Sherri Koehler (she/her)Welp, there goes our power. Why yes, it is 18F and snow is blowing sideways.
I think we’re getting a mix of snow and ice.
Folks who laugh at #Portland completely losing all coherence during a winter storm event fail to understand that it is rarely _just snow_. We get snow, ice, and often a little warmth to turn it to inches of solid ice. If it were snow alone it wouldn’t be as bad.
We also don’t have a large fleet of plows because it wouldn’t be financially sustainable to maintain vehicles that maybe will get used for one event a year. Combine that with a very hilly metro area and tons of trees and you get a #Snowpocolypse.
I grew up here and every once in a while a serious winter storm shut everything down for days on end. I can recall one winter as a kid where we were without power for over a week. It was wretched.
#PDX #FarSW #snowpocalypse2024 #snowmaggedon #pdxtst #pdxmst
Power is out again, right as we were trying to get dinner started. It’s not affecting a friend who lives close by, could be related to the other half of our neighborhood that’s been without since Saturday.
There’s folks with work lights set up in our front yard and someone on a pole. Hoping this might indicate we won’t be out for long. So tempting to go ask them what’s up!
Our power came back on around bedtime. Hopefully we stay up. Comcast has been down since Saturday. There’s a cable down on the road. We luckily changed to fiber at the beginning of the year, we may be the only people in the neighborhood who have internet access.
Ice storm inbound in 40 minutes. We are well supplied and have batteries charged. I’m going to turn on the electric blanket to keep the bed warm, just in case we lose power.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #BattenDownTheHatches
Contrary to weather app opinion that the storm would arrive with heavy snow, the “Tk, tk, tk.” on the windows announces that the ice storm has landed. Both cars are already encased in a thin layer of ice.
I got more de-icer salt down on our front steps, out to the cars, and the path to the bins for trash, compost, and recycling. Hopefully I’ll be able to break through the ice & snow combination since there’s salt out now.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #BattenDownTheHatches
While our steps are cleared of ice the slope of the driveway could be used by a bobsled team. In theory the trash will be collected in the morning so I made like a hockey player, checked the bins with my “less bad” shoulder to free them from the ice, and dragged them to the curb.
I’m grateful for the YakTrax gifted to me a few years ago by @akf. They keep me upright on the ice every winter!
Made out to knee PT. Returned home to ice forming rapidly on branches and our power out. Because it’s been raining sideways since the wee hours the screen in our one east-facing window is nearly solid ice.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge #BattenDownTheHatches #Again
Power is back! We’re making sure to get the house warm in case it goes out again.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge #BattenDownTheHatches #Again
The tree I’ve worried about all week has come down onto the transformer on a pole in our front yard. The transformer blew out, igniting both it and the tree. Embers are blowing down the street, occasionally into our house.
Do not like. No stars.
#WhatFreshHellIsThis #pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge #BattenDownTheHatches #Again
Am emergency vehicle just arrived.
Thanks for all the concern. I’m surprised it’s taken 20 minutes for my first high heart rate alarm.
😀🚲@PDXyogini So do you still have power or was that your transformer?
@enobacon it took out everything east of 62nd. Another has blown, taking it the street 1 block north. We still have power and fiber, amazingly.
And there goes our power at last. At least the fire went out. This is fine.
#WhatFreshHellIsThis #pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge #BattenDownTheHatches #Again
Power is still out. I sent the yoga class cancellation message I queued up yesterday, just in case. Ursa has burrowed between blanket layers on the bed after his breakfast.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge #Brrr #CatsOfMastodon #cat
Still no power. Really grateful it’s not 18F like it was last weekend. 37F is still damn cold, but it could be worse. We also still have hot water since the water heater is natural gas! Everyone is finding ways to keep warm.
We been excited to see big trucks from arborists or power company pass our house, but they’ve not yet stopped to the particular tree fiasco in our front yard. Then we remembered that no one can drive up the main road through the larger neighborhood, all traffic has to loop through our neighborhood because of the trees.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge #dog #DogsOfMastodon
Several experts on site!
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge
We have power once more! I opened the east window and yelled thanks to the crew still working on things. It’s not back for our neighbors just north of us, but a neighbor to the east side confirmed they have power as well.
#pdxtst #PDX #FarSW #AshcreekNeighborhood #TheIceStormCometh #PartTwoTheRevenge
Sometimes Babs@PDXyogini Ugh -- Snuggle up with your pup and some lentil soup! We all have anxiety here when the temps dip due to the crushing '21 failure of the TX power grid .
@babadeuce another thing to be grateful for! Oregon power companies seem to care if people die during extreme weather events.
Saturday “Fight Cuddles” with Ursa Minor.
Luke Kanies
James Trickle uP@PDXyogini Yuck! So frustrating.
@opalmirror it’s officially entered fiasco territory! I’m grateful word finally made it to the neighbors down the hill who parked a Prius at the corner where the tree came down. They got up here and moved it back earlier today.
I’ve got the vintage gas fireplace on at the moment. Not sure I’ll leave it going, but will let it go for a bit while I do some dishes. Benefits of being a night owl.
Paul Riismandel@PDXyogini Oh no! Be safe!
Melissa Santos@PDXyogini omg. 😱 stay safe
Terri K O 🍁@PDXyogini I was wondering how you were doing. This is not the update I was hoping to see!
@PDXyogini god that sucks. I am sorry. I hope it is the least bad shitshow it can be?
Amye Scavarda Perrin@PDXyogini hot damn. You win the ice storm challenge.
@amye 🤣 Crappiest contest ever!
Todd@PDXyogini Yikes!! Good luck. Hope it gets solved quickly for you. Stay safe.
A.K. Farrell@PDXyogini I'm glad they're helping you stay safe!
@akf they are the best! 💖
I recommend them to people every winter. I mentioned to my fall prevention class today.
Phil Kulak@PDXyogini @akf Absolutely picking some up for myself before next winter.