NE PA Snow Event Nov. 21-22, 2024

[JohnyMac]

Posting this here so I can send a link out to folks.

Situation:
Starting this evening at approximately 2000E hrs, and running for 24 hours, the current rain event will switch to snow as the temperature drops. BINGO NOAA* (Binghamton, NY) is predicting 6-18" of wet snow depending on elevation (+/- 1,500 Feet) and location within the five NE Pennsylvania county region. Along with the snow the area can expect heighted wind gusts of up to 20 mph. Due in part to the quantity of beetle killed Ash trees around the region, there is a 70%+ chance that a loss of power will take place.

Mission
Staring at 1200E hrs. I am requesting that all ARES, SKYWARN, and 4B MAG (Beans, Band-aides, Bullets, Bible Mutual assistance Group) begin to monitor the Elk Mountain repeater, 145.430 Mhz, Offset .600 Mhz, PL Tone 77.0 Hz in Union Dale, PA. to monitor for,

> Updated information,
> Priority TFC (Traffic)
> Emergency TFC

There will will be a quick check-in at 2000E hrs. on the Elk Mtn. repeater. Not Required.

Execution:
Friday, there will be a required check-in at 0800E hrs. for SKYWARN reports. The SKYWARN information to be collected in this order,

   > Station Call
   > Name
   > Location
   > Snow depth
   > Temperature
   > Elevation
   > Wind, Speed/Direction
   > Barometer, Reading & Climbing/Dropping
   > Additional comments

I will have the five area repeaters linked (Elk Mtn., Montrose, Forkston Mtn., Wilkes-Barre, and Red Rock**) for the 0800E hrs. check-in.

Along with the 0800E hrs. check-in, there will be a 1200E and 1600E hrs. check-in's. At the 1600E hrs. check-in it will be decided whether to have a 2000E hrs. check-in or not. Regardless, I recommend we all monitor our respective repeaters till 2000E hrs.   

Service Support:
Due to the makeup of the snow (Wet) and winds that may exceed 20 mph, combined with all the beetle dead Ash trees in the area, Claverack Rural Electric is expecting periodic power outages. Please make sure your fuel for generators is available, batteries in your radio shack are charged, and take the time to try your auxiliary power sources before the storm arrives. 

Command/SOI: (Signal Operating Instructions)

JohnyMac will be acting as NCS (Net Control Station). At this time, I am looking for an ANCS volunteer. The volunteer will mostly be involved with SKYWARN report recording and sending results to the county EOC (Emergency Operations Center) Director and BINGO NOAA. Also as a backup in case NCS is hit by a bus.

SOI (Signal Operation Instructions)

   Dates/Times,
      November 21, 2024
         > Begin to monitor the Elk Mtn. Repeater
         > 2000E hrs. a quick check-in to the Elk Mtn. repeater for any updates and to make sure equipment is
            working.

      P.A.C.E. (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency)
         P = Elk Mnt.
         A = Montrose
         C = SIGNAL
         E = 3.964 Mhz LSB

      November 22, 2024
         > 0800E hrs. check-in with SKYWARN report
         > 1200E hrs. check-in with SKYWARN report
         > 1600E hrs. check-in with SKYWARN report
         > 2000E hrs. check-in with SKYWARN report TO BE DETERINED...

   P.A.C.E. (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency)
      P = Elk Mtn., is Primary however the following repeaters will be linked, Montrose, Forkston Mtn., Wilkes-Barre,
            and Red Rock**
      A = Montrose
      C = SIGNAL
      E = 14.250 Mhz USB

       * = BINGO NOAA UPDATE 1500E Hrs

      ** = Elk Mnt. Union Dale, 145.430 Mhz, -.600 Mhz, PL 77.0 hz
              Montrose 147.375, +.600 Mhz, PL 77.0 Hz
              Forkston 147.210, +.600 Mhz, PL 77.0 Hz
              Red Rock 147.000 Mhz, +.600 Mhz, PL, 77.0 Hz
              Wiles-Barre 146.940 Mhz, -.600 Mhz, PL, 127.3 Hz


 

[Jackalope]

So, did it snow?

[JohnyMac]

@ Jackalope.

Yupper, in the end we received 8" of April like wet snow. Electric has been out since Friday at ~0500E hrs. 46,000 folks are without electric covering the 5-counties in NE PA.

The sun is out today and the solar array is sucking up the watts. I did top off my batteries last night with the generator though for 3-hrs.

Light has been mostly Aladdin Kerosene lamps and a few battery operated lamps.
Gas stations are closed due to no power to run pumps. 
The Starlink is hooked up to a solar (120V) line so we had uninterrupted internet.
The Sirius radio worked flawlessly and running off the radio shack auxiliary power.
Of course, the amateur radio equipment is on and running flawlessly too.
The woodstove, as usual, is just chugging along.
We have the Rinnai instant water heater so plenty of hot water.

We are as snug as a bug in a rug.

Going to dig my truck out and take a drive around. I suspect no date night tonight at a local restaurant. Everything seems closed due to power. Time to let the chickens out too, to soak up some of the sun.

Thanks for asking.

Funny story. I contacted our county Director of public safety early evening to get a list of warm up/ power up stations in the county. I was going to pass them along for folks without a generator. Via the local repeater, I have received several requests.

His reply was, "They are listed on the county FaceBook page". My rely was,

"Well if someone does not have electrical power, cell & internet service, how are they going to look it up".

No reply...Just crickets from him. 

I have invited members from our MAG over if they are cold, hungry, want a shower, or sleep and no takers as yet. One of the members shared with me that, "all the MAG members are set". 
 
Freedom Through Self-Reliance 

 

[Defiant_Faith]

Glad to hear you and your MAG members were prepped and are now "set" in the conditions you described. Brrrr...

[JohnyMac]

Okay, quick follow-up to put this drama to bed till the next one.

Power came on around 1700E hrs last night (Sunday). It started to come on at 1640E hrs. It would come on then off. Then on and then off, etcetera, till it remained on around the top of the hour.

All n' all it was a good test of our preps and 5kHw solar system. Since solar was minimal over the 60-hours we were out, I did have to top off our solar batteries with the generator. Typically only needed to run the generator for 2-hours or so a day. Had plenty of gas on hand so that wasn't an issue. Good thing since most gas stations were down due to no electric. There was one station a company owned EXXON that was pumping as they had a generator. The line to get gas was around 20-minutes long. Nothing like the lines of the late Jimmy Carter years.

My generator has a 30 amp 3-prong twist shore power socket and a 20 amp 3-prong 110/120v socket. I did not have 30 amp shore power cord so I used a 12-gauge extension cord. The 20 amp socket only put out around 1,400 watts. The 30 amp socket will put out ~3,000 watts which means less charging time, less gas, and less noise. I ordered one and should be here Friday. Of course that means I will never need it as we will never loose our power again. 

Although my back-up power for the Sirius radio and my amateur radio shack worked okay, it wasn't great. The reason being was that the marine deep cycle batteries were old and need to be replaced. I will probably replace with LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Batteries.

Last, I no longer use Kerosene for my Aladdin lamps. I now use shelf stable "alternative kerosene". It lasts a lot longer than regular kerosene sitting on the shelf, however, it tends to burn quicker than regular kerosene . I had enough but, I will double my qty on hand which currently is 5-gallons. So 10-gallons in the preps. We also used battery operated lamps which worked great. My only complaint was that they seemed for ever to recharge. About 4-hrs per lamp. No biggy as we had the power buttttt....

Well there you go. As of this writing out of the 46,000 households in the 5-county area out of power, still there is about 1,400 households out of power. I am sure that will diminish greatly today and tomorrow.

73 & God Bless