There is a possibility of a windstorm here in the Northwest - these monsters are not that rare and their severity varies usually 40-75 mile-an-hour winds that sweep over the area for hours - what does not vary is the tendency to lose electrical service. They can be an immense bother that lasts all day or an immense bother that brings a power outage that lasts a week. I take them very seriously. We have gone as long as 10 days without electricity, though usually it is closer to 5 -7 days. I am not sure why this is so -Leon suggests its the fault of our humid, wet winter weather; our trees don't need deep roots so they tend to have shallow roots systems that do not hold well in the equally soaked soil - there are entire areas, not that far from here that tend towards becoming swamps or bogs every winter - some more look like shallow lakes than fields. I would add that this 'enlightened area' has never put its power, cable & telephone lines underground where they belong. I suppose they would say something about earthquakes but I think keeping the power on during windstorms and ice storms (which happen relatively often.) is a greater advantage then any trouble causes with broken underground lines during earthquakes.
These storms remind me of the Nor'easters that hit southern Virgina in the winter months. - I am only a little less afraid of them than I would be a full scale hurricane.
I am doing the 'windstorm dance' - all clothes washed, some ironing done for extra clothing, putting the bird feeders and wind chimes in safe places - checking food supplies so that I have something to cook on the wood stove that takes a very short time and finally recharging all battery telephones and lamps.
Explains what a Nor-Easter is and a some recent examples. An even better explanation. A NOAA pamphlet with some suggestions about N.W. Windstorms and how to survive.The weather advisory for Western Washington. WELL, needless to say, I have some work to do.. I don't think this windstorm is going to be that serious but we have already had one threatened that threatened our area but did not hit us - two misses in the same year is too much to expect.
I do not mind preparing - it is worth it.
And, yes, we already have a decent wood stove and enough wood to keep the house heated during our most active hours - I do not mind a cool house at night, in fact, I prefer it.
The only thing we really fear is the 40 ft. tree in the back yard... its not on our land but I don't think IT knows that... we have talked to our new neighbor and he has spoken about cutting it down and we even offered to help pay for the service - that thing land on our house and we would have a real mess on our hands. (Once a mere branch fell during an ice storm and when it hit the ground the entire house shook. I don't think the 6.7 earthquake rattled my nerves more!)
Storms are easier to put up with - and even survive if you Prepare.
