@Marian, if you have coolers, put your frozen food in the coolers and stick it in the garage. We have lots of “critters” where I am. I haven’t had problems when it’s been in the cooler. I think the cooler helps negate the smell so I haven’t had problems with the deer getting into it.
Good luck to those in the storms path. And @MaineLonghorn condolences on not getting the storm. I’m in northern Michigan and when we don’t get snow it’s hard on our economy. Businesses depend on the skiers and snowmobilers. Thankfully we have snow and the trails are humming.
We have a well so when our power goes out, so does the water. Not having water is not any fun! We are in a subdivision and our power lines are buried so we are lucky to not have our power go off for long. If we didn’t (as my sil’s cottage is) I would think about a whole house generator. Expensive but so so nice.
If the power goes out, you can put drinks and some other refrigerated items like condiments outside in the snow. Beer never tastes so good as when it’s been chilling in a snowdrift, just waiting to reward me after shoveling.
@deb922,
In the event of an outage you can still use the water in your heating tank. It’s not usually enough to bathe with but will be enough for cooking. Just access it from the release value on the tank itself.
For people with municipal water supplies-this still works, but you should first shut off the water supply to the house to prevent contamination if the treatment plant loses power.
Just sent S the link about United waiving penalties so he can scramble to reschedule his travel. He lives in a condo and doesn’t ever have much in his fridge, so he won’t worry about losing power.
We used “PEPCO freezers” a few years ago when we had a major snowstorm and lost power. Three large coolers, plopped into the snowbank next to the driveway. Kept everything frozen for days. The eiswein was especially good.
Cracks me up…it’s been bitter cold with lake effects snows and ice, then a a clipper system, icy roads, school closings, power outages in areas that got more ice than snow and white knuckle driving all over the midwest for days and days and days…now as soon as it moves east it gets a name. Too funny. I see they are now calling it “Winter Storm Jonus”…this too shall pass…until the next winter storm or April arrives.
We are in DC area, too. Trying to decide when to take the house temp up in case power goes out. The food will be fine outside in coolers but we will be cool inside with no heat. Even with gas, the fans circulating it are electric. Last time it got mighty cool inside.
We in Maryland, son was supposed to fly back to Iowa Saturday morning. The airline just starting allowing changes without penalty. He is re-booked to leave late Monday night (I knew we could never count on clear roads from Baltimore to DC by Sunday). All he has to do now is find a ride back to campus at midnight. Only other option is $125 taxi. Glad he loves his school, just wish it was easier to get to.
We just had our generator serviced so we should be fine. We’re flying home Thursday now instead of Friday. I haven’t been home in weeks so I’ll be hoping to score a few things from the grocery store. It will probably look pretty bleak. I’m looking forward to hibernating for a few days watching movies in my jammies with some wine I’ve been saving.
personally our condo board and management company mismanaged snow removal so badly last year we lost our insurance due to all the ice dam claims, and the new ins company is charging us 30% more. they refuse to have an open mind about roof raking. I do my own and for 25 years haven’t had any damage or leaking. I paid $30 for the rake. we pay exorbitant sums for snow plowing and salt and surcharges when we go over budget. now they are forcing everyone to pay $2K for more insulation but still refuse to proactively rake the roofs. another resident group is pushing to remove all the shingles to install a better ice/water shield, but the shingles were just replaced 10 years ago and they have a 40 yr warranty and don’t leak when it rains. the problem is the snow. I have no problem putting down a better protective layer in 30 years when we replace the shingles. they all just want to throw money at the problem and sit at home and do nothing when there’s 3 feet of snow on the roof. agh!
If it were predicted to happen on a school day, my kids would be wearing their PJs inside out, flushing ice cubes down the toilet, putting a spoon under their pillow and a stapler in the fridge - that supposedly is the best “recipe” for causing a school snow day in our town to materialize! But af shucks, it seems Saturday is the target so they’ll likely just sleep in.
I know this sounds selfish to all those suffering, but I wouldn’t mind getting stuck in Baltimore for awhile. Two hours late I start getting paid 150%, two days late, 200%. As long as the hotel has heat, food, a gym and television, I’m set. No power, ugh! Got to be a silver lining in this somewhere.
