Ice Storm

[Ariana]

Reminds me of a big ice storm we had several years ago.
Power went out... ah, won't be long...
Called a couple hours later and couldn't even get through.
Found out later that evening that it was massive, and basement started flooding. Only an inch at the pump, but was spreading quick, so my father and I ran in town, (15 min drive), to get a generator, while my brother and mother took turns bailing out the basement. All we could get was 1 500W generator. Last one in the store and all other stores were out.
Went back home and plugged in the sump pump.
We slept that night with lots of blankets and comforters.
Next day, my father and I ran to Toronto, (3.5 hours away), and came back with a 3500W generator.
I rigged up a reverse plug and we used it to power the house. We couldn't power everything at once, but could keep the house comfortable, and save the food, and bring in a few other family members.
8 days later, we got our power back. Some places were still a few days away.

I'm going to post a separate thread about powering a house with a generator.




That's Canada, unless you go too far north, and northern US. Hot summers, cold winters, wet springs, and colorful falls.By the end of summer, we're looking forward to cooler temperatures, but by the end of winter (or the middle), we're looking forward to the warmer weather.

I used to live in Northern Canada and moved to Southern Canada the year of the ice storm. I remember driving to the grocery store wondering why it was empty :: I literally had no idea why people were freaking out. 20 years later I get it! Up North we had a storm with windchills of -80 degrees celcius (-112F I think). Everyone was smart enough to have a woodstove to supplement the oil furnaces so everyone was safe. A few trees landed on rooves but most everyone was fine.

[Mike]

I used to live in Northern Canada and moved to Southern Canada the year of the ice storm. I remember driving to the grocery store wondering why it was empty :: I literally had no idea why people were freaking out. 20 years later I get it! Up North we had a storm with windchills of -80 degrees celcius (-112F I think). Everyone was smart enough to have a woodstove to supplement the oil furnaces so everyone was safe. A few trees landed on rooves but most everyone was fine.

We have some relatives who live up in Northern Ontario. They are generally prepared for their weather and power outages. More people need to prepare for things better.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I close if schools close. That is rare, so when they close, it's bc the roads are bad and usually closed or no travel advised. They will actually ticket drivers at that point, so i just close and hopefully everyone stays home

[LysesKids]

We have some relatives who live up in Northern Ontario. They are generally prepared for their weather and power outages. More people need to prepare for things better.

Some of us either don't have the $$ for extras and in my case, I also live in a manufactured home... can't have a wood stove put in because of codes & I don't have a fireplace nor anywhere to store a small generator.

I went thru the ice storm here 2 years ago & we were without power for 5 days; I ended up in an extended stay hotel 30 minutes away because of extreme negative temps (yes, I had to close the childcare because of no power, but then everything else was closed too including stores, offices etc)... it was either that or go to the shelter that everyone else packed into.

I left 48 hrs into trying to stay in a cold dark house (down comforters and thinsulate clothing can only do so much) I do have a Grill, camp lights and heater meals (back up stash), but in -20 and you have to pick when to give up