For those in line for the next major storm, how are your preparations?

[triguy46]

Here in Oklahoma, we have a major winter storm headed right for us, 36 hours out. forecast calling for .5 to 1" ice, then 6-10 snow. High winds. Buh-bye electricity. How are your preparations?

I've got both tractors full of fuel, all vehicles full, generator full plus 5 gallons, 2 kerosene heaters with 15 gallons of fuel. Enough odds and ends in food, not really worried about that. Just keeping house warm enough to keep pipes moving.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Be safe. Watch out for falling branches.

[triguy46]

2. I forgot to mention the chainsaw is full of gas, sharpened, ready to go...

7 years ago this happened and the tops breaking off of 75 year old pecan trees sounded like cannons. Very disconcerting.

[virgogal]

3. Good luck. The ice is worse than the snow. Stay safe.

[MercutioATC]

4. These are favorites of mine.

Just good to have around. light/heat output is variable by the number of wicks used at a time.



https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/emergency_supplies/nuwick_120_hour_candles.htm

[triguy46]

5. This is a link to our electric co-op's outage sight.

http://69.27.134.101:82/

As of right now, zero outages, but come 24 hours from now, I expect the worst. They've updated forecast to less freezing rain, .25 to .5 ice, and only 4-5 snow. Oh how I pray this passes.

[stopschoolpaddling]

6. Getting ready this time

Last year, the kids came home from school at noon, storm on the way, I made an extra trip to the grocery store, that was about it. There was no big media warning that I can remember making any impression on me whatsoever. Ice started to fall so hard and fast but I still didn't grasp it. I blew up an air mattress and me and the kids slept on the floor in the living room next to the wood stove, just in case. All that night it fell thick and too heavy, the quiet night turned into crackling explosions as one branch after another crashed to the ground. 6 am was it, everything shut down and went black, it was eerie. We lived the next 16 days without electricity. Nobody could get in or get out, the two mile gravel road to the blacktop was blocked by entire trees every 12 feet or so. It was incredible. So in answer to your question, preparations are in place!!!
We are in Northern Central Arkansas. I got 10 gallons of gas for the generator we bought last year and tried to start it up with no luck so I took the extra one out of box, it is brand new, and tried that one and it worked. I left it in the barn for now. I have 4 bottles of propane for the gas camp-stove. Rechargeable lantern is charging. Flashlights for small flashlights. Brought half a rick of wood to the porch from behind the barn with the wheelbarrow. Plenty of chicken scratch, dog food, cat food and sheep food and hay. Oh yea, I have some water for us but not that much. Last year our water didn't start to lose pressure until the day before the lights came back on but I should probably fill up some extra water jugs if I can find any. Am I forgetting anything?
One mom, one grandma and three kids ages 6,7,and 8

[triguy46]

8. Good luck. I think its headed your way.

[triguy46]

7. Thursday 4PM update. 32 degrees and raining.

This could get ugly.

[stopschoolpaddling]

9. It's here.

Whoa, my friend's children came over to play and I took them home at eight. Then I sat and talked with their grandmother and since we could talk for hours, time passed. At one point I saw slush on the porch and we were going to leave so I went to warm up the truck and saw that the road was still just dirt and gravel. Ten more minutes I said but it turned in 30 because I forgot about the storm. Then suddenly I looked out and said we had to go. It was hard to see because the first time I looked at the road I thought it looked white but upon further inspection it wasn't. This time it was white and the snow was coming down. "Everyone in the car we have to leave now", I cried out. Not a minute wasted we drove the 3 miles home on the gravel. At first I was nervous, "Oh no, I've gone and screwed up now", I thought at first and then I thought "angels will push us home if they have to" and the truck never slipped once and made it up hill without a hitch. So here we are safe and sound watching the Dallas Mavericks play ball and staying warm by the fire. Hope everyone else is safe and will stay that way.

[tango-tee]

10. Stay safe!

I live in Germany and am a city gal for the time being.

When we lived in Minnesota the winter storms were really something. Although Bavaria has been getting lots of snow this past week (and I fell flat on my face on the way to work after stepping on a patch of ice), after Minnesota this is a cake walk over here. A balmy -4°F.

To all of you "out there": Take care!