Smoke Signals and other news
As I have stayed inside my warm home with electricity, food, water, and my animals for companions, it has been hard to realize that I am now one of the “elderly” you are advised to check on (and plenty have). I ventured to the front porch when the little dog was brave enough to go out long enough to take care of business and down the ramp when a neighbor broke up the several inches of ice. I had been working on it a bit every day but was glad to have it gone. I’ve kept the bird feeder full. Glad I decided to hang it under the eave of the porch so that it didn’t get the ice and snow and the birds were able to eat. I can get to it safely to refill it, which I could not have done if I had put it where I have in the past. I acquired another feral cat in the midst of the storm. I don’t know where they are staying (probably under my shed) but they come up a couple of times a day/night to eat. There is warm housing available on the porch, but they go on their way after eating. The racoon still visits for a snack and doesn’t care if I turn on the camera siren or yell at him through the camera. My thoughts recall all the past storms when Doug and I would have been out helping others. It’s hard to sit back and not do that. I, as do many of you, have stories about storms of the past. Seems there was a major storm when I was born. I don’t remember that one but remember many others-1968, 1974, and 1994 come to mind each with there own adventures.
My grandson and family drove in from Water Valley when they lost power and have three boys under six. It took them two and a half hours with four-wheel drive. Their rental home is all electric. It will be at least another week before they have power restored and then I’m sure they will have pipes that didn’t make it. Fortunately, my son has propane heat as well as a fireplace with an insert. They are enjoying having the boys here. My son is one of those whose company has equipment to help with clearing of parking lots, etc., so he has been working long hours to help ensure safety of others.
After days of being stranded at Ole Miss with no power, no heat, and no way to get to a warming center, a wonderful gentleman, Joshua Wright, rescued my granddaughter along with other students from the Oxford area and brought them home. Although power had been restored to some dorms, the older students must live off campus as there is not enough housing for them. It was too far for her to attempt to walk to a warming center and she would have had to leave her cat behind, which she wasn’t willing to do. Her parents do not have vehicles suitable to handle the ice but were about to try when Josh said he would get her. He stopped along the way to help other stranded motorists but brought the kids home safely. She is warm and safe and we are grateful. There are many students whose parents live states away that have no way to get home. Keep these young people and their worried parents in your prayers. Help them if you have a way.
So many tragic stories in this storm. So many begging for someone to check on their families. I’ve reached out to friends in Walnut. They have a generator and are currently safe. Their entire county has been without power. I am afraid there will be more stories of death when people can be reached.
I would love to report your news. Call or text me at 901 246-8843, message me on Facebook at Clair Wagg, or email me at jchwagg@gmail.com.