Please, Pray for us!!

[pcarsey]

Well this storm has had a major impact on just about everyone in Ohio and WV (Not sure about anywhere else as I have had very limited time online to check out anything). We lost power yesterday (1/28) and the emergency electric crews have been working non stop since then to restore power. The stores have closed because their generators aren't keeping up with the ice, snow and cold! All of the local gas stations have ran out of gasoline and kerosene, and you can't even find batteries! They opened up a shelter but as of last night it was completely full! There is over 17000 people here without power and they are saying it won't be back on until at least Sunday night at midnight. I am so worried about lots of people here! If it was summer, I wouldn't worry but it is only 25 degrees outside during the day and lastnight it dropped to 15, and tonight the low is going to be 7 :o(

We have a generator but as soon as we run out of gas, which won't be long, we will have to just sit it out! Thank goodness we have such an efficient house! I have been running the generator just for a couple hours (why I am on here now) to let the floors soak up some heat then turn it off and make sure the doors stay closed! Last night I ran the generator to get some heat going until it got to be about 77 in here then turned the generator off at 11 and this morning when I got up at 7:30 it was still 73 in here. So that is good, but not sure I can do that tonight if it drops to 7 degrees!

The thing that mostly worries me is that I can't get anywhere because the roads are covered in ice, there is trees down in my driveway, and we are at a level 3 driving condition even in a 4 wheel drive, and I cannot get ahold of my dad! :o( I don't know if he has power (I assume not because he would have phone service and the answering machine would at least come on) but it has not! This scares me because I just don't know if he was prepared for this storm. There was an 83 yr old man who passed away because the electric company shut off his electric for not paying his bill of like 1100.00 and he died of hypothermia, so when you have no electric because of weather it is just as scary! I still continue to call every few minutes but can't get an answer, answering machine or anything!

So Please everyone, Please Please pray that we get some power here soon and I get ahold of my dad!!
I'm not sure when I will be back on, I must go turn off the generator now to conserve as much gas as I can!! I'll check back when I can!

Thanks so much!!
Patty

[scaredmom330]

there are still thousands out of power around us...we are at the northwest corner of tn where kentucky, missouri, and tennessee met....it still looks like a war zone around here...am glad yall did ok. we werent as fortunate to have a generator or even a kerosone heater but a place to run was great.

take caer my friend

[pcarsey]

Cherie- I know, the summers here sometimes get really humid. And I also agree, there are some older folks that won't leave for the life of them and sometimes unfotunately pay the ultimate price for that :(

scaredmom- I am so glad you guys made it out and back safely! The hotels here were full too. Along with the college, university and community center! It's crazy!! We had quiet a mess to clean up too! I haven't hear trees popping like popcorn for quiet a few years. I guess Kentucky got hit REALLY hard.

There are still like 1300 customers here without power and it won't be restored until this saturday!

[scaredmom330]

that same storm hit us here in Northwest Tn. Our power went out for good on Tuesday 1/27..We stayed until Wed morning with no heat, the trees breaking every 5 mins. I live on Reelfoot lake and there are lots of trees. We barely made it out on Wednesday morning, we have no family here in the area, there were no hotel rooms available in the next biggest town, so we went to my mom's summer home in Arkansas, just got back home yesterday. it looked like a war zone here...but so happy you and your dad make it ok. and happy to be home again...

[Cherie762]

Your welcome..its a sad scary situation it happens in the summer sometimes here and its just the oppisite the elderly die from heat stroke  etc,,,but atleast stores are open..they usually have shelters with air conditioning...old folks can be stuborn though some wont leave their home for nothing like in Fla when the hurricanes come.

[pcarsey]

Thanks Cherie! I finally got out of the house today to go stock up on some essential items (gasoline for the generator, food, milk for the baby and diapers). We got home from the grocery store and our power was back on YAYYYYYY!! I just really hope and pray that it stays on! There are still a few thousand people without power but the crews are working 24 hours a day trying to get tress cleared from the lines and the power restored. There is lots of homes with damage caused by fallen trees and limbs but it isn't the worst. I know of two elderly men who have passed away from this cold. It's really sad, one is a relative of a relative (hope that makes sense), so yes it certainly hits home for many of us.

Thank you so much for continuing to care!!

[Cherie762]

Im really glad you heard from your dad he was wise to go to neighboors house its best hes not alone and the fireplace does offer some heat Bless his neighboors for taking him in good people.

have you been out of the house at all ??? I feel bad for people with babies or those not stocked up on their meds.

[pcarsey]

Hi all! I finally heard from my dad! He went to a neighbors house where they have a fireplace. So that was a blessing! All the phone lines were down in that area so he couldn't call out anywhere, and there is no cell phone coverage in that area either.

His electric came back on lastnight but ours is still off today. This makes 4 days so far and no word yet if "when" it will be on for us. We get our electric from a small co-op company so the have limited manpower to get it all restored.

As of yesterday the have labeled our whole are a disaster area now. Red cross is helping tremendously, they have dedicated both the university and the community college as well as the community center as shelters until people get their power restored. Local stores and restaurants are helping with food. We are looking at another storm to come through this week, I just hope it isn't as bad! The electric company is trying to get power restored before the next storm takes place.

On the brightside, the temps seem to be rising this coming week. And Tomorrow it's supposed to be 42 and rainy. The next problem with that is flooding and more chance for black ice during the night hours if temps drop back down.

But we are just praying that it gets better!

Thank you all so much for all the thoughts and prayers!

[twehner5]

I wish you would hear from your Dad!  I hope and pray that he's alright.

Here in WI, it is illegal for power to be shut off from mid November through mid March.  It may be even a little longer than that.  The power should NOT have been shut off of that poor old man's house!

[pcarsey]

Thank you ladies so much! Day 3 with no electric!

Still no word from my dad, the sheriffs office went to check on him, but he isn't home so they can't tell me much more .. grr I have no idea where the stinker is! I'm telling you, if he is safe and near a phone and hasn't called me, two people are going to rumble!

I always thought it was a law that in the winter time they couldn't shut off your gas or electric, or at least those with children or the elderly, but either way, they should have made absolute sure no one was in that house before they turned it off! That is just beyond crazy!

Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers!!
Patty

[Lonelymom]

I will defiantly keep you in my prayers over these rough times!! I will also ask my church to pray for all of the people of north going through rough storms like this.

[flmagi]

This is just awful for you people up there in that cold....and with no electric??!!!!!!
Maybe you could call the police or someone to go check on your Dad? That is just to scary.
These electric companies should send someone out to check on the residents before they ever turn power off. And I'm sorry, but there's something wrong, when there are not laws in place for the elderly to be protected some how. It's just not right.
I'm wishing you some warmer weather and sending prayers.

[Cherie762]

good morning hope you and family are fine....I cant imagine how horrid it must be prayers for your Dad and all the others who are alone.

[Cherie762]

Prayers and warm thoughts sent your way,,,didnt know about it just tuned on weather chanel ,,,we in Detroit are only a degree or so above you must not be getting as much snow the roads are bad but drivable slow.

My husband just said the other day we should make up an emergency box batteries, flashlights water jugs etc...maybe a good idea...wed have to camp infront of fireplace.

[April2]

Wow, I guess I didn't realize how bad things really were. I had read a little in the newspaper but you get a whole other side of things when you hear first hand reports like this. I'm glad you guys are ok. I sure hope the weather turns for the better soon for you guys.

I did read about the old man who died. I guess he was 93 years old and froze to death, poor man. The sad thing is he had the money to pay his electric bill but was 4 months behind on his bills so they set some sort of timer thing on his box but didn't tell him. They said they probably put a note on his door but that he never left the house. They think he may have been suffering from Alzheimer or something because he had plenty of money. I guess he didn't have any family, though. It's got a lot of people upset, that's for sure. They think they should make exceptions for the elderly like that. What a thing to do, to turn off someone's electricity in that kind of weather. How crazy is that? I think some laws need to be changed there.

[pcarsey]

Thanks you all, we are so far safe and sound, not much else we can do but stay in doors where it is warm. I just called the electric company and they said there is over 700 trees reported down so they aren't sure when the power is going to be restored. It seriously sounds like a popcorn maker outdoors here with all the trees falling down! Literally every few seconds!

alienshadow- I'm not sure if they found money or not. That would be the stink!..lol

They have declared one town here a disaster area now. It's taken everyone on by surprise! It's one of those things where they say we are going to get a storm and it never happens.. then when we really do get one no one is prepared because it seems the weather station has "cried wolf"..lol.. too many times.

Thanks again for the good thoughts and prayers!!

I posted pics of the ice and snow so far on my profile.. the trees are actually really beautiful looking with the ice and snow on them! But I could do without them falling on trees..lol

[margypops]

I hope the power is back soon i heard about the storms this morning and thought that a bunch of our Med Help friends would be caught up in it, I have been through a hurricane and a couple of earth quakes so I know how it traumatises one, are your children okay?

[crabby70]

I will prayer for you and your family....I hope the power comes back soon and everything is Ok.....I heard about that man how hirrible....

[alienshadow]

I Wish you guys luck up there be safe.
Also that guy that died didnt they find a bunch of cash in his home that was for the bills??