Crazy Times in Massachusetts: The Ice Storm

[Meg]

If you follow my twitter, (www.twitter.com/bg_meg) you'd be kept up to date on all of this, but since I don't think a lot of you do, here's the scoop.

Yesterday I twittered:  "Alarm didn't go off this morning. Late for a meeting. And its raining. Its like the start to a disaster movie. You've been warned. "

And then the day seemed to suck.  There were reports all day of people getting laid off and companies shutting down.  Twitter was depressing to read.  Josh's company laid off a bunch of people, including a good friend of his and a bunch of other layoffs of friends happened.

And I guessed: "Today is sucking for the business world big time. Looks like my premonition about a disaster striking today was unfortunately timely "

Wait for it...

Today- I wake up to my cell phone ringing and notice I have no power.  It's one of my coworkers saying she probably won't make our 9:00 meeting.  It's 8:20, I say, "well, you woke me up so I guess I won't either." 

And then I look outside.


Major ice storm.  Trees are hanging over, branches are down everywhere- it looks like a tornado hit.  Walking the dogs was beautiful, crazy, and scary as the sound of branches falling bounced off all of the buildings and hills.  I had my phone out to take pictures and snapped this one right after a huge huge branch fell, shattering ice and spraying it dozens of feet away.



My dogs were fascinated with the ice storm and didn't even mind that it was still raining.  So many new things on the ground to pee on.  As you can see:



So I threw some clothes into a bag, pulled my unwashed hair back and drove to work. 

The drive was crazy- it was quite the experience.  I kept stopping to take pictures.  Ice storms can be absolutely beautiful even in their harshness.  Almost every side street had trees and power lines down:



Branches were still falling so I was driving as close to the middle as I could because I didn't want to be under a tree when it decided to fall.  Like the one in the road in front of me:



I twittered: "Ice storms are sort of like The Happening- we're all staying as far away from the trees as we can, driving in mi ddle of road, etc. " but then clarified: "@Accidental_Rob you're right. The analogy doesn't hold up. The ice storm is actually scary and sort of interesting. "

When I got into a more urban area I realized that it wasn't just ice that was the problem- the roads are flooding too.  This picture doesn't quite capture how deep this "puddle" is:



I was excited to get to work where there is power, heat, lights, a mirror, and a shower.  Feeling better.  Hoping my house doesn't get too cold because my dogs are there.  I'm sure I'll have more to report later!

All of my pictures are here: http://twitpic.com/photos/bg_meg  and then more on my facebook page (Brilliant Gameologists)

[SixthDeclension]

You have an ice storm, and up in Vermont we have a snow storm. Nearly every school up here is canceled, and its friggin cold.

[KnightDisciple]

Wow. Reminds me of the ice storm a few years back where I live in Missouri.
The ice storm that came in October.
Meaning all the trees still had their leaves.
It was bad. People went a week or more without power in some areas.
Hope you keep safe. Don't take stupid chances, and all that.

[Meg]

Every single school in the area is closed.  The Governor declared a state of emergency so almost everything is closed in general.  But I think a lot of people who can go to work are because there is power here!

It could've been a ton worse-- the roads aren't icy at all, just covered in debris and it's not too cold.  If the temp. drops we're in trouble though because everything is so wet.  Everyone will be stuck where they are- no driving or walking at all.

[archangel.arcanis]

yesterday i drove to work in the snow. doesn't seem like much until you think about the fact that i live south of I-10. First time in history Louisiana has gotten snow in early December. People in south Louisiana had no idea what to do half the schools in the area closed just because there was snow, mixed with freezing rain.

I think someone that paid him to speak on global warming should ask Al Gore for their money back, or he needs to promote global cooling so i can quit freezing my ass off.

[Irthos Levethix]

I remember an ice storm several years back like that here in Arkansas (wonder if its the same one, Knight?).

Its crazy how beautiful and powerful, and destructive, it can be.

Our apartment got power back in a few days (apparently we were on the same grid as the nursing homes), so alot of our family friends moved in for about a week.  10 people in a 2 bedroom apartment... it was actually kind of fun.

We went sledding at the soccer fields next door... that was awesome. 

[Bauglir]

I remember about 2 years ago something like this happening here in Iowa. Trees touch the ground, sheaths of ice on everything, all that crap. Still, it wasn't as bad as your pictures look, mostly because it turned into snow after a while. And snow's nice compared to ice. It's easier to walk on, if nothing else.

[KnightDisciple]

It's also a touch easier to deal with on roads, between plows, and its less immediately-slick nature.
Not a huge difference, but it's there.

[Irthos Levethix]

Ah hell, ours was ICE.  Solid freaking ice, about 1 1/2 inches thick on the ground.  You could barely walk, much less drive.

[Smudgy]

Figures it completely missed me in southern Massachusetts except for some crappy rain. I still had to go to school, on a Friday even! You guys get all the fun! Bah!

You have some adorable dogs there Meg. Hope they don't get too cold! Though they seem adept at being tucked in.

[Shoggoth]

I can't remember the last time we had an ice storm here in Maryland, but I remember just how beautiful everything looks coated in ice.

Of course, people here in Baltimore become idiots with 10 thumbs behind the wheel whenever serious snow or ice happens, so you're taking your life into your hands driving.  But it is pretty.

We just got a ton of rain in the last couple of days.  Here's hoping it doesn't turn into ice when the temp drops.

[Kari]

So unfair. I live in Florida. We don't get ice storms.

(I know, ice storms are scary destructive. Still.. I wish I lived up there.)

[PhaedrusXY]

I remember an ice storm we got when I lived in Kentucky, almost 15 years ago. The power was out in alot of places for about a week, and it was covering the roads. They can't even deal with an inch of snow there, either, as they rarely get it in any signifigant amounts. It was a disaster.

[CountArioch]

Worked through a nasty fucking ice storm a few years back.  We got 4-6 inches.  Of ice.  I'm dead serious.

I was wearing a hardcore winter coat with a thick hood, and freaking icicles were forming on the brim of my hood after being out for about an hour.

Second worst weather I ever worked though.  Worst was Hurricane Isabel.  Although it was kind of cool when the water crested.

[Graytigeress]

Stay safe and drive carefully! Ice storms are not to be taken lightly. (so says the lady now living in southern California)

[dman11235]

Ice storm of '98.  Some parts of Maine were out for more than 3 weeks.  Where I lived (between Orono and Bangor) I was out for a week.  Yeah, we had a good amount of ice, not sure if it was 4-6 inches on the ground, but it was more than an inch on the trees.  I wonder if I still have some pictures on my computer?  They are pretty dang amazing, all white and glisten-y....The big birch trees that fell over on to the road...ooh!  And the sled track me and my brother made behind our house!  That thing was so dangerous, you'd come off the path (which was bumpy because it was pebbles, with a small stream underneath/undergoround) straight into a turn and by taking that you'd go down the (really steep) driveway which went across the street to a ditch...lined with a rock wall.

[Tshern]

Ice storms of Finland: We suddenly get 12 inches of snow, plow trucks push it all away and we are happy again. On the plus side, a few retards always die in car accidents when "winter surprised the drivers."

[emissary666]

What part of Massachusetts are you in? The Cambridge area has been experiencing 40-60 temperatures.

[Meg]

We're in the Lowell area- northern MA near the NH border.  Today it's 32- much colder than yesterday and the first time I'm worried about heat.

[Meg]

So tired.  After staying out as late as possible on Friday and then last night sneak sleeping in a semi-public area (didn't sleep much, afraid security guards would come back through), I'm soooo tired.

But *fingers crossed* I may have power at home!  Time to pack up my camp site and go check!