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#July2024PowerOutage

#1 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/18/2024

#PowerOutage #July2024PowerOutage
As you can imagine I had ample time to ponder our situation while sitting in the dark gazing into the pale light of my cell phone thinking about the power outage. Wondering how widespread it was, what caused it.

And, most important, when would it be over!?

Ameren Cilco completely sucks at informing their customers about what is going on. With modern power meter capabilities they know exactly how many customers are without power and where they are. Their outage map is of no use whatever. They could show accurately by city block what gas stations, stores, restaurants, etc. have power and might be open so people aren’t driving all over town trying to find necessities. Their repair predictions are also woefully lacking. We received a text message yesterday morning that our power would likely be restored by 11 p.m. today, then it was updated to 6 p.m. today. Imagine our surprise when it came back on almost 24 hours sooner. But also imagine the chagrin of those people who booked hotel rooms (at an exorbitant price) for another night to get some sleep out of the heat and then find out the power was restored so much earlier than they had been told it would be. They could be so much more helpful if they teamed up with local media to provide useful information.

MjL

#2 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/15/2024

#PowerOutage #July2024PowerOutage I’ve come back to this date to the update I didn’t get a chance to post because of the power outage. Aaron had left for Galesburg last Friday to catch a train to Chicago to join Ben, Aliya & Morgon to attend their friend Derek’s wedding. They arrived here late Sunday night because, as usual, Amtrak was running almost four hours late. They all went out to eat this evening to celebrate A&B’s birthday and were on their way home around 8:30 p.m. when they got caught in the same windstorm that knocked out our power. We all wandered about the house with flashlights while remarking upon how strong the winds were. Fortunately I have a back-up battery to power my CPAP machine so it wasn’t too bad for sleeping; although the house did get warmer because we had no air conditioner running.

Update

#3 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/16/2024

#PowerOutage #July2024PowerOutage
I’m glad we kept the 7,500 watt generator from when we lived in Tremont. It takes up a lot of space in the shed but it was worth it over the past couple days. We hadn’t run the generator since we started it up six years ago shortly after we moved here. The battery was shot so we had to use the pull rope. (I say “we” but it was Tracey who actually got it running.) It was pretty ragged at first; I think because the gas was old too. Eventually it smoothed out and we were able to keep things powered up. Especially my oxygen concentrator. We could also keep the freezer, refrigerator and A/C running too. We shut it down before dark each evening because it is so noisy and loud. Our neighbors probably hate us for the noise alone.

Update