Blizzard 2010

This is going to be a rather long post.

Being without power for 67-68 hours leaves you nothing to do, but write.

So if your interested in what happened in my neighborhood. What was going through my mind. And how the neighbors really pulled together. Get something to drink and read on.

Day 1 - Saturday, February 6, 2010

Friday after work, I had stopped for lunch meat and filled four gallon jugs with water. Glad I did.

I figured I would wait until Saturday morning to fill the tub. Sorry I didn't fill it Friday night.

I woke up at 2:55 AM. Yes I know the exact time because I looked at the clock. At 3:00 AM there was a loud pop and the lights blinked. They came right back on only for a second. The second loud pop, and we lost power completely. Then there was more pops and a green glow of light turning night into day.

I have a transformer in front of my house and I knew that is what caused all of this.

I called the electric company and got the automated recording to report the outage and went back to bed.

The green flashes of light continued along with a loud hum. Now I called the police non emergency number to report it. I noticed the street lights were on on the street behind and in front.

I went back to bed and slept for maybe an hour and got up and turned the fireplace on.

I needed coffee. I drink at least a pot it not more coffee a day. I knew that if I didn't have coffee, I would have a major headache. I didn't need that with the headache we were already going through.

So I boiled water. Placed a strainer over the coffee pot, inserted filter, added coffee grounds and slowly poured the hot water over the grounds. This was about the worst coffee I have ever had, but it was coffee and I did enjoy it. This is what I did throughout the outage.

Later in the morning, I called my friend who lives just down the street from me. Go figure, she had electric, cable and running water.

I kept up with shoveling my front walk. I also do in snow. I have a bad back and if I wait until the snow is over, I'd never be able to shovel.

I kept calling the electric company automated system. First power would be restored by 2:PM. Then power would be restored Sunday by 6:AM. Then they had no idea.

Made my way up to Bobbie's to shovel her walk. She was either going to have to come to my house. Or she would have to go to her son's house. While I was shoveling her walk, imagine my surprise, when our least favorite neighbor came to help.

When I got home, I called her and told her to call her son. I knew she would never be able to make the step up onto my property. I got alittle forceful with her telling her she had to go. The entire City of Cape May and the entire Wildwoods were without electric and we would be low on their priority list. She was finally able to get a hold of her son, who couldn't make it over. But a police car showed up and took her to his house. That was a relief. I would have only worried about her in her house and would have figured out a way to get her here.

I lost the top of my holly tree. The branch is laying on my neighbor's fence. Don't know if it damaged the fence and at this point, don't really care. The fence in my mom's back yard is laying in the neighbor's yard.

The fireplace is keeping the living room nice and warm. The other rooms are cooler, but bearable.

I hadn't seen the kittens since around 4:AM. Another thing to worry about.

Around 6:PM I was getting really tired and laid down on the couch. But whenever I heard voices, I would get up to see who it was. then I notice one house on the block had electric. Electricity was so close. Yet so far away.

Checked out back for the kittens. Ralphy made his way back, but I haven't seen Yipper. Ralphy came in and had a nice hearty meal.

Slept on the sofa with one cat on my chest and the other between my legs. Now I'm a big girl and the sofa isn't big enough for the three of us. Was able to get some sleep.

Day 2 - Sunday, February 7, 2010

Still without electric.

With no electric, most of my neighbor's have been out shoveling and getting their cars dug out. Some have ventured out on the road to the store.

I have my car dug out, but didn't go anywhere. Didn't see the need.

We all keep calling the electric company. We haven't seen a electric truck yet

I called the Township Manager to see if she could do anything for us. I knew it would be a quick fix. She called me back and said she reported our outage to the emergency management and was told there were 100 trucks heading to this County. I hate to say this, but I begged her to help us out.

My neighbor's boyfriend's nephew works for the electric company. He was supposed to come around. He never made it.

At this point, we just want to see an electric truck. Something to give us hope.

I started bringing snow inside to melt so I can at least flush the toilet.

This is very boring. When I'm not shoveling, I'm pacing the house. When I'm not pacing, I'm reading.

When one neighbor goes outside to shovel, we all go out to shovel and help one another shovel. Those who don't have heat are invited to someone who does, but it always seems no one wants to leave their home.

Was able to make my way to the propane tank. I was starting to worry that I would run out. It's at 65 lbs. That should do me for a while.

To add more insult to injury, they are saying we will get hit with another storm Tuesday into Wednesday with at least another foot of snow. Oy.

Called the electric company yet again. There was a little hope. The automated voice said power should be restored by February 9 at 11:59 PM. Called a friend all excited and she said that was disgraceful. I asked her why. That was tomorrow. She said, 'dear. Today is Sunday." Well shit. I guess without power, I forgot what day it was.

I called the electric company back and actually spoke to a real person. She said she wasn't sure when power would be restored, but they were in the area today evaluating the situation. I told her me and my neighbor's were outside most of the day shoveling and we didn't see any trucks. She said they may not have been on our street.

she was really nice. I'm sure she was getting bombarded with angry callers. At one point, I asked her to lie to me and say power would be restored tomorrow. She laughed and told me she couldn't say that. Again I resorted to begging. I told her I wouldn't hold her to it and wouldn't call yelling. We just want a little hope. Again she said she couldn't say that. When I hung up, I cried.

Called my boss and told him I wouldn't be in. He understood.

He had lost his electric the same time I did, but was restored the next morning.

Day 3 - February 8, 2010

Checked my freezer and my food was starting to thaw. I put everything in zip lock bags and buried it in the snow. Kept my milk out on the back deck to keep that good.

My friend on the street behind me called from Florida. Her and her mom had left Friday morning. She said her brother went to her house to make sure everything was okay. I told her I would call when we got power.

More and more people are leaving. The ones who don't have heat and won't come over. And those who do have heat, but can't take another day of not have electric. My list is growing for people to call when power is restored.

I walked to my friends house down the street this morning. I had a real cup of coffee and took a shower. I cannot express enough how good that felt.

The one thing I've missed the most through this whole ordeal was TV. Notice the 'was'. I don't care about the TB anymore. I can do without TV. I just want power. At least I would be able to do stuff around the house.

The worst is night time. I've been reading, but that just isn't doing anything for me.

It's lonely. I live alone, but there is always people around. There is only four houses left with people.

My neighbor called to tell me she spoke with her boyfriend. His nephew is supposed to come around. On his time. And to call when I see the truck. She has went to stay with a friend.

I was on the phone with my friend when I saw flashing light. Finally and electric truck. I went running outside yelling, "wait. Don't leave. Come back." I called me the neighbor, but was so excited I miss dialed. When I hung up the phone rang and I heard someone yelling, 'it's an electric truck.' I told them I would call back. I had to call Jen. When I called Jen she said to get outside and tell him to wait. That Jen would be right here. I told her he was backing out and I wouldn't get out there in time. She hung up and called her mom and dad, who went running out in socks and no coat. He said he had to go help a friend but be right back. Our hearts sunk. We were afraid he wouldn't come back.

He did an hour later.

It was the transformer in front of my house. He got in the bucket, Raised it to the transformer. Flipped something. The lights went on. We all hollered at the top of our lungs. He lowered the bucket and was out of the bucket within ten minutes.

When he walked around the side of the truck I ran up to him to give him a hug and thank him. The other women in the neighborhood did the same.

When we went inside, we turned every light on in the house. Flushed the toilet. Ran the water. Grinning from ear to ear.

So around 9:30 last night, we finally got electric.

I didn't go into work today. There was just to much to do before the next storm.

Bobbie made her way home and is happy.

I will make sure I fill the tub before I go to bed tonight.

The storm was supposed to dump a foot of snow. It has been upgraded to 18 inches.

My neighborhood was never close knit. We would say hi how ya doing and be on our way. This ordeal has brought us together. We have helped on another. We have taken them into our homes. We have offered and given water or food if needed. Help to shovel. We know or we should know now, that we can count on each other in a time or need. Or even not in a time of need. Just because.

It had to take the February 6, 2010 blizzard for us to realize this.