Ice Storm Predicted

There is an ice storm predicted in our area, but we don’t know how bad it will be.

Here is a picture I took in 2002, the last time we had a really bad ice storm.  As you can see, the ice coated the trees and made them bend over or break, and the falling branches and trees broke the power lines so the power went out.  It was strange that the streets weren't slick during that storm, so we could drive all over, even though there was no power.  Our phone was out too, even though it was a landline with a cord.  

That was a huge ice storm, so the power was out for millions of people from Tennessee and North Carolina, so the power companies had a very bad time getting all the lines fixed.  

Another ice storm here (sometime in the early 1990‘s) coated everything with a thick layer of ice, you couldn't even go out your front door without falling down.

I am hoping this one will be minor compared to those.

Charge your cell phones, cameras, laptops, and ipods.  Put gas in your cars, in case the gas stations are without power.  Get out your flashlights and lanterns and heavy sleeping bags or blankets.

Practice lighting your gas log or fireplace.