First-Hand Report of Ice Storm in Level Cross, North Carolina
No one has forgotten the December 2003 ice storm which paralyzed all of Greensboro and the surrounding area. Many people were without power for over a week, and quite a few lived bundled in their homes with no heat or running water until the power was finally restored. The power crews had to work from house to house, because so many lines were down from falling trees.
If you’ve never been in an ice storm – be grateful. First, gentle rain falls. An ice storm looks like any other rain storm… but then, ice begins to form on branches and power lines. Within a short period of time, the ice coats absolutely everything. It’s beautiful – until the weight of all that ice begins to shatter the trees.
When the weatherman began predicting snow, sleet, and freezing rain for the morning of January 17th, we began preparations in earnest. Since we live out in the county and have our own well, I purchased water at the grocery store. If the electricity goes out, we have no water because the well pump is off. I also have a good stockpile of canned food and sandwich fixin’s, and a manual canopener. We’ll eat just fine without electricity, but I worry because I have a chest freezer that is full of venison and other meat.
We also have electric heat, which of course won’t work if the ice storm causes the power lines to break! However, we are very grateful to have both a fireplace and a kerosene heater. There’s kerosene out in the shed, left over from last winter. We brought in several armfuls of wood last night, for “just in case” purposes. It’s neatly stacked on the living room carpet. All that wood would look out of place, but a quick glance out the window clarifies the need. There’s ice on nearly everything.
Although parts of the Triad got a little snow and sleet which then turned off to rain, Randolph County seems to be staying right at the freezing mark. As I write this, ice is building up on the trees. They’re taking on that beautiful lacy, silvery look that spells out “danger”. The wind is blowing gently at the moment, making the threat of branches breaking even higher.
When we woke up this morning, there was perhaps half an inch of snow on the ground, and it had begun to sleet. Although the news said that there were accidents everywhere, my husband decided to go in to work. A 25-minute drive took nearly an hour, but he made it there safely.
I took the dogs out at about 8 o’clock, which was no fun because our big dog pulls at her leash. We have a long wheelchair ramp and Lucy pulled me down it at top speed. After a few steps, I gave up running and just skated along!
It continued to sleet off and on for several hours, and we were beginning to think that we were out of the woods – then the rain began. The weatherman comes on from time to time, announcing that the winter weather event is over, and there’s no ice. Maybe in Greensboro things are just fine… but out here in Level Cross, it’s not so fine! It seems like every time I look out the kitchen window, our oaks have a thicker coating of ice. Out front, the pines are bowing down slightly.
Since power lines in my neighborhood are buried, I can’t see if the ice is building up on them, too. If the rain keeps on, I’ll walk down to the main road in a while to see. I won’t be able to take my car… even though the ground remains ice-free thus far, there’s enough ice on the door that it will take some effort to get in. It’s easier to walk!
If the rain stops as forecast, we may escape the worst of it. If it doesn’t – or if all of this moisture freezes on the ground tonight – Level Cross will be quite a mess!
