How did you deal with the ice storm? (Springfield, Aurora: real estate, 2010)

[NOLA2SGF]

Hi! I'm tentatively planning to retire to Springfield in about 2010. Right now I live in New Orleans, and Springfield looks pretty good from here. A small town, very reasonable real estate prices and cost of living, nice people, reasonably low crime (compared with New Orleans), economic vitality (again, compared with New Orleans), and the peace and natural beauty of the area are all appealing to me. I visited there twice in 2006 and was SO impressed. But I don't know much about living in colder climates.

My question is this - - how did you keep your pipes from freezing during the ice storm? With electricity off, I would imagine that even gas heat would not work, because the (electric) fan to distribute it would not work.

I know that this ice storm was unusual, but still I am thinking that (when I move there), I should probably get a house with a wood-burning fireplace to help keep the house warm if electricity goes off like this another time. Is that the best way to deal with things? I probably would never use a fireplace under normal circumstances since I don't like lugging logs around.

Also, were there problems with the city sewerage due to the electric outage? (We had that problem after Katrina, which is why I ask). Thank you for your comments or suggestions!

[MoMark]

You're right about the power being out making the houses vulnerable to freezing. As for the ice storm, it took about two weeks before we could even start to tackle the damage because the ice was so thick on everything and dangerous to work under trees, etc. Only when the ice began dropping off the trees and retreating on the ground was it possible to start cleaning up.
I live on acreage in the country and my heating is propane. My fireplace is propane fueled too and I've rarely used it. This time it was the only heat source in the house that worked, so I had it on high 24/7. My neighbors also loaned me two propane portable heaters that blow out enormous heat to help get my house temperature back up to avoid pipes freezing. I opened all the cupboards and doors to areas with plumbing to allow the heat to reach them, then placed the heaters in strategic areas and closed off the bedrooms without bathrooms. My house went from 37F to 72F in six hours and my pipes were saved.
We've spent, my neighbors and I, probably 30hrs. so far cleaning up our acreage. They cleaned most of mine up with three grown men (including me) and four teenage boys. I've still got one area left to tackle and some cosmetic issues to take care of.
My neighbor has 3 acres and virtually all of it was destroyed (even his house and garages were damaged, though not severely). We started him yesterday at 7am in 13F cold and worked all day through almost 5pm. It began snowing heavily about 1pm and we worked in near whiteout though anyway until it started getting dark. We got four large oaks and an elm cut up and turned into firewood. We dragged limb debris from all over breaking five men and seven teenage boys into two teams, each working their own zone centered around a bonfire to burn debris. We made enormous progress! I looked out at my neighbor's property this morning from a window and it looks remarkably different today than it has through most of January. When you get 12 men working with chainsaws and working with a plan and in unison...you get sh it done. I'm also grateful for the progress for my neighbor as he took it worse than I did. I was on the verge of depression and feeling totally overwhelmed and down after I saw what the storm did to my property, plus...I was here during all three days of it listening to the trees crash down in thunderous explosions and the house shaking at times from the impacts near it. My neighbors have a salt/sand business and had prepared by going into Springfield and renting a motel room so their truck would be on standby to do their business. They didn't hear the destruction and for whatever miracle of luck, their hotel room kept power. I went there myself to shower and shave using their roomkey at one point as I was a grimy smelly monster after a few days of not bathing.
They called me during the storm and asked if their home was ok. I had to tell them that a tree had crashed on their sunroom and that I couldn't see if there was damage to it or not. When my neighbor's wife asked me how things looked...I just said..."well...Larry's going to flip out". She then said: "Is it that bad?"..and I said.."Helen, it's worse than you can imagine. I wish I could tell you differently. Just let him know that the house looks basically ok". He is even more anal about his property than I am and he was truly in despair when he saw how bad the damage was. So I'm happy his property is getting cleaned up.
Saturday coming we intend to finish mine and his. I'm getting more optimistic whereas I was in despair seeing how my trees were butchered and my property utterly turned into a war zone after the ice storm. It's beginning to look much better.
I have two acres of forest behind the house and I'm letting nature take it's course. I don't have energy to clear a forest out, but a big tree is still lying over my chicken house and that needs a chainsaw.

[Kymmacg]

G'day to Louisiana and thanks so much for the loan of your electrical workers!

I live about 20 miles outside of Springfield, toward Mt. Vernon, and we were one of the harder hit areas. (We are also the hardest hit tornado wise... 3 in as many years, primarily centered around Aurora). At one point I believe our lil electric company had 80% of its clientele without power. Personally, I was without power from the first day, Friday, until the following Monday... about 10 days total. I moved in with my brother for the first night (whilst it was still an adventure LOL) and we tried to keep warm with propane heaters, etc. But the inability to restock either propane or water drove us all to my cabin at Table Rock where the storm had not hit so badly and power was still available. Ironically, my pipes to the shower house burst there but not to the main house. My primary residence remained intact and without major damage.

Keeping your pipes warm in the absence of heat is a challenge and I have already had one experience (in 2002) of bursting. After that I covered all the pipes closest to exposure with thermal blanketing and, during the ice storm, ran the water from the hot water heater (propane) until the water ran out. One of those quirky things about living in the country is a well... if the electricity goes out then so goes the pump and water becomes an issue. Without water, there IS no sewage issue LOL but we have a septic system in place anyway and it would not have been an issue. I think after this experience I will re-evaluate my propane fireplace and look to put an wood burning insert in it's place. Whilst I have no love of hauling firewood, it is NOW in surplus ( ) and keeping a few ricks in the garage will not take up too much space. I think if you are concerned with the possibility (and in this area, any weather phenomenon is a possibility), you might seriously look for a home with alternative forms of heating such as a water stove or a wood burning fireplace.

[c3bunny]

I'm glad to hear that you are getting things back in order after that storm and that your neighbors and family were there to lend a hand. My in laws live in Springfield and they were without power for about a week and a half as well. They are new to the area and never thought about getting a generator. They kept warm by closing off the bedroom doors and turning on their gas oven. I never thought about it before now but I would think that the carbon monoxide could have been an issue. Anyways, they were finally able to get a generator and keep somewhat warm but no luck with their trees. They said that they lost just about all of the trees that they had in their back yard. At least none of them fell onto the house. My mother in law said that one of her biggest trees split right down the middle as if a giant axe hit it. She was sad that it split so badly but was glad that it didn't fall on her house or her neighbors house. My sister in laws house was without power for awhile as well. They did the same as my mother in law with the oven. I am hoping that when my husband and I find a house out there that it has a wood burning fireplace. We will also be purchasing a generator too. When I lived in Indiana as a child, I remember my mom leaving a small stream of water running in the bathrooms so that he pipes wouldn't freeze. Would that have worked at all during the freezestorm in MO do you think?

[MoMark]

Originally Posted by c3bunny

When I lived in Indiana as a child, I remember my mom leaving a small stream of water running in the bathrooms so that he pipes wouldn't freeze. Would that have worked at all during the freezestorm in MO do you think?

It works in a place like town where the water is stored in water towers and the sheer force of gravity gives the water pressure even without power.
But for those of us who depend on wells, once the power is out, there's no water pressure whatsoever so leaving the faucets running is a moot point.

[NOLA2SGF]

MoMark, I am so sorry to hear the extent of the damage in your area. My heart sincerely goes out to all those affected by this ice storm disaster. Sounds like your propane fireplace and the borrowed propane heaters worked out well. I have to admit that after reading the online News-Leader coverage, and reading your account, I will probably prefer a house with few to no trees nearby.

Kymmacg, you can borrow our electrical workers any time! We are so grateful for the help from so many other states and communities that we so desperately needed, after Katrina. Ten days with no power is no picnic. It’s interesting that the pipes to your main house did not break. I’ll bet you were relieved to find that out. A wood burning stove does sound like a good idea, and thanks for the suggestion. Even if I did not use it normally, during a power outage I’d rather haul firewood than have my pipes burst. Thanks for the suggestion.

C3bunny, I think a generator is probably a great idea. I will definitely be living within the city limits and on city water so I am glad to hear MoMark’s observation that locations with city water can avoid pipe freezing by keeping the water running. That definitely sounds like something I could do! If I didn't have a generator, maybe I could just leave the water running and keep warm in the kitchen with a gas stove.

Living in cold(er) climates is a skill. Most people who live there don’t even think about it, but there is a lot for me to learn.

[MoMark]

Originally Posted by NOLA2SGF

MoMark, I am so sorry to hear the extent of the damage in your area. My heart sincerely goes out to all those affected by this ice storm disaster. Sounds like your propane fireplace and the borrowed propane heaters worked out well. I have to admit that after reading the online News-Leader coverage, and reading your account, I will probably prefer a house with few to no trees nearby.

Kymmacg, you can borrow our electrical workers any time! We are so grateful for the help from so many other states and communities that we so desperately needed, after Katrina. Ten days with no power is no picnic. It’s interesting that the pipes to your main house did not break. I’ll bet you were relieved to find that out. A wood burning stove does sound like a good idea, and thanks for the suggestion. Even if I did not use it normally, during a power outage I’d rather haul firewood than have my pipes burst. Thanks for the suggestion.

C3bunny, I think a generator is probably a great idea. I will definitely be living within the city limits and on city water so I am glad to hear MoMark’s observation that locations with city water can avoid pipe freezing by keeping the water running. That definitely sounds like something I could do! If I didn't have a generator, maybe I could just leave the water running and keep warm in the kitchen with a gas stove.

Living in cold(er) climates is a skill. Most people who live there don’t even think about it, but there is a lot for me to learn.

You're right! I'm glad my house is out of the way of big trees too! They were close enough to drop huge limbs near the house, and one crashed into the deck lamp, but the house itself was spared, sometimes by just ten feet. I live in a brick house and I doubt the trees would have gone all the way through, but a direct hit would definitely pierce and crunch the roof.
While I have literally every tree (and there are hundreds of them damaged on my property) damaged, no trees are close to the house and I agree...after this, people will be cutting down trees too close to their homes. It's nice to have the summer shade, but the danger is too extreme. God was watching out for two nearby neighbors of mine whose houses are covered with trees and are in virtual shadow in the summer. Trees fell, split, dropped huge limbs, etc. everywhere but directly on their homes in the three-day storm. They were incredulous over their good fortune too. But I'll tell you...ever since the ice backed away, chainsaws are going night and day. Even a violent thunderstorm can sheer off huge limbs in the summer. It's best to keep the area around the house free of trees for sure. And if you live in the country, keep them away from your propane tank too!

[Hillman]

Ok I'm sorry Guys! I was without Electric for 9 days and main problem was being bored with no Computer or TV.

We had an Outhouse so that was taken care of.Heat with Wood Stove so that was taken care of.Had 5 Coleman Lanterns so that was taken care of.Had Propane Campstove and Big Bottle of Gas so that was taken care of.Drawed up water before the storm so that was taken care of.

Only thing is we had 3 Freezers Full,about day 7 stuff started thawing to where we had to think about doing something.So we canned up most we had.

Oh being on Well Water we drawed off it,until the Pressure Tank was drained.Throwed the Breaker off and opened the valves.

Hillman

[c3bunny]

I will have to keep the camping gear in mind when I move out there. I have lots of camping supplies that would come in handy during a time like that. Well hopefully it won't happen again anytime soon but would still like to be ready for it.

[Toria]

Originally Posted by NOLA2SGF

If I didn't have a generator, maybe I could just leave the water running and keep warm in the kitchen with a gas stove.
Living in cold(er) climates is a skill. Most people who live there don’t even think about it, but there is a lot for me to learn.

yikes ! Do NOT ever use a gas range to keep warm....that's a good way to kill everyone in your house - carbon monoxide can be deadly, and it's odorless.