A Semi Dark (we have no electric across the street) Hello From Ohio

I am sitting on the front porch at almost 11:00 eastern time watching the dark nothing across the street and listening to the sounds of the bugs and frogs make their way through the night and the neighbors are still communing on the corner to talk to one another about the day and what they have and have not experienced this week. Do I like the power being out? Not exactly. I don't think anyone has a good time losing food because the freezer isn't working or that the job that they should be going to tomorrow isn't going to be open due to the storm that ripped through our state.

The high note is that I have seen people I never knew help clear trees and bring their trucks to help those who couldn't haul the aftermath away themselves. They haven't asked for a dime, nor have they accepted anything but a kind word as they worked for hours in a neighbors yard that they themselves had never met. That aspect of the power being out makes my heart warm for us as a society. Its still so nice to see that fabric of community come together in times of need and really do something for each other. Its a good night. I hope all of you have the same around you. How is everyone? :)

It is a compact with its people to help each other survive the land, the sea, the sky.

That was the point of the post my friend. :)

YOU, made me smile.
I value people who can make me smile.


:hi: :pals: :pals: :hi:

right back at ya! :pals:

I have heard about winds of anywhere from 70-80 to 140 miles per hour. How strong were they where you are? Or do you not know yet?

the winds were tropical storm force when Ike hit here. We were one of the fortunate ones in terms of power. It was restored in three days and we had a generator to help with light and the food in the fridge. There are still hundreds of thousands of people without power according to the news this morning. My husband and I sat in a local park and watched the storm roll in. One of the most beautiful and powerful things I have ever seen. Neither one of us had heard that it would be so destructive. I think many people were caught off guard. Thank you so much for the post. Its always nice to see a friend. :)

Being Italian, I could not let a helping hand like that go unfed. Dopn't ask, just put out the food or at least cookies. As for the freezer, if you are careful about opening it, it will be cold enough to keep the food good for 36 hours or longer. Eat pork first, then beef, then chicken. Sausages and smoked stuff keeps longer. milk is good if keept at least cool. Try to stick to nuts and grains, rice is good for a long while. most vegatablesneed oly to be cool to stay good for quite a while. Dry powders like pancake mix will stay good for a very long time. At this time of year there are plenty of things growing that can get you through for a week or so.Canned stuff can be good for quite a while, save them until all else is gone. you are in a closenit group you may find a way to share a geeratorto run for an hour or two, that would keep everything for a long time

So many have had food spoil or go bad. The American Cross here is giving meals to those that lost so much. It sounds like your Italian family that you are surrounded with is a wonderful and loving circle. I had Italian Godparents and they were the most giving and kind people you could meet. Please tell them "Ti Amo". :pals:

I'm in Gates Mills, OH. (East of Cleveland.) Our power stayed on, but to the East & West it's still out. My in-laws are in Lyndhurst. Drove home in Ike not realizing how bad it was. Century old tree fell across the road right in front of our van. Lost a few trees at home including a beautiful 45 year old apple tree. But, we're still here & that's what's really important!

I'm not very old & I know we've gotten lots of rain from Hurricaines before, but I never remember I storm like Ike! We literally dodged branches driving home! I expected Dorothy to drop from the sky any moment!

We were doing the same thing. My husband and I had taken our daughter to the park not knowing that the storm would be so strong. The local news made it sound more like pop up storms and some wind. LOL. Either way I actually loved seeing it come in. I have never heard wind through trees like that. The branches dropping were a whole different ballgame. Stay safe! I am glad you are ok. You must be used to some heavy snow as well in your location. Keep warm this winter! :hi:

It was odd too that we got all that wind, but light rain. Usually, the opposite is true of these storms. Gives me a lot or respect for what it must be like to live thru a REAL hurricaine! Some people have got their power back today which is good.

Yes, we get some good snow here on the North Coast! The worst part is that we live in a hilly area so it can be challenging to make it home when the weather is bad! We live right on the edge of Geauga County also known around here as "The Snow Belt".

In eastern Indiana the wind gusts were 60 mph with regular winds at 25-35 mph. I didn't want to drive home by myself because I had driven a Geo Metro to work that day and was worried it'd get blown off the road, so a coworker offered to drive me home.

The damage seems to be fairly limited where I was. There was power out in some places, but it was back on by the next day.

They were saying maybe Friday, but now I'm hearing Monday. I read 75 mph winds, but my cable was out until last night so I didn't see the early coverage. Trees down all over. Power company & Cable trucks everywhere. Our power went out for 30 minutes or so around 4AM last night. Don't know what that's about!

No power loss here, but there were extensive outages nearby (mostly restored now). We were on the very edge of the storm, and I live east of where it was really bad.

September 17, 2008 – 10 p.m.update

PITTSBURGH – Approximately 12,500 Duquesne Light customers remain without service tonight as crews continue cleaning up the massive amount of damage caused by Sunday’s storm.

Northern and western Allegheny County, and Beaver County, continue to have the largest amount of customers still experiencing outages, as those areas saw the largest amount of destruction from the hurricane-force winds.
_______

edit:

They weren't "hurricane-force", but one NWS advisory posted sustained winds of 52mph at Beaver Falls, gusting to 60-something.

Its nice to see you! :pals: