Okay, I know I'm always saying that I love snow and snow storms but this past weekend was really horrible. All the bad weather you midwesterners had came ovr Lake Erie and hit us with almost hurricane force. 8" to 24" of heavy wet snow in less than 24 hours. Not unusual for here BUT the trees and power lines couldn't take it and it looks like we're in a war zone.The driving ban has just been lifted in most areas. Schools are closed at least for this week.
We were lucky, our power was only out for four days, some people won't get theirs back till sometime next week.
Everyone who didn't have a generator lost all the food in our fridges and freezers,this includes many stores and restaurants.There was no drinking water for many people because we have to boil the tap water and without power, there's nothing to boil it with. Forget bottled water, it was gone the first afternoon.
You had to have cash to buy anything because the banks couldn't process credit and debit cards.
So far seven people died, one was crushed by a fallen branch, the rest accidents and carbon monoxide poisoning from trying to stay warm.


Associated Press
6 Deaths Blamed on Freak Snow Storm
By CAROLYN THOMPSON , 10.17.2006, 12:12 AM

Four days after the record-setting snowstorm hit, nearly 200,000 homes and businesses remained without power, and a carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator was blamed for three deaths, officials said Monday.

At least three other people died earlier in the storm, which dumped up to two feet of heavy snow on Buffalo and surrounding areas Thursday and Friday.

Some community warming centers were filled to capacity Monday as about 195,000 remained in the dark, Mayor Byron Brown said. About 380,000 people originally lost power in the storm.

Most schools canceled classes Monday, and several large districts announced they would remain closed all week. In Buffalo, 21 school buildings were without electricity, while other districts worried buses would be unable to get down blocked streets.

National Grid spokesman Alberto Bianchetti said crews from 10 states and Canada were involved in the restoration effort, working in 12- to 16-hour shifts.

"This is certainly a storm and restoration effort that ranks among the most significant we've ever had," Bianchetti said.

About 150 National Guard troops were activated to help clean up an estimated 10 million tons of debris in Erie County, and Buffalo police has extra patrols on the street while businesses remain closed.
[Edited 10/18/06 9:31am]

See? Nobody cares...
Wait till YOU'RE starving and freezing in the dark and see if you like it.

I always worry about this. When I go to the grocery store ,
I call it 'the ration mart' because I wonder if people realise that there is only enough food/supplies in there to last the area one week!

Oh my god, I hadn't heard anything about this. That is terrible

I saw this on the news.

So sorry to hear this. Please take care and I'm sure a lot of Orgers' thoughts will be with you. Hang in there and all the best.

SpisaRibb said:

It's true, we walked to the store once the power was out and the wires on the ground weren't live any more. The shelves were empty, we were able to get a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and some apples. That was Friday, the stores are just restocking now. Water was the worst, couldn't find water anywhere, couldn't drive anywhere to look for it either. It's still hard to find. And they put the prices up.

I care, Shelly...



Stay safe...

CarrieLee said:

We knew it was coming but no one was ready for how bad it was and we're supposed to get hit again later this week.

CarrieMpls said:

Hope it's not a sign of how this winter is going to be.

cborgman said:

shellyevon said:

onenitealone said:

Thank you, you know the worst was not knowing how anyone else was doing. My Mom lives about nine miles from me and I didn't know how she was for two days.She was really cold but okay, her neighbors made sure she was alright.We finally drove there on Sunday and cleaned up all the tree branches in her yard.
We lost so many trees.

mrdespues said:

I know YOU care I'm alright. We're supposed to get hit with another storm by the weekend, but this time we'll be ready.

luv4u said:

thanks!!

talk about getting winter thrust upon you!!
i had no idea it was that bad from the storm
i haven't even found my mittens yet

if i was without power i would be screwed
i hardly ever have cash on me
i have a little bit of bottled water from the last time i was scared from a storm
and i would run through what food i have in the house before too long.

i hate the silence when there is no power
and i don't think i even have any batteries to run a radio!

glad you are okay shelly

Wow! I didn't know this was going on! My prayers go out to you guys.

emm said:

Thanks,we're okay so far, it's really windy and raining hard now so they put the emergency warnings back up. Ihe masses of debris and branches are amazing.
Many streets are still impassible and the homeowners are responsible to get the wires attatched back to their houses where they've been ripped down so it may be quite a while before everyone has power again.
We were caught without much cash too. Friday was payday for all of us and there was no way to get the checks or cash them. Thought we'd be okay with our cards but no such luck. Plus we had to stay inside until it calmed down outside. We took the dog out Thursday night and all you could hear was the trees breaking, sounded like gunfire. Had to run right back in because with the wind it wasn't safe even in a clearing. We lost so many trees and the ones left are going to be scarred and deformed.
I had candles and we were able to get batteries for a small radio for the news and the hockey games. We were quite dehydrated and hungry by Sunday when we could get out more. Played more card games by candlelight than I want to think about.
Most everyone lost everything in their fridges and freezers, there was a place giving away dry ice but no one could get there.
I'm usually prepared for winter storms but this was so early in the season.

UCantHavaDaMango said:

Thanks, now they're saying we may get hit again this weekend. We'll be ready this time.

I knew it was bad but not that bad. Stay safe Shellyevon

Man, these natural disasters are starting to reach "End Times" proportions.
It ain't even winter yet.
Hope things return to normal for you soon.

Nothinbutjoy said:

TY, We're good right now. You know, it wasn't the amount of snow that fell, it was the combination of the heaviness and the wind, plus the trees aren't dormant yet. People on the western side of the Great Lakes don't get the full impact of the "lake effect" weather that we experience. We're good once Lake Erie freezes, but the storms coming in over all that open water just adds to the power of the storms.

shellyevon said:

That is fucked up. Why can't people forget about money for one fucking minute when stuff like this happens??

I'm glad to hear you're ok...I had not heard about this at all till I saw your post (I don't have TV, and had not turned on the radio at all today)

alwayslate said:

It happened so fast, absolutely a freak storm, like "Day After Tomorrow" on a small scale.
Most people will have their power back by the end of the week. The stores have everything back in stock, except for a few things that are still hard to find like batteries and flashlights. And they said the tap water is safe to drink now.So it's pretty good now, thank you.

Nikster said:

Thanks
We found water and batteries on Sunday at Walgreens for a couple dollars more than usual, they left the original prices on the shelves. We saw oranges for $2.50 each at Tops. Prices are pretty much back to normal now.

Hope that everything works out for you, yours and the area. I was stationed up in Watertown (Ft. Drum) for 5 years and I got used to the nasty winters...I was there for the ice storm that hit in '98...so I feel your pain....our housing area waited for the power to be restored for well over a week....and the clean up from that lasted almost that whole year....I have a lot of old Army buds who live in the Buffalo area as well.....

again take care....be safe...

Huge kudos to everyone that are helping to clean everything up, the city and county workers, firemen and police have been wonderful.
The men and women of National Grid have been working around the clock.
The National Guard have also been everywhere,clearing the larger debris and making sure everything is safe again.

reneGade20 said:

Watertown is one place that gets worse weather than we do.Beautiful area but rough winters .The National Guard has been wonderful, it really felt good to see them here. Buffalo is a big Army town .
You take care and stay safe too.