So What Did We Learn? Power Outage 2015
When Ange died, we never realized the keys to the front and side gates were missing. After cutting off the locks, I had my friend Kevin replace them, and I kept a set of keys in my pocket. Looking back at the 10 hour power outage, it was a smart idea. You see electric garage doors don’t go up and down when the power is off, no matter how hard you bang the door opener on the bumper.
Feeling lost, I stood on Campbell Street gazing at my Ponderosa. Side gate was a ‘no go’ unless 30 minutes of shoveling was going to be done. So I worked my way up the side fence and gratefully found out I could manage to open the Lake Ave East gate.
No one had told me that my front yard was knee deep in snow, as I slowly made my way to the side door. I dodged many piles of “dog production” and made a happy sigh that my aging dog was still healthy. Making that same trek back and forth at least 5 times that day, I was glad I was not among the Morphy pioneers from days gone by. They couldn’t have handled the whining.
The Basics
That cell phones are handy to pick up all the latest information on Facebook’s Carleton Place Social Scene. They were getting out information yesterday faster than emergency services. Great go-to source of info and sharing. After all, it is the age of social media. Join, and bookmark them.
It’s time to restock your emergency kit and get extra batteries for your flashlights. Keep candles and matches in one location and high enough out of kids reach.
Rental Village has generators, space heaters and WiFi. Like someone said, the bare necessities of life in 2015.
Stock a case of water, and peanut butter. That was my meal last night PB&J
Find out where your neighbourhood seniors live. Emergencies are difficult for them to process. Call them, and find out if they are okay. Same with single mothers. One phone call can make all the difference in the world to someone who feels alone.
What We Need to Improve
Carleton Place’s website needs major work. Local citizens wanted emergency information and nothing was on the website until hours later.
One exit from the Walmart shopping area is of concern. Teri White reminded me it was the same across the street at the Rona and the Home Depot area! Let’s hope there isn’t a larger emergency!
This a town/county/municipal issue, not the retailers, and a second entrance is likely in the 10 year plan. Saying it’s in the 5-10 year plan is passing the buck as far as I’m concerned. That could mean two more mayors, and it may not be on their agendas. Safety should come before personal agendas politically. As someone said, I honestly don’t understand why a second exit needs to be in a “ten year plan”. Just flatten the space! Even if it is a dirt road for ten years, at least it is a way out!
By the looks of yesterday’s fiasco inside Walmart, some training for stores for emergency preparedness as well.
Kudos
From Barb—I would like to add the Hydro workers who left their families on a Saturday and got into that cold bucket truck in that wind to fix the problem. You can say that they were well paid…I dont care…they gave up their family time to fix the hydro so I could be warm. The Hydro One executives all stayed warm and cozy in their big houses with their big salaries….those workers are the front line and they work hard. Being in a bucket truck on a windy cold day is not fun no matter how much you are being paid. The author agrees.
A big shout out to Assisted Living for calling some of their Seniors every 30 minutes. I send my personal thanks! You made a huge difference! Love you Sandra!
Milano Pizza Ltd, which means Sam & Robert, owners of the Carleton Place, Ontario store! Though extremely busy, they had water boiling on their gas stove, for anyone who needed it to warm up baby formula or just a cup of tea!
Sarah Cavanagh, who asked anyone without power to come over for supper on Facebook. She made a big batch of Spaghetti and Meatballs, and even had someone come over to bake a cake for a cake order the the next day.
The House of Fong was still cooking, and Chinese food was enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Courtney Schmidt telling us Shoppers Drug Mart was open
Shout-outs to the staff at the Mac’s and McEwen’s on Townline who were open. The places were packed and everyone was incredible!
Shirley Kingdon reported about Spartan Pizza: “Well they were open and making pizzas, I went in only after driving by and noticing they were open. because I was cold they let me stand by the oven to keep warm. They did not have means to make coffee to go, but they made coffee for me and put it in small gravy take out containers so I could bring hot coffee home for my husband and myself with no charge for the coffee. Very pleasant staff for such a small establishment. Could not do enough for the people who did stop in.”
A personal shout out to The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum who offered a warm spot, conversation, and a place for me to charge my phone.
Thank you to all of the local Carleton Place businesses that stayed open during the power outage. Please remember to support your local businesses – especially after a Saturday closure that can be so damaging. Special call outs to Wisteria, The Hair Chair and Blow Dry Bar, As Good As New, Natural Pets, Milano’s, Dionysus, and many more!
The outage brought the town even closer together! Mission accomplished– carry on!
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