Storm recovery workers

**homemaker66** · 12-20-2008, 07:26 AM

I know it is hard when there is wintery storm that hits and stops everything. The power goes out, trees are down, no phone, etc... It is very frustrating and dangerous for you and your family. I know it is hard to live without all of these material items been there and done that many times. When something like this happens there are crews from each company sent out ASAP no matter what is going on at home. Just remember the extra people that are there to help out for the emergencies situations are people who are from out of town and they have to leave their families behind (like I told in Darleens thread) they have to go no matter what. My DH and DS has been gone for a week and a half and like everyone else they are working 12-14 hours a day in that cold. It is very dangerous to be out there and the loved ones left to home has to take care of everything and yes we are having our own storms that we must face alone. All I ask from my FV family is to watch out for them. Give them a hot cup of coffee or a sandwich to keep them going. If that is not possible just a simple little thank you would be nice because they really love hear that and they need to hear that just to keep them going. I have seen when they are gone a month at a time and we don't get to see them at all. I know that there are people who live without their loved ones much longer then what we have to but all in all it is very hard and dangerous for everyone who iare involved. So please help keep everyone safe let the people do their jobs and in the long run you will have everything restored as quick as possible.

**Lady_V** · 12-20-2008, 07:43 AM

My brother works on the high power lines and has been gone from home for 8 days now... even before the recent storm and the prediction of another one on Sunday... he doesn't think he will be able to spend Christmas with his wife and children.

My brother chose this job so he and his family knew that he could and most likely will be called away to anywhere in the US at any time... knowing doesn't make it easier.

After the hurricanes my brother was sent to Texas where he had to do his job under protection of the National Guards because a few of the workers had been threatened... my brother even had a knife to his throat and told to "get my F*n power back on".

I know I can get cranky if my power goes out and I have to break out the stove-top percolator... but I never call the electric company and complain about the power being out... I know it will be back on... it may not be as soon as I want it to be... but it will be back on eventually. It doesn't come on by itself... there are men and women out there working in whatever weather conditions so I can snuggle up in a warm house.

**lgw** · 12-20-2008, 08:07 AM

As someone who was out of power for six days during the recent ice storm in the Northeast, I thank your family members for their hard work and you for your support of them. The utility workers here have been greeted like heroes. It's the management of the electric companies who are bearing the brunt of the anger, mostly because of their poor communication efforts.

**ladytoysdream** · 12-20-2008, 08:33 AM

They been real good in our area, getting our electric back on when there is a outage problem
Best thing I find is just to have some stuff at home all set to go for such an emergeny.
One thing we need here is a generator that has a bigger gas tank on it. We have one that we bought for camping but it is like good for only a few hours on a tank. That is one of our's goal this coming year, to save enough up, and to pay cash when we do find the right one, and hopefully on sale.

**Lady_V** · 12-20-2008, 09:17 AM

I wanted to add to the storm recovery workers...

My Old Man is a satellite tech. Yesterday his office had tried to prepare for this storm... rescheduling some appts for earlier in the day and some moved to today... they called in as many contractors they could get as well as the in-house staff.

Yesterday the storm started around 2:00 here instead of the predicted noon. The Old Man was in the middle of a roof install when he (and all the other in-house) got called back to the office because they didn't want anyone driving in the storm , let alone be 40 feet up on an icy ladder.

--- The customer became very irate at him because he had to leave even after he told the customer he would be back as soon as it was safe to finish the job.

Yes, we are due for more snow... it's snowing right now, the roads are slick, the ladders (which are on top of the vans) are covered in snow and ice... chances this customer will have their satellite tv before Monday is somewhat slim unless a contractor picks it up as a floater (contractors aren't held to the same safety rules as in-house and can choose to be on icy roofs).

I can't help but to feel a little saddened by peoples priorities... is having satellite more important than the life of the person who has to install it? Having television entertainment is not a 'need'.

I am willing to bet my last drop of blood that if the tables are reversed and the irate people out there worked for the comapnies they comaplain about... they would finally understand.

**Momto2Boyz** · 12-20-2008, 09:29 AM

I always do my best to do what I can for workers. A couple of years ago, we were out of power for 2 days due to an ice storm. Our line from our pole to our house came down, so even once the power problem was solved, we had to wait another 24 hours to get our own back on.

These guys finally came back out at about 8 pm, and were able to get our power back up and running. I talked to them for a bit, and they said they hadn't eaten since that morning, and still had several calls to do that night before heading off to home and hotels. I had made chili and cornbread for dinner, and sent them off with tupperware full of both to get them through the night.

I have never seen faces so full of appreciation in my life, as I did when I walked out to my backyard with 2 grocery bags full of chili, cornbread, sodas, plastic spoons and napkins. DH laughed when I received a thank you note about a week later from one of their wives. It started out by saying, "Thank you for taking care of my husband when I couldn't." It was a really sweet note from her!

I have been amazed this holiday season at the tips and thank you's that DH has gotten (he is a garbage man). It has made him so happy to know that he is appreciated by so many people that he doesn't get to see. People who miss him on his route are even dropping off tips, cookies, candy, etc. to their main office for him. He thinks it is the most wonderful thing in the world to know that people appreciate him being out in the rain, sleet, snow and cold weather each week!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-20-2008, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the reminder. You are so right, we need to give them a huge thanks for all the work they do.

**homemaker66** · 12-21-2008, 08:42 AM

Today we were told that my DS will be coming home tomorrow and my DH may not be home for christmas. There are alot of men and women who may not come home and they have little ones who needs them home for Christmas. I just pray that they can come home for that one day. But I do understand that there are still people without power and that is most important. Thank you to the people who are looking out for our loved ones. Merry Christmas.