Northeast Ice storm - everyone OK?

[Freedom]

Nope, still over 100,000 with no power. Spoke with one of my cousins today, in Kingston, NH; word is, they will be lucky to have power returned by Christmas! He and his wife, along with their 2 daughters, 2 sons in law, and 4 grandchildren, are all camped out at a friend's house, a friend who has power. Most of NH has well, so with no electricity, the pump won't work, and there is no water, for things like flushing.

He said it is a very organized effort. First the snow plows come through, and move all the debris to the sides of the road, so the road is open and accessible. (There is no snow to speak of, they are not plowing snow). Next the wood cutters come through, removing dangling trees, limbs and branches from the wires and poles. Finally, the electric company cherry pickers come through, getting the wires reconnected. It is a long slow process, in the cold, and with 3 inches of snow predicted overnight tonight.

I finally reached some cousins for the first time today on their cell phones. They have finally made it to friends or hotels where they can recharge the cells. They said they feel like pioneers!

[Daisy and Delilah]

We've heard so much about this down here. Thanks for the update from all you guys in that area. Those pictures are unreal, Beth. Stay safe and warm!!! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[Cinder & Smoke]

They have finally made it to friends or hotels
where they can recharge the cells.

What everyone should have:

A "Vehicular Charging Cable" for your cell phone!

Instead of needing a regular electric company power-line to charge your phone,
a Car Charger cable lets you use you car or truck cigarette lighter socket
to recharge your cell's battery.
Usually an hour or two is all it takes for a full recharge.

[Karen]

There is no terrible beauty like an ice storm
The world is covered in spun silver and glass
Humble weeds, long dead for the season
Become art nouveau sculptures of curve and shape
Trees becomes clouds of spun lace
And pines droop elegantly in their arboreous agony
Every thing exposed now sparkles and glints
In the sun that inevitably follows
And blinds us to the danger
Until the heart-wrenching crack of limbs
And necklaces of crystal break and
Shatter the power grid as they fall
And the stillness that follows the storm
Is breathtaking
Until the rip of the chainsaw
Grinds us back to reality
And the aftermath