This has been one long week here in my part of the world. With over a million homes losing power this past week, it has been a long week for many of us. The temps had been in the high 20's F when the rain started Monday afternoon. Since the ground temperatures were below the freezing mark, the rain froze on impact. Roads became slick, utility lines became heavy and trees started to sag. Although I started to lose a few small limbs from my 120 year old white pines, I wasn't prepared for the devastation that would soon follow. Around 3:45 on Tuesday morning, I was awaken by a huge thump! I looked out the window and saw my power line and other utility lines laying across the road, on the ground. Being concerned that a truck would coming by, snagging them and causing further damage, I went outside to see if I could at least get them off the street. As I went out the door, all I could hear was loud cracking of breaking trees and the popping sound of power transformers being shorted out by downed wires. As I walked past where the power lines had been attached to the the house, I could see the gapping hole in my roof where the mast had once stood. There was nothing to do but get back in the safety of my house and wait it out. The next several hours were filled with the sounds of more trees breaking, sirens blaring and total darkness. As daylight arrived, I was able to look out the window and view the damage. I was shocked by what I saw.
[attachment 75443 icestormpic.jpg]
[attachment 75434 northroofwithtrees.jpg]
[attachment 75435 viewfromtheeast.jpg]
[attachment 75438 smallandlargetrees.jpg]
On Tuesday afternoon, a local electrician came to replace the power entrance to my house. The mast was replaced and the hole was repaired in my roof. Later that evening, the power company came and reconnected my electricity. On Wednesday, tree crews arrived to remove the bigger limbs from my roof and trim others that they thought might fall and cause further damage to the house or utility lines. But they apparently missed a couple! Thursday morning, about 2:30, we were once again startled by that (all too familiar) loud thump! Additional falling tree limbs had taken down the new power entrance. And once again they left a gapping hole in my roof. When daylight finally arrived, I once again secured the lines and made temporary repairs to my roof. The tree crew showed up Thursday afternoon to remove the new limbs from my roof. But were unable to get the truck close enough to the trees to cut them down.
[attachment 75441 newelectricalentrancebrokentwodayslater.jpg]
And that is where we are right now....... We are all safe and I do have electricity. At least for the time being. It is now just a matter of waiting for the ice to melt enough so the trucks can get into my yard to remove the trees. After the trees are removed, I will have the power entrance replaced (again) and power restored on a permanent basis. As well, the phones and cable can be reinstalled on a permanent basis at that time. Until then, we just have to make the most of a difficult situation. What difficult situation, you ask? Working with my Insurance company, of course!
On a final note, as I was heading back to the house yesterday afternoon, I looked upward and saw something that made me realize..... everything will work out all right.
[attachment 75440 icymapletreeandflag.jpg]
Regards,
Randy
[attachment 75443 icestormpic.jpg]
[attachment 75434 northroofwithtrees.jpg]
[attachment 75435 viewfromtheeast.jpg]
[attachment 75438 smallandlargetrees.jpg]
On Tuesday afternoon, a local electrician came to replace the power entrance to my house. The mast was replaced and the hole was repaired in my roof. Later that evening, the power company came and reconnected my electricity. On Wednesday, tree crews arrived to remove the bigger limbs from my roof and trim others that they thought might fall and cause further damage to the house or utility lines. But they apparently missed a couple! Thursday morning, about 2:30, we were once again startled by that (all too familiar) loud thump! Additional falling tree limbs had taken down the new power entrance. And once again they left a gapping hole in my roof. When daylight finally arrived, I once again secured the lines and made temporary repairs to my roof. The tree crew showed up Thursday afternoon to remove the new limbs from my roof. But were unable to get the truck close enough to the trees to cut them down.
[attachment 75441 newelectricalentrancebrokentwodayslater.jpg]
And that is where we are right now....... We are all safe and I do have electricity. At least for the time being. It is now just a matter of waiting for the ice to melt enough so the trucks can get into my yard to remove the trees. After the trees are removed, I will have the power entrance replaced (again) and power restored on a permanent basis. As well, the phones and cable can be reinstalled on a permanent basis at that time. Until then, we just have to make the most of a difficult situation. What difficult situation, you ask? Working with my Insurance company, of course!
On a final note, as I was heading back to the house yesterday afternoon, I looked upward and saw something that made me realize..... everything will work out all right.
[attachment 75440 icymapletreeandflag.jpg]
Regards,
Randy
talk to you soon Ed