ICE STORM 2010 are you ready????

I'm located in middle tn, about 50 miles from the alabama line and we're getting it good. It's icy. I'm making all the preparations in case of the loss of power. We've gotten almost an inch of icy snow in about a half hour. digApony

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"Of course there is a light at the end of the tunnel; another train is approaching there". ~ Slavoj Zizek

I"m about 5 - 10 miles South of TN/AL state line. It did icy rain this morning about 9 - enough to make a film on the porch. Now it's snowing.
Weather was predicting this at about 4 pm... guess it's early.

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

NW Tennessee here; storm started later than forecast with a sleet/snow mix, then went almost immediately to snow. Small flakes and about 1/2 inch the first hour, but it has progressed to heavier and wetter snow and picked up significantly in the last 30 minutes. I'd say we have over an inch on the ground now. I'd be thrilled with just snow - it's the ice that would worry me.

But it's warm inside and I just finished making a cheese omelet, homemade sausage and crimini mushroom and shallot gravy; soon it's bedtime for me (I work 12 hour night shifts)

Zoning out in front of The Weather Channel....

~ST

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"Don’t let anyone put you in a little box – that is what coffins are for."
IW @ idiotwriting.wordpress.com
http://sunflowersolacefarm.wordpress.com/

Ours has gone from fissle dust light snow to decent real type snow flakes and coming down like a steady medium rain.

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

Hope you're all safe and warm. Sorry to hear about your DH being away, MOgal; wish your does would have waited for him.

I smiled when someone mentioned people in town complaining that the weather forecasters got them all upset and the storm fizzled out - they'd have been in bad shape and very upset had the storm ended up being bad and them not having warning. I'd rather be prepared and have the storm fizzle out, than not be prepared and get stuck on the highway when it hit hard. Around here, a bad storm could kill you if you weren't prepared for it.

I realize those hit hardest will probably lose power and can't post for awhile, but for those of you who can, please keep us updated on how you're doing.

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A kind word, gesture or deed can mean more to someone than you may ever know. It may even change their life.

Well my son just measured and we are working on 4 inches already edit: from the time of this post we're at 6 inches. haha One of those good ole Southern snow storms! So if you are east or south of me, it's coming your way. (I'm N of Florence, neighbor)

It's still falling heavy and doesn't look like it's going to stop soon. I don't have telly, so I really appreciate this thread. Better to hear from those who are in the midst of it. Weather forcasters don't know what they are talking about. I checked NOAA yesterday and I guessed 9am. It started lightly about 8:30.

I've buttoned down the hatches and I'm ready to ride the storm out. It's actually kinda fun!

digApony

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"Of course there is a light at the end of the tunnel; another train is approaching there". ~ Slavoj Zizek

If you want good light when the electricity goes off....invest in an "Aladdin lamp".

They put out the equivalent of a 60 watt bulb....no hiss, run off K-1 kerosene or lamp oil. They will also put out a pretty fair amount of heat.

More types of warm clothing and a better understanding of how to properly dress for the cold (even after living northward for most of my life).

Im glad everyones doing ok. Keep posting!!

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"The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you."

Thanks, Shepherd. The babies are doing well but I've decided I'll bring them into an unheated room tonight and tomorrow night as we are supposed to get down to single digit temps then. The mama hasn't bagged up as I'd like but you take what you get. Thank goodness for milk replacer, right?

DH's job as a computer software trainer requires frequent travel and he may have to go to Winnipeg next week. He says the people he works with up there are super but he's not too keen on facing the weather. Just hope he can get home safely before the storm hits in NC due to his flight change there. I'm prepared mentally and physically for his absences but sure could use a bit more firewood.

Oh I never trust forecasts. A lot of people here listened to the cynisism and we've got a good 6 inches already. Cars are at a stand still on the main highways, bumper to bumper... the average is an hour to go 1/2 mile.

I got up early this morning and filled the tub with water and filled the lamps with kerosene, etc.

I'm with you, I'd rather have the them say I told you so! Everyone take care.
digApony

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"Of course there is a light at the end of the tunnel; another train is approaching there". ~ Slavoj Zizek

Good you're well prepared digApony. Our forecasters are normally very good here and right on the money but last week's "snow flurries" turned out to be a blizzard! We weren't prepared for that and everyone got caught by surprise - not happy when that happens.

We're always prepared from the standpoint of food, feed for the chickens (usually), dogs and cats, water (to a degree), supplies, etc., but if a major storm's heading in, I want to have some advanced notice. I'm glad this storm was being predicted ahead of time in order to get people prepared for it.

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A kind word, gesture or deed can mean more to someone than you may ever know. It may even change their life.

Thanks Sheperd. I was raised in N Michigan in a very remote and rural area, so I have learned to keep grain, food, etc in stock. Eventhough my children lived in rural TN all of their lives, they still don't seem to get it. My youngest who is helping me with an alternative heat source today, wanted to go for a joy ride in the snow. haha! I don't think they realize how serious it can be; even deadly.

Our news and weather source here seems to cater to business; or it seems to me to be that way. Business wants to stay open. So many people went to work today and my ex-husband got stuck in quite a traffic jam today until he could break away on the back roads.

My boss wasn't happy about me not coming in today, but I drive over 60 miles one way and NOAA (sp?) said storm, so I stayed home. Good thing hey?

It's nice talking to you. I'm ready for the power to go out, no battery back up for the computer though. I can finish crocheting my afghan and stay warm at the same time.

Stay warm and most of all enjoy! digApony

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"Of course there is a light at the end of the tunnel; another train is approaching there". ~ Slavoj Zizek

At 245 pm it is still snowing here. Have already got 8 inches and the end is not in sight. Our weather man told us to expect 6 to 12 inches. If it is snowing like this all night we will have over 12 inches. I went out on the back porch and saw a bird that was picking at a vine to get some food so I went over and bought a sac of chicken scratch to feed them. I usually have some but I forgot to buy some the other day. Another senior moment.

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God must have loved stupid people because he made so many of them.

The only real bummer on losing power is losing the internet. Almost all of our power losses are in the winter so refrigeration, our big power consumption, is not an issue. For lighting without AC power we have flashlights that have 100 LED, use four AA batteries and last a long time - they're very bright and great to use. I have some of these setup in places in our cottage that are not wired for electric just using them as regular lighting.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa

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SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids

Yeaaaa! DH caught an earlier flight from Columbia SC to Charlotte and then another earlier flight to St. Louis. Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, he'll be in St. Louis around 6 p.m. central time and will miss the storm when it reaches NC. We've gotten nothing but the cold, thank goodness.

Prayers for the everybody still in the path of the storm and those already affected by it. Our noon news weather lady said it wasn't as bad as earlier thought it was going to be even in the southern parts of our area, even though it was bad enough for some schools to close down there.

My son just measured 7 inches... it's freezing rain, the temperature is dropping and the sun is on it's way out... I think we're getting the worst of this storm here in mid tn. I heard a few days ago that mid tn near the alabama line would get the worst...I think they are right. We're doing okay though, even if the power goes out. Stay warm everyone... digApony ps it's good snowman snow or sledding... I think I'll get a couple garbage can lids and show my son how we used to sled in the old days! Time to have fun.

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"Of course there is a light at the end of the tunnel; another train is approaching there". ~ Slavoj Zizek

sounds as if it's getting you digApony ..

or stuff stopped about noon, but I think it's suppose to start again any time now. Though looking at the hytop radar, it does look green, but not so much other. We'll see what it comes up with next.

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

SNOW SNOW SNOW AND LOTS OF IT

we got upped to 5-8 inches with ice

my bro in the mts. is upped to 12-14 inches with ice

BLECK! come back summer and sun

all animals bedded down, water supply checked and prepped for power outage (fingers crossed we don't lose it, but if it continues like this it probably will)

NC should shut down soon..the entire state. We can't handle 5-8 inches..LOL
I think the state has 1 snow plow in my area.

OH, FarmerChick, now I'm really glad DH caught those earlier flights! Hope the weather forecasting folk are too enthusiastic with their prognostications and this has all just been a good exercize for all ya'll in the way.