Were we Prepared for the Storm?

              Okay,  this will be my last  post about last weeks fire.

            We have been more prepared than many others, but still not as much as we had hoped or believed.  There is only so much that can be stored and used before we run out.  As Roland couldn't get the generator working that first day, he used a jump start from the car to hook to the fireplace.  It was our only source of heat for a while.  But the car jumping device did not provide the amount of power that the generator had.  I was also afraid of killing the cars. 

            Roland had gone to the store not just once but two or three times to replace items we had used (such as gas and batteries).  How fortunate it was that he was able to use a credit or debit card as there have been many who have not had the opportunity to use their cards in natural disasters.  If residences are able to find a place that's open, I understand that cash is the preferred method.  I hate when there are businesses that prey upon the weakness or panic of the public.  WalMart offered snow brushes for removing snow from windshields.  In the entire time, we've been here, we have never encountered the challenge of needing a snow brush.  To me it seemed that the target was not out of concern to the public but how to use the panic to make a profit.  That irks me.  

            Though we have many flashlights, Roland went ahead and purchased some more.  We now have enough flashlights for every room, both vehicles, and our evacuation bags - which fortunately we have never had to use either.  I wonder how they will fare when there does come a time we have to rely solely upon only our backpack supply.  Granted, they are heavy.  The weight alone seems it would sustain us for a few weeks.  But we won't really know unless we are faced with the challenge of having to use them.  We didn't seem as prepared for the last week of February though we had believed we were.   Thus it makes me question how prepared we'd be without the opportunity of having a car to drive or a destination to drive to.

            On Wednesday we moved everything from one fridge and freezer to one location to hook to the generator.  Some food had thawed out and Roland boiled an entire bag of ravioli, but I cannot eat it all and so I packed up containers to share with the neighbors.  By that time, many had gone elsewhere – probably to stay with family.  I think both of our neighbors across the street are on oxygen and the family next door has two small children.

            Jenna had taken the snow shovel to assist neighbors with clearing out their driveways.  She wanted to do it to raise money and asked Roland's advice.  Of course, Roland and I always provide opposite answers.  He had that Walmart attitude of preying on the weak and making a profit and I told her to do it for blessings.  She decided to take my advice but didn't reject any payment when it was offered. I believe she made more money that way.

            I returned to eat my own ravioli and have been eating ravioli every day since.  The mail was delivered on Thursday for the first time last week.  Our power returned Thursday night.  There is still one school in the district without power Friday morning. Another message that school will be canceled for Friday.  They expect to resume on Monday.

           I am grateful to the power company who still has workers out there continuing to restore power to so many who don't have it still.  Four days is nothing.  Many of those currently without electricity are also without water.  I pray that they will have the strength to survive and hope that their struggles will be lessened that they may return to the way things were.