We are in a state of emergency here in Mass. Two large blizzards are expected to converge this evening and last the night.
No one is allowed to be out driving on the streets since 12:00 noon today. The governor stated.. "If caught on the roads without a valid reason like wife is having a child, $500 fine or 1 year in jail".
Public transportation has been cancelled at about 3:00.
We are getting different weather reports depending on which news station you are watching. On the tv,they keep showing the streets of Boston with no cars on the streets. This is not unlike the blizzard of 78 when there was a driving ban. I was on the job stationed on a highway ramp with orders that no one was allowed to leave the highway. The ramp in Boston where I was stationed was to the FBI building. I did let all of those guys get off the highway. I don't know what happened to all the other other vehicles that were not allowed to leave the highway. Most people complied and there were not that many vehicles out during those days. The no driving ban in 78 lasted for about 5 days as I recall. I do recall that the National Guard was on duty also and that they were confiscating 4 wheel drive vehicles that they stopped people with. I do know one guy that this happened to and when he got it back, it had a blown up busted rear end.
I went out yesterday and got plenty of food, water and supplies. We are expected to lose power this evening. They have said it so often that it is almost like a promise. I have a wood stove for back up thank God.
I know you have your family secure, sounds like you have all the bases covered. You stay safe, too many nuts out there. Did the no power thing for five days while living in TN in 94, put in a pilot light hot water heater after that one. No problem with staying warm, closed off the entire house except the bedroom, bath and kitchen. Used blankets to do that. Coffee was one the gas range, food stayed cold in the snow bank on the north side of the house, cooked everything up on the grill that was in the freezer after it got soft. Just need to keep an eye out for the butt heads that are going to roam around looking for an easy mark!
Quote from: Ecode70D on 2013-02-08 16:16... I was on the job stationed on a highway ramp with orders that no one was allowed to leave the highway.
WTF? Were they just supposed to sit on the road & freeze? ???
ECODE,
It is good to be north of you! Where I am in Vermont, we are expected to only get 18"-24" out of this storm. I have a back up generator, so we will be fine. I pray you and your family stay safe. Our roads are full of flat landers heading to the ski area even with the storm :075:
Stay safe,
Tim :unitedstates:
Hope things don't get too bad your way..I'll be watching the news. I think my sister that lives a few miles down the road should be in their Florida home by now. If you lose power, give us a buzz when you get back on. Stay warm and safe
Rich
wow, I keep hearing about it. But it doesn't mean anything until you know (or kind of) the guy that it is happening to.
I'm in Connecticut near the shore, it's about 2 Am, we have got 12 inches on the ground and the storm has another 8 hours to go. Wind is blowing like hell, I've got a 3 foot drift in my driveway. Plenty of food in the house, all is well hope the rest of the New England, New York,& Jersey guys are good too.
Lou,
I am in the heart of Vermont, we only have about 12" right now, but it is only 7:00 am. Keep safe Lou, Ecode, etc.
Tim :unitedstates:
Good luck, I hope you make it through this one without too many problems. Just from what I've seen on the news it looks bad.
The nuclear power plant in Plymouth, one town over from Jay (ecode70D)lost power last night and went into auto shut down...no danger, but no power either. Hope they are not out for too long and everybody prepared for this as they should have with all the advanced warning.
Six Hours of snow blowing is almost as bad as block sanding! Lol
Tim :unitedstates:
Well we got 38 inches of snow, 5 foot high drifts. I'm the last house on a short dead end street so we'll see a somwplow sometime in early May The powers is still on so all is well. The snow is a pita, but it is rather pretty.
Sometime in may...funny, sorta. Glad you have power.
Tim..your young...6 hrs of snowblowing would be followed by a call to the paramedics for most of us here.
Hope our friends in Mass. are doing ok. I just happened to remember that aside from Jay (Ecode70D), we have another member from Mass.who does some occasional posting. Sorry I can't remember his tag.
Rich
Rich,
You are right. But, some days it seems like if I'm not complaining, I'm not saying anything at all! Lol. Besides I just found out that I have two more Grand children on the way! :003: If that doesn't make you feel old, nothing will! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Lou!
Thanks,
Tim
I'd sure like to hear something from Jay. His area near Plymouth, Mass. was the hardest hit. The good news is according to an article I just read, all power is suppose to be back on by tommorrow. Bad news is, they are expecting rain which could be a major problem with the weight of snow on roofs and such.
I lost power Friday night just as I was about to push the button on a letter to the forum thanking all of the guys for their concern about the coming snow storm. It came back on today Monday.
When the two blizzards converged outside, it sounded like freight trains were passing by my house. We actually had thunder snow. I never heard of anything like that.
Well I have learned to appreciate the things that I normally take for granted. Without the lights, we had no heat and no water also because we have a well and the pump is driven by electricity.
About 10-15 years ago, I stored about 5 days of wood in the cellar. Over the years I thought that the wood was taking up valuable part storing space, but always managed to not dump it out. Well that is what helped us to survive and I didn't have to take my wife to the shelter. I wouldn't have been able to do that anyways because even if I could get her into the truck, I couldn't go anywhere . The phones were not working and even the cell phones were shut down. With the wood stove, we had hot coffee and hot food every day. The stories will go on and on about the unfortunate people who had no food and no heat and had to be transported by ambulance to the shelter. Lots of houses along the shore line were destroyed. Now those people are homeless. So I am thankful to God for protecting us. We did not suffer any damage to our home. The wood stove kept our pipes from freezing and bursting.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who are coping as best as they can. It is not just Massachusetts that is in trouble. All of the surrounding states are.
Thanks again for all of your concerns. Rich I hope that your sister got off the cape before this started. Cape Cod got their share of the storm also.
Jay Ecode70D
Glad to hear from you buddy, I was a little worried. Sounds like you had planned well for it..good for you. "Wood stove" now that's not something you see in homes too often anymore. Hope your home and garages, etc. don't have a problem with too much snow weight.
Last I talked to my sister, they had planned on heading south around mid to late January after getting home from a Christmas with their daughter in Spain. LOL..even if they got caught there, I've always teased my brother-in-law he had "money to burn" anyways.
Good news you are safe and well. We lost power for 5 days in Dec 2011 and it makes you aware how dependent we are on electricity. Luckily I still have an old time gas heater with a pilot light and no blowers so we were warm. But it sure got boring :005: just candle light at night and doing some reading, just like the old days before people had electricity :003:
Jim
That's right..I did get caught up on reading with a candle / flashlight . I think those things with the pages are called books. I would assume that the young kids today don't even know what they are.
Jay
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2013-02-11 06:39
The good news is according to an article I just read, all power is suppose to be back on by tomorrow. Bad news is, they are expecting rain which could be a major problem with the weight of snow on roofs and such.
That's right Rich. Now it's raining.
I just heard that a family in Plymouth just got their infant child to the hospital today and he is suffering from some sort of heat loss and is in serious condition. It is not easy when you have no utilities, no phones and can't get out of the driveway. Around here, even the cell phones were not working. I hope that everything works out well for that family.
We are warm and dry and I have no complaints.
Have you heard from your sister down the cape yet?
Jay
Jay,
Glad to hear you and your family are safe and secure! I have a wood stove in my house just for that very reason. We all were worried about you, glad you are back
Thanks,
Tim :unitedstates:
I am happy to hear everyone made it out ok. wow. Helluva storm.
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2013-02-11 12:49
"Wood stove" now that's not something you see in homes too often anymore. Hope your home and garages, etc. don't have a problem with too much snow weight.
Rich I put the wood stove in over 30 years ago when I bought this place. I learned one more thing with this storm. "Be prepared". As soon as things clear up, I'm going to put more logs back in the cellar, parts storage space notwithstanding. On the 5:00 news this evening, roofs have been collapsing as a result of snow weight. People are paying $500 to $1000 just to have snow removed from their roofs. I have a lot of pitch to the house roof. The garage is another story, but so far there is not much snow on it. The garage is 40'X60' and that is a lot of shoveling. I remember how I used to get up there 30 years ago when I built it. Now at my age, I don't feel so much like going up there anymore. I do keep one car in a big aluminum insulated truck box with an overhead door. The door is a little stuck , so that roof is sagging a little. I don't mind getting up there and shoveling that one. So I'll go up there tomorrow and clear it. I've had this happen before with that flat roof.
Oh by the way it is raining now and there is another snow storm coming in a couple of days according to the weather persons on the television.
Thank you and all of the guys for your concerns and postings about my welfare. Jay
I know you guys have heard of a snow rake for the roof. Works great on a ranch style house. Or get on a ladder and reach as far as you can. It is rather youth oriented though. Wish you had my snow blower up there. Bought it three yrs ago and used it one time. It needs a little exercise.
Quote from: Jerrys Kars on 2013-02-11 17:47
Or get on a ladder and reach as far as you can. It is rather youth oriented though. Wish you had my snow blower up there.
Jerry I know what you mean about a youth oriented job. Jay
Greeting from the nice warm south. I thought this would make you Northern guys smile.
I don't know how you guys handle it. I just got my shorts out and you guys are giving me chills :003:
Jim
Send some of that good weather to Mass.
It looks like Rich needs some in Texas also. Enjoy your good warm weather.
There has to be some sort of a law stating you shouldn't be so nice and comfortable.
Actually I just made up a law... Playjob 105 Section 2 clearly states in the fine print that you should not be warm and happy in California on Tuesdays.
So you are in violation! There ,Now I feel better! (Smile)
Jay in Mass.
Got it going on there....the weather gurus are saying "flurries" Saturday for us now in Birmingham and northern AL.
Quote from: Ecode70D on 2013-02-12 12:09
Jim Send some of that good weather to Mass. and Rich needs some also
Jay
If I could I would send you guys truck loads. Times like this is when I'm glad I left the east. But I have to worry about earth quakes when I'm under the cars on jack stands :003:
Quote from: Ford Blue blood
Got it going on there....the weather gurus are saying "flurries" Saturday for us now in Birmingham and northern AL.
/quote]
Bill... Believe me, I DID NOT WISH THAT ON YOU IN NORTHERN AL.
Jim... In the summer time, there is a nice breeze through the garage, and I have been known to fall asleep under the car while it is on jack stands. There is no way that I could handle an earthquake when I'm under a car while it's on jack stands. . WOW! And I thought I had it bad. That could ruin a nice day.
It could ruin a nice car too. I was under the house in a crawl space one time when we had a shaker, I never moved so fast :003:
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2013-02-12 12:18But I have to worry about earth quakes when I'm under the cars on jack stands :003:
Oh! You should have been here in March 1964 for the 9.2. Then you could worry about quakes no matter where you were. (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/smilies/lol.gif)
Then there are the volcanoes across the Inlet that blow their tops every once in a while & cover us with ash big time.
We have lots of quakes & almost every time you have to wonder if it will get as bad as that 64 quake was. It lasted for about four & a half minutes. If you were in the right place you could see the ground move in waves. Or open up under your house ... or feet.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/Earthquake/EARTHQUAKE4thAVE.jpg)
(http://solarmoose.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Misc/Earthquake0002/1235447608_eHZkm-L.jpg)
(http://solarmoose.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Misc/Earthquake0001/1235447694_HGcbw-L.jpg)
A one minute vid. It really was about as violent as you see at the start.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/vids/th_EQ3.jpg) (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/vids/EQ3.flv)
Jay, glad to hear that you stayed somewhat warm & dry. Unfortunately I'm kind of used to those long power outages too. They suck. And I used to work for the electric company that provides the power here. Electricity good. :001:
I remember that quake, one of the worst in history. I can't even imagine one lasting that long, now that is scary. I've seen video from it before. Your video didn't work for me..
Tom
Thanks for the kind words. There are always people who are worse off than me though. Lots of people in my town still don't have power and the lucky ones made it to the shelter somehow.. If it were not for the wood stove and the fact that I had some in the basement, we wouldn't have made it because we couldn't even make it to the street. There was no phone service and cell phones did not work.
I would have to assume that you do a lot of wood cutting in your spare time time to stock up for the bad times. Do you have well water. Were you around for that earthquake in 64? I don't remember that happening.
Jay
I thought I had remembered it, but more than likely, I remember it from a disasters show on tv many years after it happened. I had just moved to Socal the week before the Sylmar quake. We were still at the in-laws house, and hadn't unpacked yet. If I had the money, I probably would have loaded back up and gone home!
I got out today and cleaned off my garage roof. The 6" of snow was heavy and very wet...my roof rafters were sagging! I forgot to mention earlier, snow today...the day before yesterday we were having a bad dust storm. That's Texas for ya.
Quote from: Ecode70D on 2013-02-12 17:09... I would have to assume that you do a lot of wood cutting in your spare time time to stock up for the bad times. Do you have well water. Were you around for that earthquake in 64? I don't remember that happening.
No, I don't cut much wood at all, but I have plenty around from downed trees from wind storms. Last two summers my much younger neighbor came over & got a lot of the trees, cut & split them. If it gets bad enough I can have some of his huge stockpile Yes I am on a well.
I can't believe you don't remember the 'Great Alaskan Earthquake' of 1964! It was the second largest quake ever recorded. http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS408US408&q=great+alaskan+earthquake&gs_l=hp..4.41l1115.0.0.0.17570...........0.
I bet you would have if you were on the West coast.
People were killed by the tsunami in California & Oregon. Effects were felt all over the world.
Some people here thought we may have been nuked.
Yes I was definitely around for it, in downtown Anchorage working at my high school job in a chicken & pizza place, 'Chicken Delight'.
I know it's off your topic but here is something I posted in another forum several years ago about my experience as the quake was happening. Had a lot more afterward starting with walking a few blocks & seeing much devastation & then over to the main drag at the time, 4th avenue, & seeing where all of one side of it just dropped away. That 1st pic above is only part of it.
Hey, you can blame this on Highball! He had to go & mention earthquakes & got me started.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/smilies/hide.gif)
Not sayin' it's his fault, just that I'm gonna blame it on him & you should too. (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/smilies/lol.gif)
Here's my little story. The building I mention is (only?) 14 stories tall.
******************************************
Wish I had a vid of the McKinley Building during the earthquake.
Every once in a while I could slide down the wall I was trying to brace on & see it out the front window.
I just knew it was going to fall over like a big stack of bricks & smash a half or even a whole city block. One of my Grandmothers lived on the block on the East side of that building. I had to keep looking when I could.
Concrete & plaster kept pouring off the sides by the truck load. The building flexed, arcing back and forth so far that it seemed impossible that it could not fall over or at least break off about two thirds, or three fourths of the way up. Made quite a few arcs in those 4.5 or so minutes. Just kept getting worse as it went on. Just when you thought it was slowing down it was if a big mean 1000' tall giant gave us another big kick from the East.
It had started off so easy that you might not have even noticed it. And quakes were so common here. I was busy, somebody walking by says, "Feel that?" Me, "Oh, a little quake." But then,
boom! Stuff started flying everywhere off the high shelves. Then the low ones too. Everything is moving violently, can hardly keep your feet. Then you can't at all.
The concrete building that we abutted, just on the other side of the wall I got backed up to, falling apart. You could hear & feel it.
See concrete blocks dropping on the sidewalk & street, on and around some of our cars. Me wondering if the wall I was against will cave in. No place to go.
The cars parked at the meters on the street bouncing into each other's bumpers. The ground rolling in waves.
The woman from next door hanging on to a parking meter for all her life, right in front, whipping back and forth, screaming her head off, as the cars were bouncing bumpers together about a foot & a half behind her.
Almost got smashed.
Oh yeah, the McKinley Building. It must have been making a 30-40 foot arc, East-West, at the top before things slowed down. Strangely I heard few stories from the people in that building. Only one I remember was about someone huddled down in a couch as it kept smashing right through the walls. First one way, then the other. A ride to remember I am sure.
Words fail, wish I had a vid of the McKinley Building during the earthquake.
I am glad that that building got rebuilt.
Nukes you say? Consider that Cold War time frame. Many people did at first wonder if we had been nuked.
******************************************
Highball, I was afraid that video might not work. Photobucket changed some things, (dammit!), & I see that my vids are not working on Firefox. It does work on Internet Exploder.
Thats OK Tom, blame it on me, every one else does :003:. Great story and I'm sure you could tell more. My first big quake experience was with the Slymar one. I could see from my second story apartment big flashes of lights and my first thought was we were being bombed by the Russians :005:, but that turned out to be power transformers blowing up.
Ecode70D:
I have so much respect for all of you guys who live in the threat of severe weather, we out here on the southern part of the left coast really don't have a clue or concept of living in an area subject to tornado's, hurricanes, perfect storm mixes like Sandy or Nemo. Unless, of course, having once lived in one of the severe weather areas. Earthquakes aren't fun and a 9.0 could ruin a whole lot of lives, but the really big quakes are very rare unlike your repeating weather cycles. However, in the very recent past (Geologically speaking) our part of the country had volcanoes and plenty of interesting things to deal with. I'd hate to think what would happen in our "Valley of the Smokes" should Mother Earth get mad enough to do it again. Still you guys have my respect and admiration for putting up with what you have to live with on a continuing basis. Having said that, stay dry, warm and safe and may God bless you and your families.
Bob
57 AGIN
All this talk and no pictures of the big snow?
Bob 57 AGIN
Thank you very much for your kind words. It must be comforting to live in an area where the weather is agreeable for the most part.
As I have stated before... I am very thankful that we survived without incident. I have no idea how I would have gotten my disabled wife out of the house to get her to a hospital or a shelter should she have taken a turn for the worse. Given the same circumstances, there are a lot of people that did not fare as well as I did and I thank God for it..
May God bless you and your family also.
Thanks again Jay Ecode70D