The Ice Storm of 2007

Well, I figured I'd give everyone an update on my experiences here in Tulsa this past week.

I'm currently sitting at a friend's house, sitting across from another homeless soul.... watching it snow outside... and wondering when life might return to "normal."

Sunday night, December 9th (into Monday morning)

Tulsa was like a war zone. No kidding! The freezing rain began sometime that night, and all through the night I heard crashing limbs, explosions and emergency vehicles. I kept getting up to look out the windows and would see bright orange and turquoise blue flashes in the sky. (I've never seen the sky so brilliantly colored! I maintained power until about 5am Monday morning. I heard a huge explosion, which was obviously our transformer. I looked at my alarm clock... black. I knew at that point that I wouldn't have power any time soon.

I called my Dad (the one person I thought might be awake) and told him of the war zone-like atmosphere in Tulsa. Well, the freezing rain continued through until Monday afternoon/evening, making a bad situation even worse. I heard from several friends Monday morning who were looking for anyone with electricity... making plans already for evening warmth. I had no such place to offer, but we finally found a few folks around who had electricity. (Though some of those who had electricity in the morning were out by night.) I got together with a cousin of mine who had just moved to town. We headed for the warmth of the mall, where I ate two meals that day. He and I went by to check out the status of my office (some lights, limited heat, no internet) and then went back to my house for awhile. We stayed warm by sitting (practically) IN the gas log fireplace. We also rigged up a way to heat water in a metal bowl in order to make hot chocolate. (I have a picture that I can post later.)

I met other friends that night at the mall, and I ended up staying the night w/ my friend Jessica... whose family had no electricity but DID have generator. That's where I've been camped. It's a different group each night, it seems... her Dad was here earlier in the week but left town on Wednesday. Then different friends have crashed with us each night... usually friends who spent the first part of the week in their homes but have since given up the "home-life" in search of some warmth.

I have plenty more to say, but I think I'll add some different posts... to break up the potential monotony for those who have better things to do besides sitting and reading my blog. (I'm guessing those are probably people who have their own sources of electricity!)