Freezing rain usually doesn’t get as much acclaim or dread as the words, “hurricane,” or, “tornado.” Rightfully so in most cases, freezing rain is just rainwater that freezes upon reaching the surface, and usually results in a thin layer of ice that tends to take away some precious morning sleep before work.
However what if the freezing rain continued for 3 days straight?
Welcome to the Oklahoma City metro region today.
To answer the question, here’s what happens:
Trees, many still with leaves after a mild autumn, become encrusted with 1/2″ of ice or more, weighing down the branches. As more ice accumulates, branches snap, creating a mini havoc. Some of these branches happen to be near power lines, phone lines, and some above-ground fiber optic cables, leading to massive communication disruption.
Cars are virtually locked because rain gets easier into the cracks of a car’s doors than sleet or snow do. So the rain droplets get into the tiny seals of the car, and freeze, sealing it shut. Two people at work today were out for 2 hours each trying to get their doors open with hot water and vinegar. Once open, you (hopefully) turn the engine on, put on full defrost, and start chipping and cracking away at the solid sheet of ice on the windshield. Wonderful.
Roads which look relatively fine at first are coated with ice which is transparent, and people who aren’t aware of how to drive in these conditions (rather moronically) brake and accelerate as fast as they would on dry ground, causing hordes of accidents.
As of today, 11 people have been killed by this ice storm, as compared to 3 people who died during the deadly May 3rd tornadoes a few years back, known worldwide as perhaps the most powerful tornado in recorded history.
I started off by checking my company email this morning and was dismayed to find that we had a delay, and not a full cancellation. No no– not because I don’t like work. I really enjoy it. But because it would take me more than an hour to get there because of the slow driving conditions. Then of course there would be the ‘prepping’ of the car, which is detailed above. Well after getting there safely at 10 or so, at noon the power went out. To the entire building.
From one of my co-workers’ offices you could actually see three transformers explode as the burdened tree branches finally gave way and smashed onto the power lines. We stuck around until 1:30 and were then told, “Go home.”
So here I am, at home, in a state where we’re not prepared for winter ‘calamities’ such as this, wondering if we’ll have electricity tonight. Nice. It’s sad because all that’s necessary to fix the roads is just some salt. But does Oklahoma keep that around? No. Branches near power lines are supposed to be trimmed away to prevent power failures as those that are being experienced by half of Oklahoma City, and it’s the city’s responsibility to do so. But is it done? I answer once again, no.
Hopefully I’ll have heat tonight.
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