Ice Storm

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:49 pm

You've heard: If this don't beat all.

Well, I think this one does. Last night, at one could hear all around the crack and fall of one tree branch after another along with the occasional blue-green light in the sky of another power transformer biting the dust. Really, quite an apocalyptic experience. This crap has been coming down and building up on the trees since Saturday. And it is still coming down. So far, I have had no major damage .... yet.

Last night I volunteered to get some stuff from the grocery store. When I got back, a big branch was sitting where my truck had been parked.

OldsRecording · Post by **OldsRecording** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:37 pm

Looks like you heard "The still, small voice of God" on that one. We've had a bunch of ice up here, but not nearly that bad. Just remember, "This, too, shall pass"

JCalkin · Post by **JCalkin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:53 pm

We had one of those real bad ice storms in Vermont a few (about 7, I think) years back while I was living there. It crippled much of the state for days, some of it for weeks.

Your area looks to be pretty heavily wooded. It's safest to assume at this point that entire trees will come down (sometimes splitting down the center, along the grain of the wood), even healthy and young ones. Plan accordingly.

I remember just how much that sucked. Take care of yourself and keep your eyes trained up for falling debris. Let us know how you fare.

-Josh

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:26 am

I have a three-brick heater in the partial basement. It doesn't keep the place WARM, but there is enough heat to keep the place un-cold. A small camping sized generator so the son can do some video gaming. Two propane laterns and two hooks to hang them up in the main room; and I always keep at least six propane refills on hand. Large and small LED flashlights with plenty batteries. Six of those lamp oil filled plastic emergency lamps.

A little 5-inch black and white TV and three 12-volt gel cells charged up. When broadcast goes entirely digital, that will become a curiosity.

** Lucky for me, the tuba runs entirely on adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

And still no damage other than the yard fence getting smashed in multiple places. Which is surprising considering all the tall old trees around here.

The estimates are that it will be 7 to 10 days before power is back on for everyone. I'm sure this will get old and aggravating very soon.

The official report was two inches of ice. I believe it. The whole time, the temperature was "perfect" to get maximum accumulation on trees and wires. Clearing the fallen branches from the drive and road, it took longer to shovel away the ice that shattered off the branches than it took to cut up and carry away the wood. Maybe if the clouds go away soon, I think it would be great to see the sky with most of the city lights out.

SplatterTone · Post by **SplatterTone** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:01 am

Oh yeah ...
If somebody wants that '79 Gran Lemans, show up with a trailer and its yours. I hate to see it go to a salvage yard. It needs paint and interior. Transmission has a stuck check ball or blown filter screen -- the forward clutch won't engage. Engine is good. All the glass is there (I hope). Tires have less than 150 miles on them.

Rick F · Post by **Rick F** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:55 am

Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri really got hit with this ice storm. Worst in the history of the state of OK I hear. Hopefully folks without power can keep warm.

Ice Storm Pictures from Owasso, Oklahoma

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:42 pm

Hello all,

Finally after a few days without power it came back this morning. We live north of Tulsa and just outside the Owasso city limits. Our power comes from one of the local electrical Co-op's. They estimated 9000 people without power but said their biggest obstacle was approx 3000 fallen power poles! It has been a challenge with two small kids but it is over for this time! Our trees are too small for real problems but across the Tulsa area the damage is amazing... If anyone needs firewood come out and help with the clean up!

I uploaded a handful of pics to Flickr - CLICK HERE!

And a couple videos I took while driving near our house

CLICK HERE! and then HERE!

Happy Holidays, Tim

PS: Be sure to check the related videos in the lower right corner!

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:06 pm

I was in Tulsa yesterday...man, oh man...

Sad to see Mohawk Park. Great disc golf courses there, but I'd bet they're both trashed pretty well. Streetlights out all over, businesses closed, trees ruined.

We had a doozy here in KC in 2002. The final straw before my divorce!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:47 am

When the temperature gets below 74 degrees Fahrenheit here, people think they are going to freeze to death!