Durn Fern, TLDR

PoTreeBoy

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I know a lot of you don't want to read all this, so I'm starting a separate thread to continue a post in a different thread.

Background: winter storm Fern hit north Ms and mid Tn, beginning Sat, Jan 24. A band of ice from freezing rain caused lots of power outage starting late Sat night/early Sun morning, cascading into some loss of water supply.

Thur 2/5 (day 12) Drove from Jackson, Tn to Oxford, Ms via Tn18/Ms7, ~100 mi. I started seeing damage just north of the state line, worsening southward. South of Holly Springs, traffic was stopped about 15 minutes for crew working on a line crossing the highway. Then there several crews working along the road and a steady stream of grapple trucks pulling trailers, turning into a vacant field next to a Dollar General (of course).

When i got to my place, the first problem is Katy Kubota is boxed in. My primary drive is the powerline ROW and trees have the line down. The temptation is strong to clear that, the line is obviously dead, the wire's on the ground. But 7200 v, wrath of poco, common sense prevail so I'll clear an alternate trail.

Here's what I had
1000006926.jpg

After an hour or so with the chainsaw, I had a path pushed through to get Katy out. My sister had a fair size cedar and another tree across their primary drive, so I started cutting the cedar. I thought they were thawed out, but as I cut I finally figured that the ice that brought the cedar down was now a low mound of ice, glueing the tree top to the ground. It's supposed to be warmer the rest of the week, so it should thaw out.

My sister has been hauling towels and blankets from the pound to our two dryers. Animal control is still running on generator; they can wash but don't have enough power to run dryers so they called for volunteers.
 
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Hugo Habicht

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When i got to my place, the first problem is Katy Kubota is boxed in. My primary drive is the powerline ROW and trees have the line down. The temptation is strong to clear that, the line is obviously dead, the wire's on the ground.
Don't even think about going near a power line on the ground. You have to assume it is live.

On the positive side: if you decide to go near it and it is live, it will be quick and you will never know what hit you.

And if it ever happens that a high voltage line (say, greater 20kV) falls down near you, do not walk or run away from it, keep your feet together and do jumps. The voltage potential between your feet can kill you otherwise.
 
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RCW

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Ton of damage - - hope you can get through it.

We're forecasted for high of 2F tomorrow with winds up to 40mph.

Just hope we don't lose power also.... 🥶 :oops:
 
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PoTreeBoy

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Fri 2/6
Tried to help old lady across the road get her service mast which was bent horizontal, so when the powerline is fixed she'll be ready. 'No good deed goes unpunished' fits here. Bottom line, it's done, cost her $425, 'nuff said. Sister and I took her to Wendy's (her choice) for lunch. I think she enjoyed being out with somebody besides family.

Spent the afternoon clearing the trees off sister's driveway. It was a beautiful sunny day, high mid 60's.

PoCo down to 4200
 

PoTreeBoy

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Sat 2/7
Got a late start, debris truck blocked the road a little while. I had planned a trip to HD and Wally for spare chains and replacement groceries. Couldn't find my jacket, did I leave it at Wendy's? Sis asked if she could ride, she had towels to swap at the animal shelter. So that was most of the morning.

Sis, BIL, Katy and I spent the afternoon clearing out the driveway plus the adjacent jungle. I'm sure glad now I sprung for the SGC1060 grapple; it's paid for itself. We had a little help from the debris guys and had a productive afternoon until Katy stubbed her toe. I didn't have enough pressure in the right front and pushed the bead loose. BIL and I worked on it to no avail, plus the stem is leaking. So now I need a tire repair, hopefully before Monday.

It was another nice day, high 52F. Poco at 3400. Somebody cut one of their fiber feeders, putting an area out.