for second day.

TENNESSEE: One death, about 25,000 customers lost power Wednesday but most restored by Thursday, up to 6 inches of snow and half-inch of ice, dozens of schools closed Wednesday.

VIRGINIA: Two deaths, snow up to 10 inches deep, schools closed, about 13,000 customers without electricity, many government offices and courts closed.

WEST VIRGINIA: Schools closed in all 55 counties, heaviest snow 7 inches deep, some flights canceled at Charleston's Yeager Airport.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Doris Ross of Hagerstown MD can go straight to hell.

Actually, Fairfax VA, where I live, only got about 4 inches with no loss of power, so I can't complain.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Spoke to Git this morning. She has phone service but no electric.

She is using the gas logs for heat and that is working well.

A local pawnshop was burgled, Handguns were stolen, along with ammo.

Yesterday morning she stood on her doorstep listening to the branches snapping all around the neighborhood. Said it sounded like gunshots, like there was a gunfight going on around the neighborhood.

None of her trees have lost branches. The sun is out now and the whole area is very picturesque.

She has used the ice from outside to fill the ice chests to keep the frozen foods. LOL

The hungarian is doing okay as well. She did not feel up to going in to work yesterday. The exit for Duke University Hospital from the I had been closed down for ice onthe road.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Also, she is doing the scanner thing for as long as the batteries last. she has the solar chargers outside in the sun, but feels that more batteries are in order.

Lots of people, I'll classify them as stupid people, are crowding the emergency rooms due to carbon monoxide poisoning because they used their barbeques inside the house for heat. [Can there really be people in this country that don't know they shouldn't do that?] Also people who forgot to open the dampers in their chimneys and so smoked themselves. Plus some chimney fires because they were too cheap to have them cleaned and inspected.

Kitties are doing okay. I forgot which one she mentioned, but one doesn't like to be 'inside things' and yet has been curling up in the sleeping bag. Git's air mattress has somehow managed to loose its air. Without power she can't get it filled up decently. bummer that. I would suggest a power source that can connect to the car is in order. I'll find one and link it here.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Since Barefoot neglected to give a kitty and sweetie report, I called Git myself.

Sweetie is in Charleston and doing fine.

So are the kitties. Polly (the thin one who gets cold easily) has been burying into the sleeping bag and doing spoons and purring. 4 cats in the bag last night. Prep alert - buy a large bag! Also, put coffee in styrofoam cups because it goes cold immediately.

Curfew in Durham is not being enforced because they don't want to "upset" people.

Git is keeping her shotgun handy because of what she has been hearing on the scanner. Chaos started immediately when the stores and ATMs closed down. Looting in the supermarkets. Police stationed at the gas stations when they opened back up. Fights over generators and lack of batteries.

(That was an abbreviated report, because something came up, but she says she is well prepped and doing ok.)

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

(My message was posted before Barefoot's second message...) harumpfff

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Thanks Barefoot & Brooks! I'll expect a full written report, with the proper citations and links, when OG gets her power back. (:

Why not stuff the air mattress with cat fur gathered from the brushes and floors??

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Found some at AJ Prindle.com

Link

priced from sale price of 37.46 to 129.95. note: one should make sure the car battery is up to the task.

http://www.ajprindle.com/index.jhtml;jsessionid=PPOYZ12FKXCZ5LAQP2CSGW VMCB5QKIV0?category=cat280062&navAction=jump

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Poking cat fur into the little valve thingy on an airmattress would take until next July.

(We have freezing fog going on for hours and hours...never saw anything quite like it. Freezing one particle of ice at a time all over everything. Probably somewhat dangerous.)

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

as to order of posts, I think you'll have to take that up with alan greenspun. ;)

burying in the bag? I think you mean burrowing. [yeah, but the weather is nice here so I have time to point out odd things. why, just a moment ago I was looking in the mirror and....er, nevermind.]

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

More news from Durham NC as of 2 pm:

Some battery recharging from solar.

Heat from gas logs - that is where they will camp out tonight. Shut off 2 of the 3 bedrooms.

Major heat (and light) from too many candles (in a large aluminum stew pot).

Gid had mail delivery yesterday and newspaper delivered today, but no electricity.

Probably close to 100% power outage in Durham. Only places with power probably with underground wiring with no trees in area. Police now patrolling in pairs. Fights at Kroger; at least one woman's grocery bags were stolen from her arms.

Red Cross has opened shelters, in open buildings like gyms and schools. Cots, a few games for the children, maybe a blanket, but BYO food. But Salvation Army has provided hot meals. Special needs shelters also open, but must have a need and an attendant.

Duke Power Company has been utterly ineffective. Duke and city did not prepare for the storm. If this really goes on 3 to 5 days, there will be serious problems. Police/Fire having trouble getting into town. Cops keep referring to it as a war zone. As with Fran, noone is reporting the incidents, as least not as looting or riots.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

This is why we are preppers. I'll be interested to hear what changes (if any) OG plans to make in her inventory.

I'm sure she has enough food and water. I still picturing her eating canned shrimp and fancy crackers! (:

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Part of her problem is being a two-household family now, some supplies are split up. Sweetie has some of the battery recharging equipment with him in SC.

As far as mattresses go, I am very happy with my ThermaRest SELF- inflating camping mattress. No electricity required, just roll it out. It is both air and foam. Very thin, but manages to absorb my protuberances comfortably enough for a good night's sleep. Pricey, though.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

Hump. I bought a *double* ThermaRest (and I'm sure you know how pricey those can get!).

Worth it, though, when I gotta sleep on cold floors or ground. I keep the single one in my car in case I'm stranded.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2002

how often do you take it out of the car and air it out? uh-huh. thought so.

we want to get a different bed. tired of the waterbed. need something firmer. have been thinking of an airbed. that or hammock.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2002

Barefoot, everything in my car is rotated and aired out each season. Up here, I have to exchange summer and winter gear -- there is no point in taking up trunk space with salt, shovel, chains, etc in the summer, nor do I carry misquito netting after October. (:

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2002

I can appreciate your carrying different things at different times, but the mattress isn't seasonal. You could be stranded any night of the year somewhere. Does that mean you air it out three times a year?

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2002

Yes.

(:

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2002