North Carolina Survivors of ICE STORM 2002

Xandria

Hey everyone,

For those of you out there in N.C. .. and with out phone or power. I know how you feel. I just got power on at 4 today. After 4 days with out power and 3 days without phone.

If you can post.. let me know how you are doing.

We lost everything in the refrigerator. The Charlotte, Durham, Salisbury, etc. are among several of the hardest areas hit. Spilt, downed branches, trees, powerlines etc. I know there are still people out there w/out power and heat, etc. Downtown Charlotte had icicles falling from the tops of the buildings. Trees crashing into homes and blocking driveways. One tree missed a 2 yr old boy by 7 inches as it crashed into his nursery. The whole city is in a state of emergency. An they have now the National Guard going door to door to check on people who don't have access to phone or radio.

Heaters, blankets, diapers, food, etc are being requested by the Red Cross.

Hang in there.. and if you are in my area and need a hot shower or wish to be in a heated area let me know. You can come over.

Xandria

Edited by - xandria on 8 December 2002 20:13:51

Undecided

Everything was fine here in Eden NC. The ice was frozen when it fell so didn't stick on the trees.

Ken P.

wasasister

Thanks for the update.

I have a good friend in the Raleigh-Durham area. In fact, he works at Research Triangle Institute, do you know that area? I have not heard from him in several days. Is that area also without power?

Wasa/appreciating the sunny and mild Pacific Northwest

betweenworlds

Hey Xandria,

So sorry about your power loss. Luckily we never lost ours, flickered on and off but stayed on. Trees were down all over the place though. One lady here in Greensboro died after she and her huband ran their generator inside their house. THe husband is fine but they don't know if their 14 year old daughter will live or not. They are treating her in a hyperbaric chamber to try to get oxygen back into her cells. Here are a few pics I snapped of our place right after the storm:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=41838&site=3

Edited by - betweenworlds on 8 December 2002 21:1:16

Xandria

Wasasister,

The Durham area is one of the areas that is still with out power. We have a friend up there and she stated they expect the power on by the middle of next week!!!! They were going to do the same to us, but because there are a lot of elderly people here they have made it a "priority". I feel bad for those who have children and there are some people actually with out water due to not having electricity to run thier well pumps.

Duke power is very overwhelmed with all the people's needs. Too many trees have fell taking blocks of lines with them.

One person was raking his yard.. and there was a live line (4000 volts) he was very blessed the line was well insulated. Otherwise he'd been one crispy person. Too many people are going hungry b/c they lost all thier food or cannot cook food. Shelters do provide but it is getting the word to people without radios and phones. It would be wise to send a mobile response team that can provide meals to people who have no way to get to a shelter or are home bound.

I have spoken to many older people who have not eaten in two or more days. Or some who are surviving on hardly anything. PJ's only go so far and dehydration is a foe.

Many have been moved out or taken in by nieghbors w/ heat and power. But there are still a number of elderly and familys in need.

It is a hit and miss with the grids.. Duke Power and other companies have to make sure the trunks are sound. Then they have to be sure there are no voltage problems. One lady had a surge that destroyed all her appliances and household things such as tv's. Now her home has to be re-wired and her insurance has to cover the damage.

Another problem is people with generators, they don't know that crews are in the area and the power running through can harm the workers.

Also, there are still limbs dangling in areas .. I have one I know of on Park Road.. it dangling over traffic. If it falls it will kill someone or seriously injure them. I have called 911 yesterday twice and again we spoke to Duke Power.. they said, it was the city's issue. Then we spoke to two police officers. Then my husband called and explained it again. An the excuse he got for inaction was that they were so busy with calls and traffic ( due to the football game here at the Stadium.) Yada yada yada. The point is this is dangerous. They have had already one person killed by a falling limb.. which pierced his vehicle, killing the driver instantly.

So there is still a lot of danger out there. An the city has juggled school closings, delayed openings and so forth.

211 is United Way information for shelters. An resources.

Be Safe.

Xandria

Rogue_Protecter

My folks live in the Denton area..hr north of charlotte...they finally got power back friday evening..They said alot of roads are still closed becuase of fallen trees...

WildHorses

Wasa, I live next to Raleigh. The Research Triangle Institute is maybe 45 minutes from me. From what I hear on the news it can be up to eight days before power is restored in all areas.

I was fortunate because I was only without power for 36 hours. Some people who live in the same town as I just had their power turned on tonight.

I think the south needs to take lessons from the north and put the power lines underground. Then we wouldn't lose power everytime we have an ice storm or hurricane.

Shari

Xandria

Between,

I did not get the cool pic's of my car incased in two inches of ice. I was too busy freezing my backside off.. and trying to survive. lol. Cool pictures.

In Steel Creek which is south of Mecklenburg County ( I live in the S.Park area). People are taking river water to flush toliets and have not had the opportunity to bathe.

Kerosene Lamps are being requested as donations. Due to the fact that we may be in for another storm. They are still not sure on which direction Tuesday's storm will take.

My husband and I were interviewed by a reporter at the YMCA today. He was interviewing people who were still without power and taking showers at the Y because of it.

We will see if we are in his story /or not. But he imparted alot of information to us. Even the Weather Channel is not too sure which direction this storm is going to go. Either it is going to be real light or be a baby of what we just had with the Ice.

I am leaning towards snow.

HOPE Springs Eternal.. stranger things have happen. Besides.. that is less scary than ice again.

Xandria

betweenworlds

So sorry Xandria :(

I know that so many are having to rough it now. My heart goes out to all those having to deal with this. I feel so bad for the elderly that you mention...it's so awful to think of these people who are so helpless going without food.

My sister's power finally got turned back on today. She lives down in the southern part of the state in Tryon, NC. I thank God everyday that we were so fortunate...I know we were among the lucky.

Take care of yourself and let us know if you make the news :)

Xandria

Hey Between,

He did not fully quote everything in context. We said it is hard for people to hear about others who've had power restored. Because they are freezing and some had families to think of, yet it has brought people together.

I was quoted on the front page story. Weather continued on 10 A. " People get edgy after so many days," Shanna said. They craved a hot meal that didn't come out of a McDonald's bag. They finally got the water by showering at the Y.

We said, ( again out of context) We craved a hot meal and we can only eat so many hamburgers, like so many that are with out power we forget what a luxury it really is. We also told him, we thought we were Spooning Champions.

You have to have a sense of humor about things like this.

The numbers have changed again.

They trail Duke Power's Progress

Duke Power had 2.1 million out at the start of this.

CP&L had 1.2 million

Anderson, SC- Thursday night- 23,000 Sunday night -0

Burlington 60,000 Sunday-31,600

Chapel Hill 38,000 21,100

Charlotte- 285,000 145,300

Durham 107,000 31,600

Gastonia 58,000 37,000

Just to name a few...

By Sunday they got over half of the people back on. Which is a feat in itself.. many power workers came from other cities and counties .. to our aide. An some even gave thier lives..to have power back on.

North Carolina Survivors of ICE STORM 2002

Share this