Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Was wondering when the last major one was, I read some people talking about the ice storm of '98 that was pretty bad. We recently got a 3500w generator and cables to power most of the house. Isn't ideal, but we don't own the place and if it works it will be a lot better than nothing.
I'm thinking since my other half and I spent time preparing for this, that nothing will happen and we won't lose power, probably get a bunch of rain. Hopefully it works out that way anyways.
During a major "ice storm", how long are the roads undrivable for? I know this question is variable depending on how much ice there is and how much they treat them.... but could it be as long as week or just a few days max? Trying to figure out how much gas do I need to have for the generator...
Last edited by inthetrees; 12-21-2013 at 07:04 PM..
this one wont be as bad,,,we'll just have to wait and see...
alot has to do with the temps.... and where you are in maine
watch your step!!!! throw some sand on your driveway
I was more asking in the past how long has it happened, how long are the roads not drivable for....they are only predicting half an inch of ice or so here. Doesnt seem like much, but I read of people in '98 that were out of power for over a week. In that situation I wonder if I can go get gas for the generator 2-3 days in? Storing gas long term isnt really practical because of the ethanol. Would be nice if we could easily get ethanol free gas here.
I was more asking in the past how long has it happened, how long are the roads not drivable for....they are only predicting half an inch of ice or so here. Doesnt seem like much, but I read of people in '98 that were out of power for over a week. In that situation I wonder if I can go get gas for the generator 2-3 days in? Storing gas long term isnt really practical because of the ethanol. Would be nice if we could easily get ethanol free gas here.
The storm of 98 was a 100 year storm. Hope we don't get another like it for 80 or 90 years. Maine is a big state. How it's impacted varies depending on what part of the State is impacted. As for the roads, how well prepared are you? Logging roads are iced over much of the winter. Trucks and pickups use chains for travel. Do you have chains, then you can venture out any time on ice. Spiked snow tires are pretty good on ice as well. Now when the power goes out, depending on why it went out, will determine when it comes back on. In 98 there were hundreds of utility poles that snapped from the weight of the ice on the lines. Downeast it was 12 days before they got power back. Biggest concern is always getting the power back on as quickly as possible. I know folks who only had a gas range oven for heat for that 12 day period and they kept things from freezing up. A half inch of freezing rain is enough to cause issues with trees falling on power lines so keep your fingers crossed.
... During a major "ice storm", how long are the roads undrivable for? I know this question is variable depending on how much ice there is and how much they treat them.... but could it be as long as week or just a few days max? Trying to figure out how much gas do I need to have for the generator...
Where you thinking that this was going to big a 'major' storm?
'Undrivable', are you thinking that studs will not work on the roads after this storm?
We lived in NH in 2008 and went through an ice storm. Roads were bad for a couple of days. It wasn't just the ice, it was downed power lines and trees. We were without power for 5 long, miserable days. We did stay in a hotel for the last 3 of those days, but it was difficult to find any vacancies. Thank goodness we had a warm day in the middle of the stint. Our pipes didn't freeze, but my co-worker's did. This becomes a big concern when power is out for an extended time in the winter.
I really cringe at that "once in a lifetime" phrase when it comes to storms....In 2009, The next year after the ice storm, winter went fairly smoothly through Dec. and Jan. I thought we were home-free. "Errr, not so fast!" said Mother Nature. We had a major wind storm in late February. It had been fairly warm and the ground was saturated from all of the melted snow. Trees went down again, even the roots were pulled up from the soggy ground. 4 days without power that time around. Argh! True, it was a wind storm, not an ice storm, but I heard that "once in a lifetime" thing again. Seriously? Two once in a lifetime events in two years? I was growing weary and getting old quickly.
We've been back in Maine for three years (and I grew up here). In my experience, Maine is more organized and prepared in these situations. I wasn't here for the '98 storm though. I was in CA. My dad told me it was like a war-zone.
I was more asking in the past how long has it happened, how long are the roads not drivable for....they are only predicting half an inch of ice or so here. Doesnt seem like much, but I read of people in '98 that were out of power for over a week. In that situation I wonder if I can go get gas for the generator 2-3 days in? Storing gas long term isnt really practical because of the ethanol. Would be nice if we could easily get ethanol free gas here.
Put some marine stabil in the gas. a lot of gas stations won't have power either.
In 98 some people were without power for three weeks. The grange hall in Enfield was open for people who had no power. They had a huge commercial stew pot on the stove. People added to the pot every day. There all kinds of vegetables, beef, moose, venison and probably some roast pork. Seasonings were added and it was a great stew. WVOM called it miracle soup.
The power lines to the top of Passadumkeag Mountain where the 100.000 watt transmitter is located were all down. Volunteers dragged 100 pound propane tanks up the mountain and brought the empties back down. Charlie Horne of WVOM worked about 20 hours a day on the air to keep people informed. The whole high voltage line across Hancock County went down like a row of dominoes. It looked like people would be out of power for weeks and some were. After three weeks one lady called the radio station and said she was nice and warm. Had just taken a pan of buns out of the oven and was having a cup of tea as she watched the birds at the feeder. She volunteered to be the very last one in Maine to be reconnected to power.
Many people lost the contents of their refrigerators and freezers simply because they didn't know enough to put them out on the porch! Angus King was governor. When somebody told him that the Maine Militia was keeping WVOM on the air by dragging propane bottle up the mountain he had the National Guard helicopters deliver cargo nets of propane bottles to the mountaintop.
I was more asking in the past how long has it happened, how long are the roads not drivable for....they are only predicting half an inch of ice or so here. Doesnt seem like much, but I read of people in '98 that were out of power for over a week. In that situation I wonder if I can go get gas for the generator 2-3 days in? Storing gas long term isnt really practical because of the ethanol. Would be nice if we could easily get ethanol free gas here.
in 98,,,I and most everyone i knew was out of power, close to three weeks
i remember it well
thank god for the woodstove!! to warm and cook on,,,
i took a bunch of pics at the end of the storm,,,too bad it was a cheap camera,,, the trees were blanketed in ice
i remember taking my son out on a snowmobile ride in the field across the street-the sun made everything sparkle
the sound i wont forget is the "crunching" sounds of trees falling and branches breaking, and fallin in the woods,,, the ice was so heavy- my neighbor lost 5 old weeping willow trees
no one knows if we will lose power and for how long today,,
in '98, the signs were getting creative for the linemen- "free beer if you hook up the electricity"
NMLM
i listened to 103.9 during that time-charlie horn and tom ??
they did a great public service by fielding calls and asking neighbors to help folks in need
and i cant recall, one person getting robbed- from the thousands that got helped,,
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
