Good report, Dagny. Glad you're okay.

We only caught the fringes of the storm up here; I have friends further down in the county that lost power and other friends elsewhere in the state who had trees come down.

I was talking to a couple friends who were bemoaning their lack of a generator, and they said they didn't get one because when they last looked it was during the hurricane last summer and the prices were jacked up. I gently pointed out that if they bought one NOW, then it would be less expensive and they'd have it when needed. I doubt the message got through.

Good to be reminded occasionally of food safety guidance for when the power goes out. DC-area media are doing a good job of helping peops by providing such info. There is additional useful encouragement for being more prepared in the future by having coolers on hand as well as a stockpile of food that does not require refrigeration:

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/07/harris-teeter-locations-give-out-free-ice-77465.html

The Center for Disease Control says if your power is out for less than two hours, all the food in your refrigerator will be safe for you and your family to eat.

While the power is out, the refrigerator and freezer doors should be kept closed as much as possible. Food will be safe in a half full freezer for up to 24 hours, 48 hours in a full freezer.

Should your power be out for longer than two hours, the CDC says remember the ABCDs of food safety:

Always keep meat, poultry, fish and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 °F and frozen food at or below 0 °F. Get dry or block ice to help keep your food at these temperatures.



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Been very blessed here in the Tri-Cities. Three storms in three days and nothing bad for us.

My thoughts to those less fortunate...

Gloria just talked to her son in Newark Ohio. No power, Temps of 100. Very little food available. Limited ice. No water. Only one fuel station. Power expected to be off for several more days. He thinks it is the same in Columbus. Folks are getting a bit on edge.

Most of the media is focused on the east coast, but it appears that the situation is widespread. Glad we are in rural Maine at the moment. Nice here. A bit rainy but otherwise very nice.

Nomad

Forty-eight hours after the storm hit and over quarter of the households and businesses in DC-Baltimore metro areas still are without power.

Some percentage of area residents will resolve to be more prepared in the future - the one positive of events like this.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/powe...ic.html?hpid=z2

Power outages in the area

As of 8 p.m. Sunday, 27 percent of the 2 million customers of Pepco, Dominion Resources, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (Novec), Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E), and Potomac Edison were without power after Friday’s storm.



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Dagny - Did you tough it out in DC or head for the hills to go camping?

Hi Russ,

We stayed in DC. Too hot for my taste, even in the mountains. And I haven't had to tough anything out - I never lost power.

A/c is glorious!

Some friends are starting to get power on this evening. One of them had an unwelcome surprise, though -- when the substation was cranked up the transformer to her house started sparking.

The work crews have my highest regard for working in this relentless heat (even our overnight temps constitute a hot day) and under such hazardous conditions.

We're slated to get t-storms, possibly severe, after midnight tonight. Hopefully that won't happen because it would slow the power restoration effort.


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I spent enough time in MD/VA/DC to know that A/C is not optional -- "glorious" is a good adjective. You were fortunate to have had power. Location, location, location ...

Where I live in SOCAL A/C is optional and a waste imo.

Where is this? I have a hard time believing that any town would fine someone for trying to keep their family and home safe during a disaster, or that a community would even pass such a law.