I'm baaaa-aaaack. For now.

[Are_grits_groceries]

This storm should have been named Sherman II.

My power keeps flickering. Sigh....

[notemason]

1. Hope it holds for you

Still a ways before daylight. Cold and dark is no fun.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. talons crossed you don't lose power!

I spoke to my mom today, she said they got 7 inches of snow are expecting sleet tonight, so power is a worry there (eastern NC). She said it is heading toward the coast as well. Stay warm.

[cui bono]

3. Lucky you!

I heard there were millions without power.

Where I am we have great weather but that's not good either since we are in dire need of rain. We will undoubtedly have quite a fire season this year. Too bad we can't redirect some of your rain/snow/ice to here.

Good luck!

[reusrename]

4. I hope the worst is over.

It's pretty nice here, since it stopped raining and the wind died down.

[Gothmog]

5. I am glad that you are okay

Stay safe

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Why don't you try one inch of ice? Ok? nt

[Are_grits_groceries]

10. 2 inches of ice? Where? (Approximately). nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Tell me, what are your towns wild land

Fire fighting plans? How about major quake resiliency? So if the Madrid Fault should go, it's overdue according to geologists, should we quake country peeps point and laugh? It's not a matter of perspective tough hombre, but chiefly equipment and whether you have salt or not

By the way, where I live we expect no snow, if we got any, especially if it stuck, we'd be in real trouble. The ten snow plows in the county are where they are mostly needed in winter. (This year they have been gathering dust). But we do have a wild land response that is quite robust. After all, we do have those. So tell me, what is your county's wild land backbone? Do you have air assets? How about brush trucks, patrol vehicles? Anything on hot shot teams?

I don't even live in an area that has a speck of snow, well except in the mountains, where there stuff is missing (not good news). I don't make fun of people because their local government lacks the gear.

By the way, with climate change they might have to rethink that. But as a lot of things having to do with government it will take time. This is quite the historic year. So when Madrid goes, should I point and snicker at the East coast Z-RO? I think in your case I will make an exception and do that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. It's the medium,

It is coming off as you are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. And to people in the middle of it

It is rather off putting.

When the EC had a 5.1 that even damaged the National Cathedral and the WA monument. (The damage in WV on masonry buildings was bad, thankfully none got killed) a few of my Californian peeps did the same you are doing. I mean a 5.1 in San Diego is Tuesday.

Some of us instead, spent the time telling people how to get through it. Silly shit like have sturdy shoes and flashlight by your bed. Expect aftershock... Since you do have more masonry buildings than not, stand in doorways if in one. The drop, cover and hold works in newer buildings. Do not run out.

Well the people who were laughing, since that is a moderate jolt here, were also rather off putting.

Just an observation, take it or leave it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. We are fucked.

I joke that if we get snow that sticks I will hide in the house. My locals don't know how to drive in rain, snow...don't want to think about it. Oddly one of our vehicles can handle it. We are media locally, so I get to chase brush trucks. The hybrid ain't gonna cut it. The jeep, on the other hand, will. And we got the best AT tires we could afford. Highway ride, not something to write home about, now back country off road, they are great and can handle snow too.

As to governments in the south, it will take time and sadly a few of these massive storms over repeated years to drive the point home. We need that crap. My county had literally no fire backbone before 2003 when we had one massive fire, and it took the 2007 fire to make them go...hmmm maybe. And I contend the County Fire Authority is a paper tiger. (We also cover politics and I used to be a first responder)

So I contend we will need another major one for my county to finally put fire fighting in the county charter, and chiefly build a true fire department. Don't get me wrong, things are better than they were, but like many governments in the south, we have a very conservative board of supers, who prefer lean governments. And when one of my supervisors (Bill Horne) has even denied this new reality in meetings with we press present...well, you know where we are. The other four, are being more practical...but.

I am bringing the inside local government baseball to expand on the comment that it will take time for governments to finally realize, levees and snow plows!!!! Here haw!!!

[seveneyes]

29. Backwards

"Before front-wheel drive cars, I learned to go up hills backward for the traction."

Rear wheel drive vehicles get more traction going forward, it's the front wheel drive vehicles that get more traction going backwards. Weight transfer is the variable component.

[magical thyme]

16. hmmmmm....member for 2 days, 55 posts already

and already showing some 'tude.

Interesting.

For perspective, a couple feet of snow where I live is considered a dusting too and we're about to get it on top of ice we already have. And it was 7 below night before last.

But you know what? Living in the middle of blizzard central, I don't expect people in the middle of hurricane-prone country to have studded snow tires, snow plows with sand and salt up the kazoo prepping the roads in advance, back-up heating sources, etc. Just like we don't build levies or storm cellars or what have you up my way.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. You noticed that too

[magical thyme]

21. that, not to mention

the name. Snark for Mr. President.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Web is always fascinating

Never a dull moment. Snow studded tires...I had to drive in snow a few years back in Cleveland. It reminded me of the lack of grip, wet mess that was mud. Lack of wet stuff, they used that to train us in snow driving. So at least I had that when I was thrown into that. You guys can keep the snow. It was not an experience I want to repeat soon.

[magical thyme]

24. at least we won't have a real drought this summer...

I'll take snow over ice any day, for driving, for walking, for stepping outside the door...

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Drought, you had to bring the D word.

And I agree, the day I had to drive to the hospital with mom was a bad storm. Dad had surgery at the Clinic, it was day three post up. Yup, white out and all. The few idiots on the road, we were all using the edge of curbs as if we were blind people. They keep main roads clear in Cleveland, they got the gear, but it was bad enough the post office and schools closed.

That was fourth day of driving in that crap. I never told my mom how damned scared that was, and I suggested maybe not going, hinted it. Mom wanted to see dad. So we did. A drive that took in clear weather twenty minutes, took 90 minutes, which is normal. Same way back home.

[Loaded Liberal Dem]

7. 17 degrees here

Luckily, no ice. Hang in there!

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Be careful, ok

[L0oniX]

19. Thanks for the warning!

[Smarmie Doofus]

28. I'm going to watch Driving Miss Daisy in honor of you.

Good sequence in there of Georgia ice storm and the havoc... interpersonal and otherwise... it occasions.

Snowed under here... no ice so far... so Daisy might be a good diversion in the pm.

Power outages, eh? Yikes. Something else to worry about.