The Daily Peeve / Rant

[kib]

My area is about to experience Snowmageddon this weekend. People are of course freaking out and running to the grocery store because they need 100 rolls of toilet paper and 18 gallon of milk. .. what I'm pissed about. Even in the worst case scenario, we will be home bound for maybe a day or two. Roads will get plowed and we will be able to freely move about again. There is no need for this panicking. Get the essentials and wait it out. Plus we've had more than enough warning about this snowstorm to be able to get what we needed before this week.

I know, isn't it absurd? We're only slated for 6" and people are acting like the next ice age is coming. And the things they're buying don't really seem related to the reality of the situation in the first place. That is, what to do about every essential thing that runs on electricity in your home (like the fridge, if you're suddenly buying 200 pounds of perishable food). To hell with toilet paper, we can't flush a toilet or run a sink, or even run our fireplace blower that would theoretically warm at least one room, if the power goes out.

I'm also noticing the rise of "weather experts" on youtube etc. Very Very serious young men, for the most part, with interesting charts and graphs, but taking weather-catastrophizing to a whole new level as they fight for clicks. Grave big eyes, "I don't want to alarm anyone ... " yes, you do.

[early morning]

Every winter I kick myself because we don't have a wood stove or alternative heat source. And every summer, we talk about the pros/cons (way more cons than pros!) and don't do anything. And then we get a prediction of bad weather.... and the cycle begins again. We're leaning towards a portable generator that can live in the shed (old, free standing summer kitchen) outside the back door. Fuel lives in the barn, but a can or two could be moved to the shed if forecast warranted. Cord could run from shed into kitchen and then to whatever room we decided to hunker down in (would depend on wind direction). and into basement for freezer if need be. I think that's doable, and would provide a small bit of peace of mind. Toaster oven, hot plate, heater, etc could rotate as needed.

Stock ups for storms here are mostly just to run more drinking water and a bucket or two for toilet flushing (we're hooked up to town water, so this in mostly in case of lines freezing), and try to get some bread if we can or if we're low. But we stay pretty stocked up. We may not have everything we'd want, but we have everything we need.

[happystuff]

I can guarantee I'll be safe as I won't be out driving around but warm is questionable. No power = no heat. Relying on blankets and layers of clothing I guess.

Same here. Oil heat, but without the electricity to run the furnaces.... b.......

[frugal-one]

Even in the deep south, the electric company is warning of possible outages.

[catherine]

Same here. Oil heat, but without the electricity to run the furnaces.... b.......

I have to say, having a wood stove (and wood) feels like money in the bank. I never had one before living in VT, but I do appreciate that simple pleasure.

[rosarugosa]

The threat of prolonged power outages combined with intense cold worries me a little bit. We are right near the public safety building though, so we have never been without power for long. I don't know if that's related to our proximity to the public safety building or just good luck. It would definitely feel more secure to have a generator or a woodstove.
We would be able to just hunker down and ride it out, except for the fact that someone will have to get to Mom's house to tend to her needs. She really cannot do much of anything independently anymore. I am not scheduled to be with her until next Weds, but of course the sense of concern/responsibility is always with me.

[Tradd]

I’m an apartment dweller. I have the means (Sterno, which is safe for indoor use) to heat water/soup. Plenty of batteries. I have a Jackery. Tons of backup battery packs for phones. I charged everything last night out of sheer hair when any bad weather is forecast. Did all my laundry. Was supposed to drive two hours into WI tomorrow for an event, but I’m not going. There’s a Zoom option.

My power doesn’t go out for more than a few minutes. I’ve been in current place since 2008. Many of our lines are underground.

[iris lilies]

The threat of prolonged power outages combined with intense cold worries me a little bit. We are right near the public safety building though, so we have never been without power for long. I don't know if that's related to our proximity to the public safety building or just good luck. It would definitely feel more secure to have a generator or a woodstove.
We would be able to just hunker down and ride it out, except for the fact that someone will have to get to Mom's house to tend to her needs. She really cannot do much of anything independently anymore. I am not scheduled to be with her until next Weds, but of course the sense of concern/responsibility is always with me.

sorry you have to worry about your mother in this weather. I suppose you have considered scooping her up and bringing her to your house for the duration of the snowstorm.

[Tybee]

sorry you have to worry about your mother in this weather. I suppose you have considered scooping her up and bringing her to your house for the duration of the snowstorm.

that might be a really good idea.

[Tradd]

Depending on the mother, being cooped up with her might be worse than going out to her house in bad weather!