Ice, Rain Forces Midwest to Slow Down

At least we knew it was coming. The weatherman started telling us early Monday morning that we were in for a doozy of a Winter storm.

The warning from The National Weather Service out of Kansas City stated:

"Make sure you have an adequate supply of food. check furnaces and fuel levels. Do not run generators in enclosed areas! It is not safe to operate a generator in your house...or even in an attached garage. The exhaust from the generator contains carbon monoxide...a deadly gas that is both colorless and odorless. Grills and stoves designed for cooking should not be used to generate heat indoors as these devices are not designed for prolonged use and also produce carbon monoxide.

Significant amounts of ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible. Travel is strongly discouraged once the freezing rain begins. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order and carry along a safety supply kit that includes food... blankets and a cell phone. Ice accumulations and winds will likely lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches that add to the danger."

We heard news all day long on the radio of cold temperatures and freezing rain in Oklahoma, Kansas, and southern Missouri and were told we would be affected by 6pm. It seems most people took heed and spent Monday scrambling to prepare. At 5pm it seemed everyone in my town of 20,000 people had the same goal in mind. There were no parking spaces or even shopping carts to be found a Walmart or the local grocer. We are located north of Kansas City and had been spared anything but bitter cold as of yet, but as the sun set a dense fog rolled in and the temperature dropped.

It took me nearly an hour and a half to buy the few small items that our household needed. There were no eggs, I grabbed the last loaf of whole wheat bread, and people at Walmart had their baskets piled high with crackers and water. The "speedy checkout" lanes for customers with 20 items or less were queued 6 people deep - mostly desperate looking men who were undoubtedly shoved out into the cold to pick up the milk and cereal in case the family couldn't make it out in the morning. I was very thankful for the smiling face of my cashier by the time it was my turn to pay. As I was leaving I realized with concern that these hard working people weren't going to be able to go anywhere until we had all of our needs met - and the storm was approaching quickly.

6pm came and went but at about a quarter before 7pm I heard the rain begin. My father called from Denver at just about the same time to see how we were and tell us that there was a prediction for inches more snow Tuesday on top of the 4 they already had. The non-profit transitional housing facility we work for also informed us Monday night that because all of the electric lines are above ground in that neighborhood, they had a contingency plan set up with the Methodist church across the street in case they were without power for long. They encouraged us to refrain from making the 20 minute commute out in the morning.

The radio was busy with announcements of closing and postponed events long before the rain started turning into ice here. Before long reports were coming from all over the midwest of people without power, roads closed due to accidents and downed lines, and we learned Monday evening that most flights in and out of our own Kansas City International Airport after 8pm were canceled.

Tuesday morning we awoke early to a phone call from my husband's boss. The power was out at the library where he is employed and he was to stay at home. A day at home is never unwelcome here, but that's because we are the lucky ones who still have a warm house and access to information through the internet and television. I had in mind to put our Christmas cards out in the mailbox for pickup after breakfast, unfortunately the ice outside our door is too thick and perilous looking for me to attempt at 8 months pregnant even the few steps necessary. I don't think the mailman will be making his rounds today anyway. My dad says that we are all over the news right now, so hopefully the family members who receive their cards a few days later than expected will understand.