Sunday, July 1, 2012

Paco Command Center down

The storm has knocked out power for a million people in the DC area. 100 degree temperatures to boot. Typing this on a damn smart phone. Power may be out all week. Consider this an open thread. Send ice.

30 comments:

JeffS said...

I'd FedEx a bag of ice, Paco, but it would melt before it arrives.

FWIW, my work data feeds are saying power will be out 4-7 days, so there's some confirmation.

And, just in case you don't have connectivity to your County Office of Emergency Management, here's the latest from their web site (some of it common sense, but you know how common THAT is....):

===========================

Please only call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency; do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages.

Approximately 20,000 Fairfax County residents are without power. If you have lost power or know people who have, please report the outage:

Dominion Virginia Power outages and downed wires: 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357), TTY 711
NOVEC (Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative) outages and downed wires: 1-888-335-0500 or 703-335-0500, TTY 711

Stay away from downed wires as they may be live with electricity.

It’s going to be very hot again Saturday as heat index values will be close to 104. Power may not be restored to all residents immediately. Please start making plans to seek shelter during the heat with friends, family or neighbors, as well as at public buildings such as libraries, movie theathers, shopping malls and other community facilities. Please check in on vulnerable neighbors who may need assistance without power. Drink plenty of fluids.

Don’t use candles during outages; stick with battery power. If you must use a candle, never leave it unattended or while asleep.

Several roadways are closed in Fairfax County with many more covered in debris (mainly tree limbs).
Here’s who to call to have trees removed if on public property (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/recover/tree-removal.htm).

If power remains out and affects traffic lights, please obey these traffic rules (no link, I'm sure you don't need a reminder).

===========================

missred said...

Hope all at chez Paco will be ok.
Would offer chez Red but I have already taken in refugees. Tyson's Corner was packed today with refugees using all the power outlets!
Romano's Macaroni Grill has happy hour 7 days a week from 5-7!

SwampWoman said...

Good luck with getting your power restored soon!

In the meantime, you might consider a nice vacation in, oh, Iceland.

RebeccaH said...

Be well, Paco, Mrs., and Mabel.

JeffS said...

Rebecca! I wondered about you when I heard about the path of the storm, and FEMA setting up shop in Columbus.

You doing OK? You're a bit closer, maybe any ice I ship by FedEx might arrive intact.

el campeador said...

Important thing is you folks are OK. Down isn't as bad as OUT!

OH, forgot ice

cac said...

As today is the day when the carbon tax starts in Australia (thanks Julia!) I can only assume that this is Gaia flexing her muscles and of course Paco Inc would be way at the top of any list of the planet destroying guilty that she feels like targeting. Seriously I hope it's not too tiresome. One of my abiding memories of childhood is being without power for a week in the north west (where it gets hideously hot) and I shudder to think how I would cope as an adult.

cac said...

As today is the day when the carbon tax starts in Australia (thanks Julia!) I can only assume that this is Gaia flexing her muscles and of course Paco Inc would be way at the top of any list of the planet destroying guilty that she feels like targeting. Seriously I hope it's not too tiresome. One of my abiding memories of childhood is being without power for a week in the north west (where it gets hideously hot) and I shudder to think how I would cope as an adult.

Robert of Ottawa said...

Incoming ice from Canada ... 3..2...1

Learn to sweat it as your forebears did.

Robert of Ottawa said...

Wot we need is more windmills!

Mike said...

Prayers are with you Paco and family. We didn't lose power, but temps have been in the mid 100's here in SC daily.

smitty1e said...

You're welcome to come on over and do laundry &c.

kc said...

So glad those who've checked in from Paco Nation are doing ok.

I have a camper you and the Missus and Mabel are welcome to, Paco - not sumptuous by any stretch. On second thought, the a/c in it doesn't work in heat like this...so sorry. Heat index on Weather Underground claimed 136 today...blast furnace heat, dontchathink? Where the hell is AlGore when we need him most???

My Favorite Cousins went to their cabin in the Snowy Range for the weekend...she informs me it was 44 there this morning & 102 when they got back to Cheyenne this afternoon.

Think I'd have stayed in the mountains...

richard mcenroe said...

The Romney campaign office in DC is collecting water and such.

Anonymous said...

hope all is well, dear friend!

-Mr. Bingley

rinardman said...

I have a niece that lives in your vicinity, Paco. She has power, so maybe I could send her over with some ice.

Look on the bright side. If the battery in your Kindle runs out, you still have those old fashioned "books" you can read.

mojo said...

I thought the meme was "shivering in the dark"...

You east coast dweebs can't get anything right, can ya?

Bob Belvedere said...

Glad to hear that you and yours are well, Paco.

Just spoke with The Almighty and he apologizes so many of you had to get caught up in his wrath over the Obamacare Ruling, but he gave the assignment to St. Paul, and, per usual, he got carried away.

RebeccaH said...

Thanks for the concern, JeffS, but the worst that happened in my little patch of SW Ohio was the wind knocked over my tomato pots, and broke our porch flag pole (which we've fixed now). The electricity flickered and went out but popped back on. Not like those poor folks over east, I really feel for them in this awful heat.

However, there was another bad storm last night, which apparently caused a water main break, so we were without water most of the day (fixed now). That's not so bad, thanks to bottled water, because at least we still have power (and AC).

JeffS said...

Good to hear, Rebecca! I did wonder.

Yojimbo said...

Saw Wron over at Paco's Mexican Food Rest. the other day. He was sitting down in the drive thru-sans car-waiting for the place to open. You connect the dots.

LibertyAtStake said...

Let me catch you up on events, good sir. The libs are opportunistically marketing the Global Warming scam. Democrat politicians are running around saying they have their boots on the necks of the utility companies. Republican politicians are asking the utility companies what they can do to assist. The same Montgomery County residents that prevented Pepco from trimming trees on the power easement are screaming for Pepco to restore the lines those trees fell on. The Empty Suit is vacationing in France. (You'd think the great 'Community Organizer' would be in Anacostia handing out bottled water or something) iow Business as usual, concentrate on getting by as best you can.

JeffS said...

Well, Obama just lost one enthusiastic supporter.

RebeccaH said...

Good news for Jimmy Carter! He is now officially a better president than Obama, according to likely voters.

Marica said...

Paco, I've never commented here before by I love your stuff. You're welcome to drive down to our farm in north central Mississippi. It's warm but we have A/C (and a generator). Plenty of space for you & yours.

Good luck! Seriously-- could you get to some place like Luray? Do the caves, float down the river?

JeffS said...

Heh! Rebecca, that's interesting news about Jimmah and Prezident Zero.

And it's interesting to note that Obama is one notch away from the lowest score, edging out only Dubya.

I don't agree with that score for Bush 43, but it's proof that Obama's "Blame Bush" strategy has had some success.

But not exactly how Obama wanted it, given his overall performance in this poll.

Old Tanker said...

I was in Dayton over the weekend RebeccaH and luckily we never lost power.....just a flicker...

Anonymous said...

Deborah Leigh said...Paco, glad to hear that you, Mrs. P, and Mabel are slogging thru. Does it help to think of this as camping? Or is it a reflection on the life of the colonists?

Seems to me that the power went out before (last winter?). Perhaps it is time to invest in a generator....or you could go off the grid, man.

Tell us how to get ice to ya, and we'll get it done. Along with any other necessities, like batteries, booze, MREs, etc. Don't forget Mabel's dog biscuit supply.

If you find out how to send ice, let us know and you'll be the Ice King and Queen of Northern Occupied Virginia!

Anonymous said...

Deborah Leigh said...The offer of assistance goes to anyone in the Paco Nation. RebeccaH, let us know.

JeffS, thank for the laugh. It reminded me of the Post Office notice that arrived at work a few years ago. It said something to like, if you could not read the notice, please call the Post Office, and they would translate.

mojo said...

This may be a job for the Power Appliance Conscription Organization...