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Finally I have Power!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty

After 8 cold dark days I finally have my power back.

On Thursday December 11th New Hampshire was hit with an Ice Storm that knocked out the power to over 400,000 homes.  Many of those people continued to live in cold homes and managed the best they could without running water. They always thought the power would go back on any minute. It never did. Some bought generators and tried their best to function. Others went to hotels or stayed with friends.

During that time my main vehicle of communication was my cell phone and Twitter.com. Those affected by the storm used the hash-tag #icestorm2008 or #icestorm08 on Twitter to keep track of what was happening around them. Even the power company @PSNH twittered.

Many of us felt isolated from the rest of the world as other people went about daily life, shopping for the holidays, we sat huddled and cold worrying about how to flush the toilet and how to take a shower. The simple things that we all take for granted we suddenly had to worry about. It certainly made you look at life a little differently.

Ice Storm 2008 is one I won't soon forget! The tree you hear cracking in this video finally split in half... I was safely out of the way.

You can read more on NHRealtyScoops.com and look at few pictures on NHViewFinders.com

 

 

Posted by

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH and the Seacoast area real estate specialists.

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy, covering southern NH and the Seacoast area. If you’re thinking of selling or buying a southern NH or Seacoast area home give us a call…we’d love to help make your home ownership dreams come true.

E-mail Jay and Monika or call or text at 603-548-7728

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy, NH REALTORS

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty

603-944-9172 direct line

603-434-2377 office

 

Comments (47)

Mick Michaud
Distinctly Texas Lifestyle Properties, LLC Office:682/498-3107 - Granbury, TX
Your Texas Lifestyle is Here!

Glad you're back in the land of the living.  We had something similar happen here in North Texas a few years ago.  Trees were snapping under the weight of the ice.  They sounded like shot-gun blasts.  It took 4 days to get us back.  I can't imagine 8!

I guess in those situations you determine who gets the daily shower by rank.  The most rank gets the shower.  LOL!

 

Dec 19, 2008 04:37 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

I can't imagine what that must of been like, glad to hear you have power back and are posting once again.  Glad you weren't near that cracking tree....Holy Mackeral is right!!  Happy Holidays.  Tell Jay I said hi.  :-)

Dec 19, 2008 04:46 PM
Teresa Boardman
Boardman Realty - Saint Paul, MN

Power is a good thing! Now you can get back to work. :)

Dec 19, 2008 10:19 PM
Mitchell J Hall
Manhattan, NY
Lic Associate RE Broker - Manhattan & Brooklyn

Monika, Glad you got power back. 8 days is a long time and worse in the winter. Excellent video.

Dec 19, 2008 11:32 PM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

Wow, Even though I had seen the news I had no idea how long you all suffered and how pervasive the damage was/is.  I am so glad are safe and in good spirits.

Dec 19, 2008 11:51 PM
Thom Abbott
MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living - Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta GA Condos For Sale

Monika.....oh such memories you bring. We had a similar storm in Atlanta in the late 90's....There were trees down everywhere, and it was especially bad as we have lots of pine trees, and the ice built up in the pines, and down they came. My neighbor was in his driveway and a pine came down and smashed him right up against his house. Lucky, he was not hurt.

Shower's were a problem, but we did have running water? The loss of power did not effect the toilet or running water. This is also when I was glad I had a gas stove and a fireplace. So we huddled by the fire, and at least we could cook, make expresso. We were 4 days, and were about ready to head to a hotel when we got our power back.

Makes you appreciate what you don't have....but glad to hear things are starting to get back to normal and in time for Santa to arrive! How WOULD he find you without lights?

Dec 19, 2008 11:54 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Monika, did you all stay in the house. I can't even imagine that. I was following your updates on Twitter and thankful the whole ordeal is over. I had to endure that in Aug 2007 when we had a terrible storm but it was summmer and we were just hot.

Being cold....Is far, far worse.

Dec 20, 2008 12:05 AM
Kris Kombrink ~ The Kombrink Team
RE/MAX Excels - Chicago's Western Suburbs - Geneva, IL

Monika, sorry to hear about your situation - glad you're back up and running though.  I have always admired ice storms from a distance.  I find them fascinating, but now I will realize the problems associated with them.

Twitter

Dec 20, 2008 02:18 AM
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

So glad to hear that your power has finally came back on and that you don't have to worry about the things that we seem to take for granted.  We've been without power for hours, and even a couple days, but it's never been during the cold months.

Dec 20, 2008 03:36 AM
Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton
Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC - Hilton Head Island, SC
I had no idea the ice storm was that severe. I sure hope the rest of the winter is kind to you and an early spring arrives.
Dec 20, 2008 03:56 AM
Ginger S
Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC
Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Monika, OMG I can't imagine all that time without power. Did you have a woodstove to keep warm at least? Thank God it's over! We were without power for almost 3 days in NY, but that was during an heavy Ocotober wind/rainstorm. It was cold & inconvenient..but 8 days in an icestorm! Yikes. What did you do for food? glad you are safe now.

Dec 20, 2008 04:16 AM
Emma Vargas
Simply Staging - Cameron Park, CA
Simply Staging

Monika-  Thanks for the first-hand account and the video of this ice storm that we've been hearing so much about.  I've had friends around me complaining about the cold, it's 43 degrees right now in Northern California - and I tell them to be thankful we don't live back east.  We're so spoiled out here, I know we've got it good.  I'm glad that you have your power back as I can't imagine what it'd be like to be without it for 8 days!  I'll remind the people around me about that when they start to complain again.  Have a great holiday and wishing you uninterrupted power for the rest of the year!  Emma

Dec 20, 2008 04:19 AM
Tony Orefice
NorthGroup Real Estate/www.TonyORealtor.com - Concord, NC
Realtor- Cabarrus County, NC

WoW! You don't know what you have until it's gone! We had an ice storm here some years back and lost power for 3 days. I almost went out of my mind!!

Dec 20, 2008 04:33 AM
Sean Dreznin
NAI Tampa Bay - Sarasota, FL
Commercial Investment Real Estate Agent

Mother nature sure is amazing!

 

Dec 20, 2008 05:41 AM
Anonymous
Maggie Dokic

Moni, welcome back to civilization.  Glad you have things back to normal.  We lost power for 17 days a few years back with one of the hurricanes, but I applaud you.  I think having to put up with the cold is much worse than the inconvenience of being hot and sweaty like we were.

Wishing you lovely Christmas and may the rest of the season be gentle on you.

Dec 20, 2008 06:16 AM
#42
Nancy Birge
Coldwell Banker - Old Lyme, CT
Waterfront Specialist

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, AND NO MORE ICE STORMS FOR YOU.........

Dec 20, 2008 07:10 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Monika!  I had no idea that you were going through such an ordeal!  I know that recently Ann had a similar experience but, didn't know you were in a pickle too.  I am so happy for you that you've gotten your power back and can get on with the holidays!

Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas

Dec 20, 2008 08:41 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Monika, snow is so dangerous and so beautiful at the same time!  Glad you're warm once again!

Dec 20, 2008 02:35 PM
Jeannie Kontis
Lancaster, PA

Glad you've got power back!  My son was delayed at O'Hare Airport yesterday for over 5 hours while connecting from Denver to PA.  What an ordeal! 

Dec 20, 2008 03:41 PM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Thank you so much everyone! I am still trying to catch up after 8 days in the dark!

I will visit all your blogs in the next few days but please know it's been an incredible ordeal one in which I hope I never have to repeat. 

Thank you and Happy Holidays!!!

Dec 21, 2008 07:44 AM