So, we survived.

We lost power at noon-thirty Monday, hours before the real storm actually hit us. It wasn't even all that windy when it hit. Still not sure WHY we lost power when we did, but whatever. We were ready(ish) for it.

Chris had gotten home early that afternoon, and we took a midday nap shortly after the power died. Two hours later, he got up and checked the basement...and promptly freaked out. Apparently we had at least an inch or two in the basement coming in from both the sump pump and the back wall...and with the power out, this meant the basement took on water fast. So he cranked up the generator and hooked up the sump, and we pretty much dealt with the power loss for the following 2 days. We were home yesterday and took advantage of the generator with a few lights and the TV.

We had only minor damage to the house - a piece of trim fell off one of the dormers. Chris will investigate to see whether it will be easy to replace and/or worth it. We had no losses - not even food, because we were smart and filled the freezer with water on Saturday - and were mostly inconvenienced. While the power loss itself was a pain in the bum, and the house got VERY cold by Wednesday afternoon, it could have been far worse. Cold is easier to manage than excessive heat.

So. Things weren't that bad, and we learned a few things for the next time this happens...because there most certainly will be a next time. And chances are it'll be far worse than this one.

Attention locals: get your TP casseroles ready!

The panic is strong with this storm. As Hurricane Sandy slowly works her way toward land, newscasters and locals are panicking. The Mayor has already declared a state of emergency. Those of us who prep for things like this regularly are ready for Sandy, but there's one thing left for us to do.

We have to make our TP casseroles. Normally this is a winter-only recipe, but with the amount of panic I'm seeing around here, I think we can adapt it for hurricanes.

Reposted with permission, and with my edits in bold.

1 Forecast of at least 1 FRANKENSTORM
3 cups of Baltimore News Channel Reporter and TV Crew
3 tbsp of panic
1 closed school system (prior to the storm)
1" of rain, with significant wind
1 gal 2% milk
Doz & 1/2 large eggs
1 full loaf of Wonder Bread (white preferred)
1 Charmin value pack (8 rolls)

Take one mixing bowl and place the Baltimore TV weatherman's forecast of a high risk of FRANKENSTORM on the 6 PM evening news. Watch this newscast until you hear the word "storm," "wind gusts," or "FRANKENSTORM" repeated at least 6 times. At which point we then shake in 1 cup of the Baltimore News Channel Reporter & TV Crew doing live shots before one drop of water can even be seen. This live shot may include canned footage of newscasters looking out to sea for their elusive ratings.

At this point, take one of the 3 tbsp of panic and use it in the mixing bowl of sensationalism. Go to bed, and let the mixture percolate in the fridge over night. At 5am the next morning, arise from bed and check the local news to see that the TV crews are still indeed doing their live shots from last night. If they are, turn on your AM radio to 1090. If at least one school system has closed, look out your window to confirm no rain has hit the ground. At this point, mix in the 2nd tbsp of panic, wake and dress the kiddies so you can get them ready to go to the store.

While at the store, head straight for the diary case first. Eggs and milk are the first things to be picked over, followed by bread. Toilet paper will be the last product to be picked over of the four main ingredients. Do not purchase any other products as this will prevent the casserole from being adequately formed. Use the express lines in the grocery store, and chat with as many people as possible about the yet to occur storm in hopes you will induce enough panic to cause your sensationalism to build to ludicrous speed.

Exit the store to head home, but if you would happen to see any TV crews, make sure you stop and talk with them, mentioning the fact that you were fortunate enough to be the last person to get any of the key ingredients to make your casserole. Safe guard these items with your life because if they should be stolen, your life will most certainly come to a screeching, panic induced end.

Once at home, retrieve your mixing bowl from the fridge and let warm. Once the TV crews report the first drop has hit the ground, you can then mix in 3cups of milk, and your remaining tbsp of panic. Crack open 2 large eggs and place the remainder in the fridge. Fold in one roll of toilet paper and 4 slices of bread. Mix thoroughly until well blended.

Poor mixture into one medium sized casserole dish (preferably Pyrex) and let bake @ 350 degrees until the end of the storm.

Servings are variable by nature, and not known to contain any nutritious qualities.

Oh, and don't forget your pallets of water.

Ugh.

We're now onto day 5 without power.

This is the sort of thing I'd expect if we were, say, in the middle of nowhere. Heck, I'd expect it if I still lived a county over, where there were cows a 20-minute walk from my house. I certainly don't expect that in Baltimore CITY, where (generally speaking) the power doesn't go out for us.

What kills me, though, is this is an issue that could have been easily prevented. Heck, most of the outages were preventable. BGE simply refuses to do the proper maintenance and due diligence required in order to run an effective power company, and they do this in order to protect and increase profit margins.

In our little town in Harford County, where I used to live, our biggest cause of outages was squirrels. Not storms, not freak wind, not ice. Squirrels. Why? Because out there the county and the power company actually kept trees away from power lines (and squirrels apparently love to chew on the lines). I vividly remember major storms (both ice and rain) coming through and watching the power flicker, but it very rarely went out...and it always came back in a few hours. Even in the nasty ice storm of 1994, we retained power with nary a hiccup.

In the decade+ that Chris has been in the house, the trees have been trimmed once, and those who did the trimming left a limb sitting on the lines...but not attached to the tree from whence it came. Because that makes sense. In the 5 years I've been with Chris, the power has twice gone out for over 24 hours. Both situations were caused by trees damaging the lines or the transformer. Last time, the line was knocked off the pole, and this time there's no visible damage, so we're assuming the aforementioned limb hit the transformer.

Last night, Chris and I drove through an area north of Baltimore to assess the damage, as we have friends around there who have gone without power as long as we have. The first thing I noticed: there were bucket trucks up there. LOADS of them! I counted five in a 2 mile drive through the neighborhoods. Where are our trucks? The work locations list says they were working near our home yesterday, but I didn't see any trucks. I didn't even see a marked city-owned vehicle. There is no indication whatsoever that we have any priority.

So where does that leave us? Generatorless (because we have a specific model we're buying, and it's backordered to kingdom come), borrowing an outlet at a neighbor's house so the fish tank can filter for an hour or two a night, and generally miserable. It's frustrating knowing the Governor's on TV and all over the news saying how they're working diligently, blah blah blah...and it's especially disheartening when BGE gets a nice big fluff piece in the Baltimore Sun, touting how awesome they are for getting so many people back up and running in such a short time.

And here's an interesting little bit of information: in Florida, everyone would have had power by now, save a few individuals out in the boonies. Friends down there agree, and they've actually seen real hurricanes.

Frustration is high, morale and sanity are low, and BGE is not the shining star of success they'd like to be.




While I was writing this post, the power was turned back on. THANK YOU Michigan, Ohio and Georgia Power!

Interesting tidbit - I don't know if Chris got the names of the gentlemen who said this, but they say they've never seen a power company with this poor maintenance. What does that tell you, BGE?

So, we survived.

As everyone else is saying, this hurricane wasn't as bad as we were expecting. Chris and I were pretty much prepared for whatever it could toss our way, but we were really hoping we didn't lose power. Sadly, we did, and we've hit Hour 32 of no 'lectric to the house.

The worst part, though, isn't that we lost power. It's that my block is the only block in the neighborhood to lose power, and it's all because the city sucks horribly when it comes to maintaining trees in the easement behind us. Last year, after over 10 years of letters and phone calls from Chris and other neighbors, they finally came out to trim the trees. They left a limb hanging on the lines, and we're pretty sure that played a part in killing power to the block. I'm told there are tree people in the neighborhood (currently lounging on the side of their truck, if twitter photos are any indication), so hopefully power will be restored sometime today.

My fish will be happy. So will I - I have lots of baking to do.


DISCLAIMER: yes, I know, we should have had a generator. We'll be rectifying that soon.