Need Snow Advice - Yes, Really

[Teallaura]

I'm not sure what to do. We have about 4 inches - yes, really - on the ground here now but it's already melting. The temps are predicted to fall but the storm probably won't last past 4 pm. I'm not sure if that's enough time to clear the power lines so they don't ice over - and of course we have the ever popular tree limbs.

I have electric heat only. I can afford to bail to a hotel room but I have to have one that allows pets because one of my cats is ill and of course the dog needs to be taken out periodically. At least one highway has probably been closed now (it was one lane on the bridge as of 11 am) and my cable is wonky so I don't know how many others might be closed - the nearest hotels are 30 miles away.

If I had to, Gabby (the cat) and I could sleep in the car (no garage - not suicidal here) but that's hardly optimal. I just can't decide what to do - my tires aren't the best and snow chains are non-existent here anyway. Oh, and my eyes are still hurting (although not as bad) from being out long enough to tarp the doghouse and the car - that was also around 11 and it's 12:30 now.

I'm developing a new level of hate for snow. Oh, did I mention I've already had two very brief outages? I'm sooooo happy! <- note dripping sarcasm...

Any thoughts? I mean besides that I'm an idiot?

[Storico]

Teal, I'm sorry I made light of the snow situation in the shoutbox. It's true and reasonable that someone not used to it would be cautious about it, and a little worried. Just give the road crews enough time to get the streets cleared, dress as warmly as you can, and be careful when you walk so you avoid ice. Your pets will be fine if you give them a warm sweater or a blanket to sleep on. I think your heat SHOULD be fine, and if you have an old space heater or a humidifier, that warms up a room nicely too. As for driving, although there are 4 inches on the road right now, just take it nice and slow. Snow doesn't always or even usually mean ice. Watch for those tree branches, and know that others driving will probably be trying to go slowly and cautiously too. As for weather reports, do you have a radio? They tend to be great for talking about local road conditions. I hope it lets up for ya soon, hon.

[Trout]

Don't drive. Stay put.

Storico's advice was excellent.

Do you have a gas range? If so you can keep at least one room warm.

[Teallaura]

No prob - forget it.

I don't have a kerosene heater - I've always been a little afraid of them and I forgot (again) to get a generator last summer. When the power goes out so does the heat.

I do have a weather radio. I'd forgotten about that. I even know how to drive on snow/ice from having lived in Albuquergue but there was little danger of outage there and big cities get power back fasted just from proximity to crews (Al power is good about getting power back on fast - but ice is way different from tornadoes. I prefer the tornadoes - I know how to deal with them.

On a brighter note the radar is showing just one little band heading our way - it's stopped for the moment. The lines that I can see are clear.

Thanks.

[Teallaura]

No gas at all, Trout. All electric and I stupidly forgot to get a generator this summer as planned (of course I'd also planned on moving in the fall... ).

Thanks.

[Trout]

No gas at all, Trout. All electric and I stupidly forgot to get a generator this summer as planned (of course I'd also planned on moving in the fall... ).

Thanks.

You'll be just fine.

Do you have any candles? Believe it or not they really will put off quite a bit of heat. They can make quite a difference in a small room.

[Amazing Rando]

Candles and a whole bunch of blankets will make sure you're fine. If you have a fireplace, you're doubly fine.

[Littlejoe]

Teal, I'm sorry I made light of the snow situation in the shoutbox. It's true and reasonable that someone not used to it would be cautious about it, and a little worried. Just give the road crews enough time to get the streets cleared, dress as warmly as you can, and be careful when you walk so you avoid ice. Your pets will be fine if you give them a warm sweater or a blanket to sleep on. I think your heat SHOULD be fine, and if you have an old space heater or a humidifier, that warms up a room nicely too. As for driving, although there are 4 inches on the road right now, just take it nice and slow. Snow doesn't always or even usually mean ice. Watch for those tree branches, and know that others driving will probably be trying to go slowly and cautiously too. As for weather reports, do you have a radio? They tend to be great for talking about local road conditions. I hope it lets up for ya soon, hon.

Hi Storico!

I know you live in Canada, and so your perception is a little tainted! I say that because people up north don't realize the weather down south is different. (And that we don't deal well with it either) I don't know where Teal is, but here in Texas many, MANY times we get freezing rain (that ices roads and bridges) and/or sleet BEFORE the snow. So what you end up with is snow covering the ice covered streets and bridges! PLUS, our road crews are not nearly as prepared to deal with the situation as your guys are! We are lucky if we get some cat litter sprinkled on the road at stop lights, intersections, and bridges. (No city here owns a snow plow) It helps but not enough (as evidenced by the huge number of accidents).

Teal

for the future, I would recommend a Propane space heater (the catalytic kind) that can be run on a small propane container (1-5 gallons). We had two of those when our electricity was off for 3 days due to and ice storm, and they heated our whole house enough to make it through. Catalytic Propane heaters burn very cleanly so there is much less chance of Carbon Monoxide poisoning than from a kerosene heater. They can be safely stored in the garage or tool shed!

LJ

[Teallaura]

Trout, Rando: Candles I have in bulk - power outages during the spring and fall are frequent from thunderstorms but it almost never happens in winter - and it's almost never this cold!

LJ: I'll look into it. I wish I could just convert the house to propane - better cost control than natural gas - but I can't. Thanks for the help!

By the way, I was snowed into Abilene for 3 days in '84. Spent twelve hours sitting in a traffic jam between Weatherford and Abilene after an accident stopped interstate traffic west completely. More than a mile of cars - I know because I finally got curious enough to walk up there. I was really popular all the way back...

[Pilgrim]

At only 4 inches you should be just fine. Bundle up, stay put, spend some quality time on line. You'll be fine. 4 inches really isn't all that much snow so I'm guessing things will work out just fine.

[Teallaura]

Three inches can shut down the whole state - LJ's right, we have no equipment to deal with this stuff. It's the possibility of power failure that worries me.

However, most of it melted! It's only patches now! :runhappy: That's not what they said would happen - but who cares as long as it did!!! :happydance:

Thanks, Everyone!











Now I have to take out the dog for a potty break....

[Philosophickle]

It is negative 30 degrees right now, and I'm trying to jump a god-forbidden battery. What I wouldn't do to be somewhere else.

[Littlejoe]

It is negative 30 degrees right now, and I'm trying to jump a god-forbidden battery. What I wouldn't do to be somewhere else.

Thank you for the justification to stay here in Texas....as if I needed any! My blood freezes at about 20 degrees!

LJ

[JenSen]

Philosophickus..... -30?? Celsius?? Where the heck are you located?

[Littlejoe]

Philosophickus..... -30?? Celsius?? Where the heck are you located?

Just guessing, but I bet he means Fahrenheit. I did in my post!

LJ