The Big Storm: Why Everyone Wants to Come to Our Place for the Zombie Apocalypse
on July 17th, 2012I never heard of a derecho – a land hurricane – until we got hit with one. Unfortunately, our area was one of the hardest hit, and many people did not get power back for over a week. We have our own generator, so had most modern conveniences. When this pole snapped in front of our house, it took the lines down for everyone on the street except us.
This pic was taken a full week after the storm. When I posted this on my FB page, a few people commented that our services must be very poor. I remind people that our hard working lineman had a lot to do, we are in a very remote rural area, and one of the lineman died of heat stroke while working repairs. They did the best we could, and we are very grateful.
My corn crop was flattened.
I went out every day, propping up each stalk with rocks and poles. Within a few days, it started to spring back.
Some stalks came right up on their own. Corn roots are awesome and strong.
Many downed trees on our land, but nothing serious. No one hurt. Lots of cleanup though.
The neighbors weren’t so lucky. It looked like a tornado had been through in some areas.
Cleanup and clearing took roughly two weeks.
We’ve had a series of bad storms after this one, and with all the damaged trees, there were power outages to follow. All our clocks are off the mark. No one knows what time it is.
A rescue! These trucks lined our street. There were more than 20 at the local diner. I haven’t seen that many eligible bachelors in years.
Not that the joint is jumping around here, but getting from A to B was problematic for awhile.
Much of the clean-up came courtesy of the old boy network. Out here, everyone seems to carry a chain saw in their truck. No one waited for the state to do what can be done with our own hands. Grab a saw, take it to whatever tree was in the street, drag it aside, clear the road.
It was over 100 degrees every day that week. I don’t know how these fellows endured it!
Everyone was very kind to one another, and one of our neighbors rolled up on his golf cart with great packs of bottled water to share. We had one of the only working refrigerators and freezers, and offered drinks and ice. Our mailman came up and asked for water, and went away with Gatorade.
A few people got their generators stolen, but ours is bolted in, settled into a concrete bed. It runs for three months on propane. Everyone wants to come to our place for the Zombie Apocalypse.
The only serious drawback was our central air conditioner didn’t seem to want to work. But we have a window unit, and half the house is below ground, so it stayed pretty cool. Also, with the power fluctuations, I had trouble working. I finally gave up the third time the computer ate a job. Analog art will survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Computer art, not so much.
We are some of the only people we know with landlines. Landlines survived the storm. Cell phone towers did not. So, we had phones, but there was no cell phone left to call. However, after the Great Cell Phone Fail of 2012, there has been a rash of orders for landlines in this area. Sometimes the old ways are best.
I was without power for 5 days due to the storm. I had gone grocery shopping a few days before so a bunch of meat and veggies went bad. If the power outage had happened in the winter, I may have been able to salvage them. In this instance, it was brutal. Couldn’t really sleep for more than an hour or two at a clip. I was doing okay until my phone died. Never realize how cut off one is until something like that happens. Wound up sleeping in my office at work on Monday night to get out of the heat.
Whenever I buy a house, I’m definitely looking into getting a generator. Being on the 12th floor of an apartment building in 100 degree weather is not my idea of a good time.
Jeremy, that is terrible! You are living the Technology Trap!
Hey, y’know if you’re interested, this is a great opportunity to meet a hard-working mate!
Indeed, Colleen. I’ve had my phone for a few years so it doesn’t keep a charge for very long; thus it was very frustrating when it went kaput. Though the heat sure did help me wake up early without an alarm clock.
In spite of the benefits of where I live (walking distance to the trains, buses and grocery store), when the infrastructure is compromised it can be very frustrating. The cold I’m used to and can deal with that. The heat just knocks all drive out of me. Someone stupidly said why didn’t I just use a fan when my central air went out. I looked at him for a bit before he realized his folly. Oddly, when the hurricane hit months ago I didn’t lose power.
People are so accustomed to urban living, they just can’t relate to anything else. When I tell people where and how I live, they are gobsmacked. They just can’t believe it.
I’ve maintained a land line for that same reason (cell blockage when there’s an earthquake). Its service is currently suspended, but I mean to get it reinstated as soon as I can (plus my DSL was on it – boy do I miss that!).
But wow on the local damage.
I maintain my land line for the same reason. However, the monopoly that controls the telephone line is doing the hard sell to get people to switch to their fiber optic system. Only problem it needs power at your end to decode the signal and the back up battery system only lasts 8 hours which is not enough given the history of some of our extended power outages.
I see back up generators in everybody’s future!
Well, my grandfather used to sell appliances for the 12-volt Delco systems that many farms had before FDR electrified the countryside. As for corn, well, after a few tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in the Midwest, I guess they adapt pretty well! (Dunno about the grasshoppers, which are plaguing Colorado right now…)
I used to live in Washington Heights in NYC. The subway is 18 stories under ground (because the land elevation is so high), the George Washington Bridge is nearby for evac to the mainland (I-80), or one can wander eastward into the Bronx. So that area can handle most disasters. Now I’m up at the top of the Bronx. There’s bus, train, subway, and interstate (and the Bronx River). I have a cell, but there are pay phones all around (which I used on 9/11, as I didn’t have a cell phone then).
If the Zombie Apocalypse hits, I’m heading to Rikers Island. Blow the one bridge. Use Laguardia airport as a staging ground. Quarantine Staten Island first (for farms), then Long Island.