Just when I decide I’m becoming weather obsessed and have to try to do better, a day like yesterday occurs. At 1:30 P.M. my husband went off to do some errands; at 1:35 the power went off with some significant popping and flashing of lights and computers. As usual, he had left his cell phone at home. (What if there’s an emergency? I always say.) Meantime fire engines and police cars gather in front of the house, sirens blowing and traffic blocked. “Is there something I should know about?” I ask a fireman. “The power cable you’re standing under is unsecured,” he said. “The power will be off for hours.” So I move myself from underneath the cable, which I now see has been smashed by a big branch. I should mention the wind was blowing with gusts approaching 50 m.p.h.
About 2:30 P.M., my husband arrives home, traffic having resumed. I say something about losing my store of life-saving insulin with the power off, and why didn’t he carry his cell phone. He said (rolling of eyes) he’s glad he hadn’t had it, and muttered something about “panic and hysteria.” Then he said, “I have two days worth of data without a backup in the computer!” Muted panic.
So we went off to pick up a large container of water for the dogs and some fine gyro salads for a picnic dinner. Later we sat on the porch watching the green leaves, which hadn’t had a chance to turn colors, blow off the trees while we drink beer (gluten-free Bard for me). At 5:00 P.M. the power came back. The insulin was saved, and happily so was the data on his computer. We had our picnic dinner on the porch. Day lost but crisis averted.
Well…I am on your side. Although it wasn’t our house that had the downed line, we were affected and my husband rolled the eyes, but as day 10 approached with no power even he was beginning to plan whose home could store my insulin in! I don’t know if he could ever fully comprehend how important it is to have these things planned. Also, I now have what I call my tackle box with enough supplies for a couple of weeks, prescriptions, batteries, glucose, etc. that I could just grab in an emergency.
Wow! Poor you for awhile. But thankfully your Hubby was home shortly after and that you are both okay. What an exciting picnic. Glue that cell to his hip. j/k
What I had meant to say is that we both had a crisis–my insulin, his data-- and we both came out okay. And yes! glue that cell to his hip. Or something. Nobody was electrocuted, that was nice. Thanks, everybody, for your comments.
Back in May we has some really bad rains it flooded most of Jackcson (alomg with Nashville TN) out. My husband decided before it got really bad he eas going to the Southside of town (OK at that time it wasn’t raning so hard. GO! My daughterand her husband with my 3 g-kids were down the road from me (still ok they could call if they needed me my other daughter was at work on the Northside of town. I’m in the middle out East abit) I’m thinking some alone time on the computer (now we’re on the charter bundel. Phone TV and internet all in one) I’m doimg pretty well til all at once the power goes out and there goes my computer. Now time to clean house OK got that but going crazy without my phone. Get out my cell and start calling both my husband (on his cell) and my daughter (on her cell) Long story short here my daughter’s van was water swep off the road 3 miles from my house, my husband is stuck out Southside due to the flooding and my daughter at work? She’s stuck there too. Now I’m blowing every fuse I have. The power comes back on and so does the rest of it. Sounds like you got a better result out of your power outage than I did. Oh ny the way we live on a hill with a gravel driveway right? Well not for like 3 days after that. Our driveway got washed away. Really good thing the computer wasn’t working or you guys here would have heard the wailing here! LOL!
I bet you’re thinking of ways to make permanently attach the cell phone to your husband…lol.
As for the data on the computer…I lost everything on my previous laptop (not backed up…can anyone say blissfully ignorant?!) after a power surge fried my hard drive and had to learn the hard way how important it is to save what I need to asap.
I’m glad for you that all was well in the end. Was the day really lost? Sounds like you had a fine picnic to me 
Christine, it’s true that I should get a little more organized with my stuff for an emergency. I like to think I could get it together quickly even now since most everything is in a central place in my storage room, but the insulin is a worry. We were without power for a week or so many winters ago when I used some of the early insulins, and they did alright in an ice chest. Now that I’m using Apidra and Levemir, both of which seem to be temperature temperamental, I’d still use an ice chest but worry a lot. We had an unpleasant week that winter without any power, but nothing as traumatic as Doris’s experience! Janet, I have to admit, the second day of August was only partly lost, and it was a good evening picnic. Again, thanks everyone for all your comments.
Thanks, Mistress Binky, good information that everyone using insulin or other meds that need to be refrigerated should consider. I meant this blog to be just semi-serious, although there were two real concerns: my husband’s new data and my insulin. With the help of an unreliable small fridge that I keep in my bedroom for lows and equally unreliable insulated bags, I’ve destroyed enough Apidra and Levemir to worry about what I have left for backup. In fact, what I have left is mainly Regular–really my last ditch choice, but less temperature sensitive.
Glad you weren’t outside when that thunder banger hit the tree! Imagine if you’d been sailing out in that weather (crapping my Depends just thinking about it here). When we had the Ice Storm here about 10 years ago - wierd that I never thought about the survival of my insulin (we were without power for a week). Of course, it was during winter, so no probs there 
Luckily tho’ insulin that stay unfrigerated for longer then we think. I always keep the current vial(s) I’m using at room temperature. Hate that feeling of cold insulin being injected into the skin! On my sailboat, I keep the spare insulin tucked in amongst my clothing I have packed, where the temperature stays sort of consistent.