An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Weather
Seriously??
We got hit with an ice storm. Ok. It happens. We get all kinds of weather. But honestly, this is the FIRST time I’ve ever heard of them naming a bloomin’ winter storm. Hurricanes….yes. But freezing rain? Give me a flippin’ break!
This was the headline on the Weather Channel last night for my area. 
Would have posted it last night, but have been having internet issues. Hmmm… Wonder if it had anything to do with the ice?
Christmas Wrath
3 dead, several injured in wake of winter storms lashing US
An enormous storm system that dumped snow and sleet on the nation’s midsection and unleashed damaging tornadoes around the Deep South began punching its way toward the Northeast on Wednesday, slowing holiday travel.
Post-Christmas travelers braced for flight delays and a raft of weather warnings for drivers, a day after rare winter twisters damaged buildings in Louisiana and Alabama.
Snow and ice covered roads in southern Illinois and southern Indiana early Wednesday. Officials urged residents to stay home if they can. State police reported numerous slide-off accidents in the Evansville, Ind., area and white-out conditions on Interstate 64 in Indiana with wind gusts around 30 mph.
The storm system headed from the Gulf Coast to New England has been blamed for three deaths and several injuries, though no one was killed outright in the tornadoes. In snowy Arkansas, the storm left more than 189,000 customers without electricity Wednesday, utility Entergy Arkansas said.
Severe thunderstorms were forecast for the Carolinas while a line of blizzard and winter storm warnings stretched from Arkansas up the Ohio River to New York and on to Maine.
Thirty-four tornadoes were reported in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama during the outbreak Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
We were lucky! With the exception of some early morning rain, that I slept through, and seriously high winds, it was a beautiful day! The temperature was in the low 70s, until some Arctic blast hit. UGH! My sister, who lives about 3 hours away, lost all power, and water pressure. They’re pretty self sufficient, so I’m not worried about ‘em. 
Now, I know that there are many who think folks like me are crazy when I mention the ‘wrath of God’ scenario, but that’s ok. I don’t mind. I’ve actually read enough to know that Someone is REAL pissed off, and it ain’t ‘global warming’ that is causing disasters. This was a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values, and it’s quite obvious that we have managed to spit in His eye on a regular basis in the last century or so. Not wise, IMHO! Just my opinion. Take it or leave it. Matters not!
Give From the Heart
Romney donates to American Red Cross
An aide to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney tells CBS News that Romney personally donated to the American Red Cross on Monday to assist disaster relief efforts in the wake of Sandy.
Romney, who replaced campaign events on Monday and Tuesday with “storm relief events” and has urged his supporters to donate to the American Red Cross as well, mailed a check on Monday. A Romney spokesman declined to specify the amount donated.
In a statement, the American Red Cross thanked Romney for his support and praised both campaigns for urging people to donate: “The American Red Cross appreciates the support from the Romney campaign and is working with the campaign to process this donation of supplies. We are grateful that both the Obama and Romney campaigns have also encouraged the public to send financial donations to the Red Cross. We encourage individuals who want to help to consider making a financial donation or making an appointment to give blood.”
Good on him! Did Obama donate? Or is he just flapping his gums for others to do so. Either way… I don’t trust the Red Cross. Notice they want MONEY! Yes, they are asking for blood too, but it’s money that is the first on the list. After that fiasco with the 9/11 funds, I haven’t donated a dime to them. I do, however, donate to other worthy charities who do the same thing, just better….like religious organizations. Personally, I like Samaritan’s Purse.
Oh…and for the record… Andrea Mitchell is another MSNBC moron. Can’t they hire anyone over there with an ounce of common sense? Or even two gray cells to rub together? *shakes head*
Those people who have lost everything are going to NEED everything….clothes, furniture, food, water, etc. So, if an organization tells me to send only money…well… I don’t have any, so that ain’t gonna happen. I do have more clothes than I need, and would be happy to take a few dozens boxes and bags to a donation location…if I could find one. We also have kitchen items, a whole lot of books, and who knows what else around here.
The Red Cross should be pickled tink with ANYTHING the people can spare, and these days, that’s not a whole lot in the way of dollars! But we are a generous nation, and we WILL help as we can. The Red Cross needs to say thank you for ANYTHING, and knock of the send money B.S.!
The BIG Wind
I don’t like hurricanes. Don’t much care for tornadoes either, but hurricanes? Well, I learned my serious dislike of them from personal experience when living on the coastal area of Virginia. One in particular stands out in my mind, as it was the first one I had ever experienced…. Donna. I won’t tell you how old I was…suffice it to say, I was already in school, so old enough to remember. Seeing the pictures, or the footage on the nightly news is nothing compared to the devastation in real time. I can look back now and find humor in a few incidents, but at the time…??? Nope…I was a scared kid.
I still have family living in that area, and the last I heard from them…all was well, at least as of 5 hours ago, from my oldest sibling. I have a sister in the D.C. area (still with power), a brother, sister in law, and ex sister in law, 2 nieces, a sort of nephew in law, a nephew, and a beautiful great niece, in the Hampton Roads area. I do know there are some power outages in their areas, but past that…
I pray they are all safe and secure. I pray for all those who have been, and will be affected by this fury of nature (God?). I also pray that they all had enough sense to actually be prepared for such a disaster. We all should have at least a weeks worth of non perishable food, a WHOLE lot of water, and other supplies like candles, flashlights, fresh batteries, etc, for any type of emergency. Contrary what some would like to believe, the government is not going to be Johnny on the spot to help out. More likely, it will be organizations like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Operation Blessing, and any number of churches from around the country, who will get there first. Even the Romney campaign is already doing what it can to help.
Please, let us all pray for the folks on the east coast this morning, and continue praying until the emergency is over, and all is well.
Bracing for Hurricane Sandy
The Foundry
Hurricane Sandy is battering the East Coast this morning, expected to wreak havoc for millions of people from the Mid-Atlantic to northern New England. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are affected by the storm. Please take care and be safe.
Because of Sandy’s timing this late in October, the confluence of multiple items could make the hurricane a 100-year storm. Specifically, with colder air moving east and south from Canada along with a full moon over the weekend, the storm surge could be far larger than normal and the post-landfall storm could turn to snow and ice.
That means Hurricane Sandy brings three different potential problems: flooding in coastal areas and low-lying places, wind damage, and a strong likelihood of power outages in the Northeast.
GUESS WHAT!!!
It’s SUMMER! And sometimes, it gets REALLY REALLY HOT! Then, it turns into winter, and sometimes, it gets REALLY REALLY COLD! Jiminy crickets people! We have NO control over the weather! It’s gonna do what it’s gonna do, no matter WHAT we do. *shakes head* Morons!
DC In The Dark
I realize this is about the terrible storms that hit a large part of the country, but the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this headline on Drudge….“Crap….that city has been in the ‘dark’ for decades!”
UGH!
I spent a couple of hours doing some reading, and actual writing, for a post this morning. It was turning out pretty good considering I haven’t actually been in the mood to do a whole lot of in depth snooping, and commenting. Then the storm hit. sigh… So, when it rains…I mean REALLY rains, around here, the internet goes….POOF! And stays POOF for several hours. Well, naturally, I occupied myself with other things for a while, and when it came back on, I just wasn’t in the same frame of mind. So, I didn’t finish it. Who knows… maybe tomorrow, I’ll get back in that frame of mind to finish. Then again, maybe not.
Tough Job!
I feel rather sorry for those who live in the COLD climes of the nor’t. We’re expecting a high today of 70. Sadly, Phil might be right, since they are predicting a drop in temperatures after the weekend, when our highs will only be in the 50s. Back to normal I guess. 
Heading Home
So, I get up this morning, with the intent of heading towards home, getting as much space between me and the first snowpocalypse of the Yankee’s year. I look out the window, and nary a snow flake to be seen.
I make it to Chicago….and BOOM! Nothing really bad…yet, but it’s enough to make me wonder if I was wise in my decision making, considering Jamie said I should wait till tomorrow. Hmmm.. I can handle this, right? I mean, after all I did live in the tundra for 10 years, so I have a bit of experience, right? RIGHT??? sigh…
By the time I made it to the first rest area south of Chicago, and all the rip off tolls, it was getting fairly serious.
Now, in my little pea brain, I figured I could get south of the mess, and all would be well. Makes sense to me! Uh huh. Welp, the farther south I got, the more the wind was blowing, and the more the wind was blowing, the less I could see. It’s kind of weird to have the sun shining above ya (even for just a minute or two) and have a serious white out area in front of you! And FYI people, turn your flippin’ lights on!!! Sheesh! Most folks were moving along at about 55 to 60 when the conditions would allow it, and slowed down to about 50 when it got a bit nasty. Then, there were those people who thought moving along at 35 with no lights was a good idea. *shakes head* Idjits!!
After seeing one too many cars in the ditch, and one that got totally smashed up (lady was fine, but the look on her face spoke volumes), I decided it might be a good idea to get as far as I could, and stop for the night. Well, I made it to Arcola, and carefully pried my fingers from the steering wheel, so I could check into a motel.
It’s 16 flippin’ degrees out there! Well, at least it was when I got out of the truck. And do I have a heavy coat? No, of course not! That would make too much sense! Well, I do, but it’s packed up in the back of the truck, so wasn’t gonna do me a lot of good. It really is possible to turn into a Popsicle, cuz that’s what I was by the time I walked the 10 feet from the truck to the motel entrance! Naturally, no one was at the desk, but there was a note. Be back in 5. Then the phone started ringing…and kept ringing until the lady came back after picking up her young’un from school….10 minutes later. Like my nerves weren’t already frazzled? sigh…
Now, I’m blissfully stretched out on a rented bed, occasionally peaking out the window, thinking…Yep…it was a REAL good idea to stop for the night.
Major thanks to Chris! I honestly had a good time, even if you and Jamie most likely shared your cold with me. I’m sure the Mr will appreciate it. Heh.
Your Gubmint – Ever Vigilant
Denied Aid by FEMA for ‘Insufficient Damage’
Jefferson County resident Jonathan Stewart said he laughed in shock after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) claimed the house his family lost in the deadly April 27 twister was ‘not unsafe to live in’.
Displaced families in tornado-ravaged Alabama are outraged after being denied federal aide to rebuild their flattened homes – due to ‘insufficient damage’.
The devastating reality is the house is now a concrete slab surrounded by rubble.
Tell ya what Mr FEMA Man…..YOU go live in that house you claim has ‘insufficient damage’! How utterly ridiculous! I realize there are some people who will claim damage, and not have any, or even have a house at all to claim on, but when you go, and look at the place, with your own two gubmint eyes, don’t you think a little common sense should be in order??
Let me ask….just how much extra does it cost for the people who received such a letter, even after the damage has been seen, personally, but FEMA workers, to appeal such an absurd decision. Who the hell hires these people? Oh yeah….your federal gubmint! I’d say we’ve been wasting a boatload of money on incompetents! We spend BILLIONS on giving aid to countries that hate us, yet we can’t help our own when they really need it? Does anyone else have a problem with this???
From The Heart
We know as well as anyone how tight things are right now. Between just day to day living, and all the medical bills, with more to come, we’re pretty strapped. But I figured if we reached down deep, did without a ‘luxury’ or two, we could manage to help out those who, right now, have nothing. They’ve lost almost everything. I say almost, because, where there is life, there is hope. I know things seems kind of hopeless to many in Joplin right now, but I think if we show them the same concern that we did to Alabama, and other parts of the country in recent months, practice what Jesus taught us, perhaps, their hearts will begin to heal.
My favorite is Samaritan’s Purse. But of course, there is also the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others. You choose which feels right to you. Or maybe your church is interested in taking up a special collection, or items that are of the greatest need, like water, nonperishable food, clothes, and maybe even some toy type things for the kids.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
May God bless and watch over all of those affected. They ARE our family and friends.
Pray For Joplin
Nature Strikes
Mississippi Flooding: Worst Is Yet to Come
William Jefferson paddles slowly down his street in a small boat, past his house and around his church, both flooded from the bulging Mississippi River that has rolled into the Delta.
“Half my life is still in there,” he said, pointing to the small white house swamped by several feet of water. “I hate to see it when I go back in.”
The river was taking aim at one of the most poverty-stricken parts of the country after cresting Tuesday at Memphis, Tenn., just inches short of the record set in 1937. Some low-lying Memphis neighborhoods were inundated, but the city’s high levees protected much of the rest of Memphis.
They make it sound like the river is intentionally going after the poorer neighborhoods. The river doesn’t care if you are rich or poor. Sadly, we don’t seem to learn from other historic natural disasters. Floods, hurricanes, mudslides and earthquakes happen on a regular basis. Some way worse than others. Yet people will forget their house slid down the side of a mountain, or was washed away in a flood, and rebuild in the same place. It’s heartbreaking to see so many losing so much. However, things can be replaced, people can not.
Jefferson’s neighborhood in Vicksburg, a historic Mississippi city and the site of a pivotal Civil War battle, has been one of the hardest hit. Jefferson refuses to leave, so he spends his days in the sweltering sun watching the water rise and sleeping in a camper at an intersection that’s likely to flood soon, too.
“If you don’t stay with your stuff, you won’t have it,” he said. “This is what I do every day. Just watch the water.”
That one sentence says a great deal about our society, doesn’t it. Our neighbors can’t be trusted not to steal our possessions? Perhaps if we post the Ten Commandments in our classrooms again, people will start getting the message…. Thou Shalt Not Steal!
But the worst is yet to come, with the crest expected over the next few days. The damage in Memphis was estimated at more than $320 million as the serious flooding began, and an official tally won’t be available until the waters recede.
We can’t control nature. Sorry, it’s just not possible. Nature will win in the end. We can, however, make preparations for the worst that may, or may not happen. I’ve no doubt that the dollar amount will rise in the not too distant future. Can we also hope that there will be a minimum of fraud?
We can pray for the families affected by this natural disaster. We can pray that there is a minimum loss of life. We can be ready to help out our neighbors, as best we are able.
Just Gotta Keep Your Sense Of Humor
The South has had it pretty rough recently, devastating tornadoes with the loss of lives in the hundreds, torrential rains, and a lot of flooding. Right now, Memphis is bracing for more from the Mighty Mississippi. Here in Podunk, we’ve watched the Tennessee River overflow it’s banks and flood streets and homes. But all that is no reason to lose your sense of humor.
Photo from WREG.
Devastation
Tennessee death toll from storms rises to 33
Storm deaths reached 33 in Tennessee on Thursday with persistent violent weather stretching almost 200 miles from southeast Tennessee to its northeast corner.
The deaths confirmed Thursday included nine in Hamilton and Bradley counties, six in Greene County, four in Bledsoe County, two in Johnson County, and one in Sequatchie, Franklin and Washington counties.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam offered their condolences to all of the families across the state affected by the terrible storms, especially those who lost loved ones.
I am grateful the death toll wasn’t higher. Our prayers are with all those, in all states, who have suffered losses.
