East Coast 2010 Snow Storms

[ZombieGranny]

ozwyn, might try a fondue pot.
It'll heat up things, and probably not be considered a stove by anyone.
Around here, you can get them for $3 - $4 at the used store, and $15 - $20 new.

[FanaticalModerate]

I am hoping that shoveling the snow off the roof over top of the gutters will allow what little sunshine there is to melt the ice, though the temp is still well below freezing.

Shoveling the snow to create bare patches of dark shingles should allow for the absorption of enough solar radiation, even if the overall temp is a little below freezing. It ought to work.
I do that with my long driveway sometimes - shoveling stripes in it, letting it loosen up for an hour, widening the stripes a little, waiting another hour, repeat until done. I'd be tempted to try that on my roof, but I hate "low level" heights!
I've been thinking about tossing a little calcium chloride up there. I'm first trying to verify with a local roofer and a local cement guy that this would not damage shingles, gutters, patios, etc.

[Doctor Jest]

Yeah, I read that earlier in the thread, but the idea bothers me. I know salt can damage concrete. I just had a new roof installed this past summer, and it cost me about 6 grand. I'd be really hesitant to toss salt or CaCl up there unless I was sure it would not damage the shingles.

But I do feel better that I got some of that off the roof. Hopefully you're right and a little sunshine will help with the ice.

Shoveling the driveway has gotten to be a daily ritual, and my back is beginning to resent it.

[FanaticalModerate]

Yeah, I read that earlier in the thread, but the idea bothers me. I know salt can damage concrete. I just had a new roof installed this past summer, and it cost me about 6 grand. I'd be really hesitant to toss salt or CaCl up there unless I was sure it would not damage the shingles.

But I do feel better that I got some of that off the roof. Hopefully you're right and a little sunshine will help with the ice.

Shoveling the driveway has gotten to be a daily ritual, and my back is beginning to resent it.

Same here - new roof, concrete to worry about.
My google-fu hasn't been enough to tip me one way or the other, except for hints that calcium chloride doesn't seem to be as bad as sodium chloride (but that's according to calcium chloride marketeers). I did determine that it doesn't void the warranty on my shingles.
If I get a clear FTF answer, I'll post it - by then we'll probably be getting ready to rake leaves next fall.

[Doctor Jest]

I saw a method dealing with this on a local news station's web site. they suggested filling socks with calcium chloride aand placing them in teh gutters (before the snow, I would think). Anyway, here is the link:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/wea ... etail.html

[LowKey]

I saw a method dealing with this on a local news station's web site. they suggested filling socks with calcium chloride aand placing them in teh gutters (before the snow, I would think). Anyway, here is the link:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/wea ... etail.html

You mean so the calcium chloride can join the run off inside your gutters and corrode them too?

[Finch]

i got some serious "ice daming" in my gutters causing a small leak (really just a water spot)

what a pain. I went out on the latter an cleared about 4 feet of roof up from the gutter that did the trick. Lucckally i have a cap cod so its not so high to the gutter.

My new neighbors gutters broke due to the weight they have a "bi-level"

[ozwyn]

ozwyn, might try a fondue pot.
It'll heat up things, and probably not be considered a stove by anyone.
Around here, you can get them for $3 - $4 at the used store, and $15 - $20 new.

hmm.. this looks like it has possibilities, especially give the size of the pot. Might be a good soup solution at the least.

[Shogun]

I second the kerosene stove option. If you have the cash, order a kerosene heater as well. They work amazingly well and are both safe to use indoors, provided you do not shut yourself up in a room and seal all the vents. Normal air seepage, don't close off any rooms with the heater running and no problem. Kerosene is not volatile at all like gas especially at cold temperatures. Order some candles too.

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-550B725-E ... 254&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Sengoku-HeatMate- ... 228&sr=8-8

http://www.amazon.com/Sunnyside-Corp-70 ... 228&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... rn&x=0&y=0

If you have a balcony, a two cycle or other generator might work for you... The two cycle jobs are small and many of them today have some kind of inversion kit to make them quieter. Works, generally speaking. Get yourself one and a 400 watt electric heater. If that can't happen, then buy a REALLY BIG UPS / battery backup. Should get you buy with a small heater like the below.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimus-H-4110-9- ... 41&sr=8-10

I know a guy that home offices (converted garage apartment). In any event, he took about 8 server battery back up units and installed them in to his office area. Basically, had an electrician build power into the UPS system and then back out, so everything in that room runs on battery. Also had a special switch ran to use a generator in case of line failure. He has a small refrigerator (larger than the dorm ones, but not full size) and Chest Freezer and a window AC unit. Hurricane Ike hit and it didn't faze him. Well, he lost internet off and on, now he has hughes net... Oh, the best part, it was written off as a business expense. Just saying...

[Doctor Jest]

Uh-oh. Here we go again:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather- ... 2010-02-23

[MaxRite]

Bring it on!!!!

[FanaticalModerate]

What's another foot or two at this point, eh?

i got some serious "ice daming" in my gutters causing a small leak (really just a water spot)

what a pain. I went out on the latter an cleared about 4 feet of roof up from the gutter that did the trick. Lucckally i have a cap cod so its not so high to the gutter.

My new neighbors gutters broke due to the weight they have a "bi-level"

Sorry to hear about the ice/water damage.
I would sacrifice quite a bit if you could be persuaded to post a picture of you on a ladder, thwacking away at the ice with a katana. Bonus points if the ladder is wrapped in blue wire.


On my roof, I decided to forego the chemical fix: I eventually recognized that I have lousy drywall and gutters - and it's not worth risking harm to my good shingles and good concrete to protect them. So far so good.

[stimpy321972]

figures, I just got my driveway cleared off and can walk to the garage without slipping and sliding.

[ozwyn]

yeah looks like we are in for another hit. Might "just" be 5 more inches but it seems like those estimates keep going up.

If I can keep power, I won't care much about the snow.

[Murph]

Yup, suppose to get hit tonight and into tomorrow.

[Finch]

im going to ignore this storm and hope it doesn't happen

[Flex]

That's okay; I wanted more chainsaw practice anyway.

...Wait, you mean I have to shovel all this crap? %&^&*@#

[Murph]

Oh yeah, it's on and poppin:

STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH MAY GUST TO 60 MPH OVERNIGHT AND FRIDAY.

WINDS THIS STRONG WILL CAUSE DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS...AND MAY KNOCK DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES.

Looks like it's time to bust out the rolls of quarters to weigh my pockets down.

[TravisM.1]

I'm right on the edge of this storm's projected path, supposed to get some winds and some snow, but no crazy 60mph, 15" shit.
The wife was supposed to go to harrisburg tommorow to take a nursing test. She called and cancelled. If it gets too bad, they might shut down where I work; that last mid-week storm we had caused them to shut down at 3pm until 7am the next morning.

I'm still ready from the last storm, so we'll be alright here.

[Oneswunk]

After the all the snow we have got this year this is nothing but a dusting. Replaced the blown front drive shaft in my XJ so 4x4 is back running strong. So I'm looking forward to some wheeling and snowbqin.

[stimpy321972]

we think we have it bad,


http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AZQ0Kq3u1kJbZGR6NGc1M25fMGQ0MzU1YmRi&hl=en

[yale]

This from the AP-

Feb 28, 1:26 AM EST

Thousands still lack power after Northeast storm

By NORMA LOVE
Associated Press Writers
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Frustration turned to resignation Saturday for hundreds of thousands of people in the Northeast struggling to survive another day waiting for utility crews to restore electricity after powerful storms socked the region with heavy snow, rain and hurricane-force winds.

The region was left to deal with the fallout of gusting winds that created near-blizzard conditions this week in what was the third strong storm this month for some areas. Parts of New York got more than 2 feet of snow while some areas of coastal New England were drenched with flooding rains.

One man was killed by a falling snow-laden tree branch in Central Park in New York City, and two people in Candia, N.H., died in a house fire caused by improperly using a propane heater to stay warm, fire officials said.

The highest wind reported from the storm was 91 mph off the coast of Portsmouth, N.H. - well above hurricane force of 74 mph. Gusts also hit 60 mph or more from the mountains of West Virginia to New York's Long Island and Massachusetts.

Frustration was beginning to show on Charlotte Letteney's face Saturday at Concord High School, one of 24 shelters in New Hampshire. Letteney, 64, of Allenstown, arrived Friday night with her 66-year-old husband, who is a paraplegic, two granddaughters, her grandson-in-law and 6-month-old great-grandson.

The family left their mobile home when the temperature dropped to 46 degrees and Letteney's hands had gone numb, leaving behind four parrots in covered cages and a couple of days' worth of food for their dog, Bosco. They have no car - a city van brought them to the shelter - and no way to get home to feed the animals or to let the dog out.

"He'll go out in the kitchen, and I'll have to sterilize my floor," Letteney said.

The Letteneys are among more than 1 million customers across the Northeast who lost power because of the storm, and as of Saturday afternoon more than half of them were still without electricity. New Hampshire's electrical grid was the hardest hit, with more than a quarter-million customers still without power. New York had more than 160,000 outages and Maine about 67,000.

Some residents were warned they'll be without electricity for up to a week, as uprooted trees and fallen utility poles hindered utility crews.

Bow, N.H., Assistant Fire Chief Dick Pistey compared the situation two years ago during a powerful ice storm when ice quickly coated trees, bringing down tree limbs and power lines, leaving millions without power - some for two weeks.

"It's deja vu all over again," Pistey said.

In Londonderry, N.H., Irene Stanley, 68, was sitting in a rocking chair next to a wood stove to keep warm, her royal blue beta fish in its container nearby. Stanley, who managed without power for nearly two weeks during the ice storm two years ago, said her mission for the day was to buy batteries to keep her radio operating.

In York, Maine, 70-year-old lobsterman Pat White, was able to use his generator to help cook a pancake breakfast Saturday to feed his neighbors who were without power - a father, his daughter and her baby. White and his wife, Enid, were planning what to serve them for dinner.

"We've got to use up some of the stuff in the refrigerator," he said.

Nick Vermette, 49, a safety specialist for Central Maine Power, the state's largest utility, was supervising crews restoring power in Portland on Saturday. He said the 17-hour days are exhausting.

"By the time you drive home take a shower, try to get to sleep, get up and come back, you're averaging four to five hours sleep," he said.

---

Associated Press Writer Kathy McCormack contributed to this report.

OK. What can we learn from this.
1-Power can be out for days after a storm like this. The report says they are telling some poeple to expect to be without power for a week. Nothing new but for some reason some people just don't plan on this. Hopefully the majority of us here at ZS realise this can happen and have prepped for it.
2-There are several ways to die in a storm like this. We think auto accidents and the like but look at the guy who was killed by a falling tree limb. Also, be extreamly careful with fire. Heating your home with a propane stove is dangerous. If the CO2 doesn't get you then the possibility of catching the house on fire is there.
3-Look at the story of the lady who had to go to the school shelter. No car. No heat in a mobile home. No plan on taking care of the pets beyond leaving food behind. Ladies and gentlemen, that is what we call prep failure. This isn't the first time bad storms have hit this area. With a paralized family member and several kids in the house you should have plans to deal with winter weather before it gets so bad that you are sitting at a shelter thinking about your dogs crapping on the kitchen floor.
4-Compare the above situation to the 2 examples of people managing to get through the storm with out major problems. Mrs Irene sitting by her wood stove with her fish ready to ride it out like she did the ice storm a couple of years ago. Mr Pat who not only has enough for himself but is cooking pancakes for the neighbors. Mrs Irene and Mr Pat, you guys rock. Keep on keeping on.
5-Finally, those crews who drive in from all over the nation to help clear the roads and get the power back on are working their butts off. If you see them be sure to thank them and let them know you appreciate the work they are doing to get things fixed.

[NoAm]

Great reality check Yale, thank you! It's amazing how cheap kerosene heaters are when they are off season. We bought one 3-4 years ago new, for under $40. That coupled with our kerosene in the garage and our preps we are ready to rock. We also have 2 wood burning fireplaces, but I know not everyone could have those. Kerosene Heaters are safe (a little smelly) and affordable for anyone's preps. They were likening that storm up North to a snowicane, the storm on the radar looked just like a hurricane! Amazing!