Since I am one of the farthest north of all the folks on this written net, I thought I would share with you the most recent weather event.
Flurries started yesterday 12/16/2020 at around 1300 hrs EST (local) and snow event started in earnest around 1430 Hrs.
I am the County ARES Coordinator and took weather reports every 3-hours starting at 1500 hrs. I did not take weather reports at 0300 hrs 12/17/2020 although, I did hear two people try to contact me to make a report at that time. When they didn't hale me, they sent me emails with their reports. I just pulled the blankets over my head, rolled over and quickly drifted back to sleep.
The Township plow went down my township 2-track dirt road at about 2130 hrs 12/16/2020. They have not been back at the time of this writing. I will wait till they come through again before I fire up my prepositioned Kubota tractor and start clearing the snow.
Here are a few pics at about 0730 hrs. today. Notice the yellow 12-gauge extension cord running to the bunkhouse. We have had several days of little sun, so I had to give my 12-volt house batteries a boost. Also, notice my solar panel attached to the south side of the bunkhouse, has a bit of snow on it.
Pic 1 through 3 attached at bottom of report.
Here is my AAR after the weather even. As you will notice there are some things I did well and some that I need to work on before the next event.
Positive
> Brought in 2-days worth of wood for our primary heat source.
> Positioned our vehicles close together to form a snow fence in-between them - Less snow to clear. I also positioned the vehicles, so they were only 4-feet from the 2-track dirt TWP road. Less to shovel after the plow gets through.
> Positioned the Kabota tractor so I just need to broom it off turn the key and plow my first parking spot within minutes.
> Charged up/topped off my ham radios batteries including my in shack marine deep cycle battery exclusively for my 2-meter and HF radios.
> Filled the chicken's food container and watering can for 2-day's in case I could not make it to the coup.
> Filled up the three 55-gallon water tanks in my basement from our well.
Adjusted my tuner (SWR) to handle snow covered dipole antennas.
> Other lessor items learned from the past.
Negative
>MrsMac noticed that the water from the faucet was not running normally. I checked all connections, and they were good. Then the 'light came on'. It has been cloudy here for about five days, so I went out to check my solar charged house bank of batteries. They were at 40%. I hooked up a trickle charger to the bank of batteries and ran a power cord from a 110 volt outside outlet to the battery charger. Within minutes, the amps started to grow. I need to add to my pre-prep storm 'punch list', "check the charge level of the house batteries".
> I typically buy four 25-pound bags of course sand or grit to have ready for a weather event like this. I kept putting it off. I only have about 10-pounds left over from last year. "Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today."
> Although not needed this event, I only had enough high octane/non ethanol gas around to run the generator if needed for 8-hours. Didn't need it so okay BUT. I only use high octane, non ethanol gas in my gas-powered engines.
> At about 2000 hrs I went to make myself a egg nog with some Myers dark rum. I only had enough rum for one drink. DAMN! I quickly switched to Bourbon problem solved by a backup substitute, BUT. Lesson learned, Inventory the liquor cabinet before a severe weather event.
Although not a tornado or hurricane which folks south of the Mason Dixon line experience more often than we do north of that line, I thought it was worth sharing with you folks a similar weather event. I have also attached the SKYWARN weather reports for kicks and giggles I took every 3-hours.
Freedom Through Self-Reliance TM
