"WORST STORM I EVER SAW!"
Cantrell Mountain survived another one! :)
Judging by the power lines sliced, trees on lines & the fact that we're the end of the infrastructure line, we may never see electricity again. Up until an hour ago, our phone was working, but nobody else's was, so ours just gave up & died, too. No cell service, but as long as the generator's running, the internet's up! All available containers are filled with water, 'cause we all know that's the next to go. In the overall scheme of things, it could've been a lot worse.
I hope y'all survived & don't have too much to talk about except the trees in your yard. If you're coming this way, I could sure use a pizza.
64 comments:
... it's almost like I'm alone in the world. All alone with my generator & satellite internet ...
Rumor on the rutted-out dirt road is that power restoration for Clay County is Saturday, July 7th. I understand parts of the county are up & running, but not the parts on my end.
On the upside, there's plenty of free firewood for anybody willing to load it!
Time will restore things to normal..we just have to wait.
& wait & wait & wait. Personally, I'm still waiting patiently, but I have no disillusions about how lucky I am, with my minimal damage, generator (still with gas!), satellite internet & window unit AC. By Wedesday, though, I'm gonna be pretty daggone cranky, 'cause the hot water officially turned cold today ...
Take your garden hose and string it out in the sun let it heat up, and drain it in the bath tub a few times.
That's a great idea! Way better than the one I had this morning to just suck it up & take a cold shower. BRRRRRR!!
Y'all will notice that on the homepage here, there's a space for our elected officials to list their contact info. You'll also notice there's no info there. Quite possibly, they don't know this blog exists - it'd be nice to have that info so we'd all know what's going on. If y'all see any of our elected officials out & about helping anybody (besides themselves), please let us all know - y'all know how I love that kinda thing.
Yesterday The gas line was from the Ivydale Bridge to Cunninghams, and at the Exon station at big otter, the line was said to be two miles long.
We are blessed cause it could of been worse.
Just got back my service. You keep cool youngin.
Per Kenneth Tanner, Superintendent, Clay County Schools:
Big Otter Elementary School has been established as an Emergency Shelter for Clay County. Anybody within the county who is in need is encouraged to use this facility. Hot meals, showers, drinking water, overnight accomodations, emergency medical personnel and plain ol' AC is available to all. Meals are also available for takeout - if you know of anyone who is in need but can't make it to the shelter, you're welcome to take the meals to them. Please call 304-286-3111 or 304-286-3112 for more information.
All Clay County Schools summer activities - including summer school & activities buses - are canceled for the remainder of this week.
Ah, Cookie Man, I am blessed beyond measure! There was no gas at Speedway this afternoon, so I drove to Elkview, where there was not only gas, but strangers to smile at! Then on to Kroger, where the frozen food aisle was blocked off, the lunch meat aisle was closed, the milk cooler was virtually empty & the deli was barren. There was, however, chicken, hamburger & steak to be had! I, of course, bought olives, cinnamon sugar pita chips & pork rinds - life is indeed grand here on Cantrell Mountain. Oh, did I mention I started this day with a frigid cold shower because the water in the tank hit negative zero sometime last night? Hope y'all are faring as well as I am!
Hey Rose, did you read the story about Anderson Cooper?
Nope! Is he looking for me?? Has he made a public plea for any information on my whereabouts 'cause he wants to marry me??
Oh. Wait. Never mind. Just saw it on the Today Show. Crap. Doesn't make him any harder on the eye, though!
Now when they say that about Willie Nelson, you will probably go berzerk.
It is time to fire all elected officials and especially David Walker for not standing up with others to fight AEP for not cleaning their RIGHT OF WAYS out. There is NOT ONE REASON why a tree should fall on a powerline unless it is blown from afar by a TORNADO or HURRICANE.
The same goes for STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS, TELEPHONE AND CABLE COMPANYS. NOT one tree should fall onto a roadway anywhere. DUE TO LAZINESS THIS STATE HAS BECAME A DISASTER AREA. PASS FRIGGIN LAWS TO GET ROADWAYS AND RIGHT OF WAYS CLEARED AND IF LANDOWNERS IS THE PROBLEM LET THEM ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FOOD LOSS
Wonder when the county commission is going to tell us where the drop off place is for rotten, spoiled food?
Probably never.
Thanks to the Clay County School System, Big Otter Elementary school served 3,000 meals today - up from the 2,000 we served yesterday. I've got nothing negative to say about anybody & nowhere near the energy I need to say enough about the volunteers who are helping take care of as many as we can. People can say what they want about Clay County, but we're all in this together & proving we know how to take care of one another.
I live 1.5 miles off the hard road in Bomont. I do have a generator. No phone. I haven't seen hide nor hair of any kind of help since Friday's storm. Good thing though I don't need any.
https://www.appalachianpower.com/outages/details.aspx?stormName=June%2029%20--%20Severe%20Summer%20Storm%20--%20West%20Virginia
Hope the link works fer ya. Iffen it don't just copy and paste.
A Rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.
"Shaky"
How lucky was I when I came upon a kind word and a sweet smile at Elkview the other day.
Info on outages This is easier.
With Rose out of hot water, she may not smell so sweet, but like she said, still easy on the eyes.
Are you saying if you see Rose out there just open your eyes and hold your nose?
Hell no.
I saw Rose yesterday, and she was still so purty, she took my breath away.
The way I get it good thing you didn't have to breathe.
LOL Y'all are just the sweetest thangs!
Big Otter Elementary School is still going full steam as an emergency shelter. I lost count of how many meals have been served, but it's a LOT & they are GOOD!!
I got an URGENT! plea for help from the Red Cross today - The Red Cross needs volunteers in Braxton County tomorrow through the weekend to pass out lunches & dinners. Locations will be the National Guard Armory & the Food Bank in Gassaway. If you can help or know of anybody can, please email me at barefootwonder@aol.com or give me a call at 304-651-2861. THANK YOU!!
Big Otter Elementary School is once again just a school. The emergency shelter closed its doors this evening. I met some wonderful people I'll never forget. As bad as this week had the potential to be, there were many bright spots in it. I hope y'all are finding life returning to normal - up here on Cantrell Mountain, we're still waiting for power. Surely to goodness it can't be much longer.
Just as soon as AEP can find someone to turn the breakers on Clay County can have power once more but as long as trucks from other states are around and FEMA holds up the check for AEP we will still be a disaster zone. They spent hours on sunday trying to find a breaker out and these guys were all from NC and not a soul from AEP around.
I haven't been home much this week, but I've been told there hasn't been anybody out my road yet look for downed lines or assessing damage. I did talk with an Asplundh guy yesterday who said they were in Porters Creek replacing lines & poles & some on the main road out from me have power, but ... not me!
Rose good luck with getting AEP to listen to you as we have 9 houses on the end of the Hartland to Indore line at the end that will get power back just as soon as the entire state gets power, all the out of state crews go home and AEP comes back from vacation. Their pet monkey won't listen to the real update and can only go on their engineers word that you have had power for days now and just haven't used it or there is others in your community without also or there is 110 homes out your way with lines down, transformers blown.
I have heard it all from them and I am still at the end of the line, on a braker with 8 other houses that AEP never remembers to throw back in so Ms Rose I can feel your pain
I'm close but I can't beat that tale of woe.
I'm soooooooo done with this Big Adventure.
According to AEP, there are 260 people on my circuit who are still without power. Estimated restoration is midnight Tuesday. If you're still without power, re-report it. I've reported mine 6 times so far. It doesn't speed anything up, but it does keep some computer somewhere from wiping me out of the system.
According to the website AEP wants people to call and call and call some more but I have called them every name in the book, out of the book and some names I have never heard of before but just keep calling Ms Rose as that trained monkey on the other end is as dumb as a stump when it comes to reporting your outage. Hope your electricity is back on now.
WV Public Service Commission Numbers let them know just how proud you are of AEP
Informal Complaints
Carla Nelson
Supervisor
304-340-0424
Shannon Foutche
304-340-0347
Susan Myers
304-340-0386
Cindy Pauley
304-340-0490
Janet Terry
304-340-0318
Marietta Vermillion
304-340-0389
Amy Williams
304-340-0312
Eleanor Young
304-340-0430
Fax
304-340-0452
Fax
304-340-0462
Keep those numbers handy for when AEP asks for another rate hike to pay for this crap.
Just got off the phone with AEP. They have *not* pulled crews from Clay County & they're aware of our ongoing outages. Full restoration for all of Clay County (for the 5th day in a row) is "tonight by midnight." She said worst case scenario is Wednesday. This only applies to AEP customers. If you have Elk or Appalachian, I'm not sure how they tie in, but the rumored date of August 7th isn't... official. If you are aware of a pole down, line broken, etc., PLEASE CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY & LET THEM KNOW, even if you've already reported your outage. That way, they can target specific areas - we know more about our neighborhoods than they do & the more we can work together, the sooner this will all be over. Please try to be nice to whoever you talk with - the lady I talked to was without power for a week herself & they're not the ones who caused all this. If you want to just flat out ream somebody a new one, at least ask for an executive - don't take it out on customer service. :-)
As of 7 p.m., I HAVE POWER!! WOOO HOOOO!!
The fine company owned governor Earl Ray Tomblin says AEP does not make enough money to cut trees, upgrade lines and reset new poles as it cuts to deep into profits. I bet he owns shares in AEP and every utility in this state and gets a kickback from all of them. This is what you have when you get a lifer politician and they stay in office more then one term.
Yes you are going to get another blast on your power bill just as soon as the arm twisting starts from EARL RAY. Another good reason to vote for the other guy.
In 1946 electricity came to Clay county and some of the poles and most of the wires are still in use so WTH is the expense coming from that warrants a raise again and agian. Every time the power goes off I loose some type appliance or piece of equipment. This time round I lost a Hobart welder, Microwave and telephones all over the house guess who gets to pay for this time also........ sure as H--- not AEP or welfare and my food loss is not being replaced woth more foodstamps either.
I'm from the guberment and I am here to help!!!!!!!! YIKESSSSSSSSSS
Did someone steal your Hobart welder?
They lied to me on Saturday, they lied to me on Sunday, they lied to me on Monday, they lied to me on Tuesday now they are lie-ING to me today Wednesday. I asked an AEP driver sitting on the side of the road was there anything AEP would do about the ten gallons of gas every day for 11 days so far. He replied nothing it was an act of God. I guess the end is really near.
Maybe their chain saws are all broken down?
From the numbers, about 1/4 of Clay Co. is still out of service.
Well day 12 has passed and still no electrons for me in Bomont.
I did get a promise of tomorrow :) I just hpe they are not fibbing again. My last 5 gallons went in the tank tonight. Is thirteen a lucky number on the 12th of June?
Noone stole the welder it was in use when the power went out and won't work when it came back on as it kicks the breaker. More then likely high voltage damage I was told by Hobart but its in the fix it shop in Nitro now.
It would be an act of god for AEP to pay for anything. Last monday Earl Ray Tomblin was holding a news conference on channel 3 TV and he said he would contact the PSC for help for AEP due to the fact they don't have income enough to remove trees, repair lines and poles from their right of ways.
He needs voted out come November as he has their interest in mind and not that of the people. Sad statement to make in such a time as we in WV have been through in the past nearly two weeks. More then likely ERT has interest in all the money making utility companys since he was in legislature for 37 years and the past year and a half as governor so he needs a rude awakening in November 2012
I'd drink to that, but I don't drink no more, unless you wanta toast to pepsi.
With Thursday here noon time still no power where I live in Bomont. These guys are going straight to hell on a rocket ship.
You should check out the gang of power trucks parked down at Ivydale with the workers just walking around.
The power never went off down there.
Call Jessie carry out and ask em if their having a party.
I called in my outage was reminded it was my fourth call since this started two weeks ago. 140 gallons of gas later they tell me it will be reinstated by 11:59 tonight. I'm going to set my alarm clock. They have lied so much so far. I seen a bunch of trucks hanging out at H.E. White school. They ought to investigate who is in charge of the logistics on this non job. 07/12/2012 1800 hours.
How about the gas to run an get the gas?
Yeah that too. I didn't count that in my total. 24 miles round trip. Been to Clay three times this week.
Yep it was a joy waiting in line from the Ivydale Bridge to the gas station. Start an stop an go about 20 feet.
This COO they are showing on TV for AEP (I think it means chief of operations)better put down his cigar and get out from his desk. Go around to these towns and see what AEP is paying for these long distance repair men that are sitting all day in "staging areas". The cost to bring these men from afar is going to be humongous. And get them to do something. One of their own men said they were bringing 5 more crews. This is so far out of the ordinary I don't believe it happened. Somebody wake me up!
Its happening and AEP is getting a big fat FEMA check for loss of power for the past 14 days and 15 nights I think it is and the people of this state should be screaming bloody murder as its their fault for allowing trees to grow up into the power wires. For eight days not a soul was seen from AEP and then on the eleventh day power started slowly to return in some parts of the state. It took them 6 days to restore power in Charleston and 12 days in Kelleys Creek area and thats 300 yards from the power station. Noone knows why there was no power that close the AEP Plant at Glasgow but I betcha it was the FEMA check being slow in comeing.
From WSAZ, Clay Co. is 100% up and running.
3 cheers for Fema, short for F#@*%* em all.
Good one above.
Well here we are on the 14th at the 13th of July. Called in as usual "no expected date of return of power" is the response I received here in Bomont WV. Just think what would happen in a real emergency like a bomb or an attack of some kind. So much for the powers that be. The only thing they are good for is spending our money.
I believe your going about this all wrong. I'd say the best approach to settling this matter would be to talk to the highest up the boss list an plain ask them when it would be the most convenient time for them the power co. to show up in court. And don't let them get a word in edge wise plus let them know you are recording the calls your making.
Remember now kiddies lets play fair and call the clerks office and report all your damage so the CCC can get their FEMA check going. Don't mean you will get anything replaced or repaired as your homeowners insurance covers all that and if you don't have insurance you are just SOL. But call so the county can scam FEMA outta some dough.
I just want to throw this out there ...
I am a LifeBridge/AmeriCorps member. AmeriCorps is a sister organization to the Red Cross. When this all started, I got an email from the Red Cross, asking if we needed help. When I asked this question of Clay Countians higher up than I, I was told to wait, because "we don't want to step on any toes." The Red Cross has been in constant touch with me & they've responded immediately to all my voicemails, emails & calls. They've been available to us from the beginning - I'm not sure we took full advantage of all they offered.
I just got a call from 304-342-0981 - Caller ID just says "Charleston, WV" - informing me that the Clay County Office of Emergency Services is collecting info regarding how much damage we sustained because FEMA doesn't think it's adequate for reimbursement assistance. FEMA is WRONG!! The recording said to call the Clay County Clerk's office to report your damage - storm damage, food spoilage, generator gas, etc. CALL IMMEDIATELY!! They're just gathering data at this point, but FEMA needs to know how huge the loss was here. CALL NOW!! 304-587-4959.
Several days ago I called into FEMA not knowing they weren't involved in this disaster. They told me to call 211. I did and was given two phone numbers regarding my roof peeled back from the wind. Raining on a lot of things I have on the porch. One of the numbers is 304.587.4539 that never answers the other 304.340.3650 turns out to be the Red Cross where I mentioned I didn't think this was the kind of thing that needs the Red Cross. I can't do anything about it myself because I am elderly and have medical problems myself. I am still without electric also in Bomont. I'm tired of calling them and being told it will be on at 11:59 tonight. That's what they are saying now.
If you'll email me your name & number, I'll see what I can do for you. FEMA isn't really there for us, the Red Cross can't really fix a roof, but I know where there are some strong young men who have experience with such things & if I can make calls to anybody else on your behalf, I will.
barefootwonder@aol.com
Hope everyone is juiced up now, sure looks like Gary Neal on the CRJ web site is.
I'm not quiet because everything is fine. I'm dumbstruck. I don't believe this myself. I feel like I might be in the twilight zone. There have been three work crews here. One from IL one From WI and Mas Tech still no electric. Yesterday at 3:30 the guy told me it would be on in a half hour. I waited till 5 and called AEP I got the stock answer 11:59. Well it's a new day maybe a new way. You can usually find me at the gas pumps in Clendenin or Clay.
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