Snowmageddon Aftermath

I think that in the future the possible winter weather won't be the worst of the worries. Fuel of all kinds can't help but increase in price over the years. That is one of the major reasons that 20 years ago we moved to a place at the edge of town instead of 8 to 12 miles out, or farther. We can walk most places we need to go now, if the weather cooperates, and if the weather is terrible, our route to places like the hospital is short and direct.

I only wanted to know if there were others, like myself, that were affected by the storm of the century on a deeper level. That this monstrosity of weather had caused others to question themselves"

The storm has had a major effect on me in that it woke me to enormous gratitude for my life and what I have, but at the same time woke me up to how slender my safety margin is and how blind I have been to this.

My power went out Friday night and stayed out. I have an all-electric home and no alternate back-up, so the cold soon sapped the battery in my phone and my own energy. The snow was over my knees and my vehicle was stuck. My poultry and rabbits are a good distance from my home and I fell trying to get to them and couldn't get back up. Thought I was a goner!

Well, I finally managed to struggle to my feet and you bet the experience changed me and what I'm gonna do from here on out!

My roof didn't cave in, but my poultry yard has wire and board covering which are caving in. Who knew? Lesson learned includes relocating critters close to house but give up living here? Nope!

AMEN to that! We lived for 20 years in a small town not far from the big city. Not much at all going on. If we wanted "culture" we had to go to the city for it.

When we moved here we thought it would be the same, just a much longer drive to the big city. We thought we would live quietly at our little farm & go into the small town only for church & shopping.

WRONG!

For the first time in my life I became involved in book discussions, symphony (my dd plays violin), world-class Scottish dance, excellent Bible studies at our small parish, & much, much more. The whole family has been able to bloom here in ways we never could in the small town that was way too close to the big city.

There is a reason we call our place "Opportunity Farm!"

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God bless,
Bonnie
Opportunity Farm
Northeast Washington

"While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10

I don't mean to be cruel, but 3 foot of snow does not constitute "snowemageddon". What you have is a lack of preparation and planning and perhaps, unreasonable expectations. I the hospital, etc. is such a concern then maybe the city/suburbs is a better place for you. If you really want to live in the sticks then rethink some things, like transportation, supplies, heat, etc.

Honestly, 3 feet is no biggy. I'd worry more aboutmy roof than my doctor.

Maybe the doctor has a cure for snow?

If we got 3 foot of snow in one night, that would be a pain. Clearly not the end of the world, but a pain.

6 inches here, 8 inches there, which add up eventually to 3 foot drifts, is likewise not a pain at all. Just 'winter' and is not a catastrophe.

We easily get 3 feet of snow here in normal winters (this year less than normal), but it doesn't come all at once. Last year we got a storm with lots of wet, heavy snow. Nowhere near 3 feet, but still barns & outbuildings collapsed. Including my favorite barn.
Our eye doc's office collapsed, too, right in the middle of town. He & the receptionist got out just before the roof came down. Pretty scary!

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God bless,
Bonnie
Opportunity Farm
Northeast Washington

"While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10

Actually it is over 3 feet now (and climbing) and the higher altitudes have it much worse. That may not be a big deal to flatlanders, but in the rural Alleghenies it makes a huge difference. Especially when the roads aren't plowed.

So you got over 3 foot of snow in one dump, like one day there was none, and the next morning, poof, 3+ foot of snow!

Wow that is a lot of snow.

Everything is relative, Lyra! If we received a really hot summer with high humidity, people in our area would start to keel over from heat stroke. Most homes here are built without central air conditioning.

Your area isn't really prepared for the kind of snow that you have received. If it were to become the norm there, then the municipalities would change their strategies and invist in more snow removal equipment.

It is good that you are learning about what you don't want to deal with before you invest in your permanent homestead. I was just complaining to my daughter that I could have used a snow day today! I love to be "stuck" at home!

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~TheMartianChick~

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There's nothing wrong with re-evaluating where you are at. If moving/living closer to a town that has more support structures in times of weather calamities meets your needs better, then do it.
I learned something a long time ago, and that is that you should look reality square in the eye and make a decision based on the facts, not emotions. If you are scared and unsure, you can do things to help with that (like buy bigger equipment, learn to use it, and stock up on essentials) but if this is a practical necessity that you must be near "help" then its a different story.
The way I read this is that this big snow(s) have shown you how tenuous life can be without a great deal of knowledge and fortitude as a HS. I face this on a daily basis, I live by myself and I moved to the country, and help isn't that available. So I know how you feel. And I was a city gal before I made this move and its been a HUGE adjustment starting with having to drive 15 miles to find stores unless I want to rely on the mom-and-pop for a hotdog.
You didn't mention your age, I'm pushing 50 and I can tell you that in 5 years I'll be wanting to be darned sure I can do this lifestyle with sufficient equipment and communication with neighbors and friends or I won't be living where I'm at. I'm getting slower each day, it seems.
For me, the 35" of snow I've had at the farm has been handled with a good snowblower and a shovel. But I've been very sure to have extra everything on hand in case I get snowed in.

First let me say that you are showing great wisdom in reevaluating your situation before you make a life changing move.

We moved out here before we knew just how difficult it could get at times and for the most part, I was very happy with our decision, as was DH. That is until I had a violent allergic reaction to a new medication my Doctor wanted me to try. I will leave out the gorey details, but in between runs to the bathroom and kitchen sink I looked out at the snowstorm and wondered if an ambulance could even get to us. I think that night changed everything even tho DH assured me that no matter what, they'd get to me and get me out, even if they had to call Life Flight (medical evacuation helicopter).

Since then, I've managed to make more local friends, gotten to know the people around here, joined a couple of groups and I help serve a weekly luncheon to the community. We have a great local volunteer fire department with good EMT's who have a wonderful reputation in this area.

But the winters are getting harder the older we get. I can see that already. I was diagnosed with lung cancer this last summer and was immediately thrown into treatment which consisted of daily radiation and weekly chemo. That meant daily trips to the city (45 minutes one way) again, so I'd ride in with DH and stay with relatives or friends until he got off work. It was nothing for us to be gone from home 11-12 hours a day. Very hard. But the treatments are over and according to the Radiologist, the latest CAT scan shows no sign of cancer, thank the Lord, so I'm hoping for a good spring and summer!

It does tend to give one pause and consider reevaluating living conditions once you face something like that tho. A hard winter in the northern states that have to deal with a lot of snow, makes you think twice too.

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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.

You shouldn't even think of living in a rural area if you are that much of a worry-wart.Homesteading is all about being independent and self sufficient.

It's now closing in on 4' in 11 days and it is a big deal in areas that don't get this much snow and the region is all hilly. Thinking things through is not being a worrywart its being practical and trying to make the best decisions possibly weighing in all possibilities. Someone in Pittsburgh died because EMS could not get to him and those who mention medevac and the like, helicopters don't fly in these types of storms and can't land in many areas here due to the inclines. In September there was a emergency a few blocks from my home and Lifelight couldn't get to the site because there was no flat area to land nearby. Please, if you're going to say someone should think just like you do remember we are a large country with many different topographies and climates what is in your area may not be the same an hour away.

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I ask for so little. Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave. Jareth, Labyrinth

Just to clarify, maybe it's a bigger deal on the east side of the Alleghenies, but we here on the NW side deal with this EVERY winter... literally. We have feet at a time because all the snow dumps off the lake as the storms lift over the mountains.

I can guarantee you that if you move somewhere where this is normal... it will actually be easier to get around than where you are now. We just deal with the snow better and all the time. We don't have unplowed roads, we have snow covered roads. The plow will clean the depth off, but the roads won't be clean to the pavement. You just run in 4wd or like my wife in her old Front wheel drive Taurus. A good set of snow tires and that thing has NEVER had a problem in the snow. My 4wd pickup has had more "slips" (while out of 4wd) than her car has.

Do what you feel comfortable with, but don't let a place that you (obviously) don't get much snow in, and how they/you react, let you think that is the norm. I've got a couple feet sitting here now. We've actually been snow covered since End of November... got snow in October but it melted. Between 221 and 340 inches with in the 15 miles around my house last year. We ended up with about 310.

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I'm really surprised at a couple of the responses here. Lyra isn't being unduly concerned. She's using a great deal of wisdom in considering all her options and what she might encounter.

We're all learning new things all the time, based on what we encounter. I've decided it would be best to have a winter chicken coop up closer to the house (but so far that's voted down by DH - compromise, compromise *sigh*). That would eliminate a lot of extra work and worry. Of course the other option would be to get rid of the chickens over the winter (a friend of mine does that).

Lyra you said "My gut says..." Always trust your gut instincts! And I think you're right - this winter has affected a LOT of us. It's been a long, rough haul. You need to do what you feel comfortable with - as we all do.

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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.

I just moved down from Michigans Upper Peninsula where we averaged 200 inches of snow a winter.
There are many, many homesteads and small farms scattered around the countryside up there. You just learn to adapt your techniques is all And yes, as another poster said, you just have steeper pitched roofs up there. Some folks actually kept snowblowers on top of their roofs and would blow the snow off everytime it got deep enough! LOL We chose a house with a gabrel styled roof and thus never had to worry about it.

As to rethinking your original plans.... That's great!! I'm glad this happened for you now BEFORE you got out somewhere you wouldn't of been happy.
We ourselves have rethought our plans several times and will likely continue to do so as we go through the different seasons of life. Good luck!