Ice Storm 2026
Day 3 of the Ice Storm
We’ve been without power for two days now, but we still have gas logs for heat and we have water—so truly, we’re not complaining. So many people have it much worse than we do.
We did lose a huge tree in the backyard, with several others broken or fallen. There will be a lot of cleanup once all of this is over. Temperatures are still below freezing today.
I know there are many areas across the country that deal with this kind of weather routinely, but for a small Southern town like ours, this is a major disaster. Still, we’re surviving. Now it’s just a matter of waiting patiently for the dedicated power company crews to do their thing. We’re also grateful for the workers coming in from other areas to help out.
We’re also thankful that we’re both retired and don’t have to get out on icy roads to get to work. We’ve already done our share of that. During the ice storm of 1994, I stayed at the hospital where I worked for a couple of days because nurses couldn’t get in. We slept in empty patient rooms, changed into clean scrubs, and took care of patients. That experience stays with you — it gives you a deep appreciation for essential workers and what they do during times like this.
We’re not complaining — we’ve been lucky. Fallen trees can be cleaned up in time, and food that’s lost can be replaced. Our main goal is simply to get through this safely and without injury. Everything else can wait.
Preparation (What We Did Right)
e did try to prepare for the ice storm by stocking up on pantry essentials, batteries, lanterns, water, paper goods, and the basics. What we didn’t think about was a way for my husband to make coffee. ☕️
Thankfully, we made it to Walmart yesterday and discovered coffee that comes in little bags—like tea bags. I didn’t even know that existed! We also picked up a kettle, which has made heating water on the stove much easier to manage.
We filled the bathtub with water… and it all drained out the first night (lesson learned 😄). We also filled every pitcher we had in the house with water, just in case the pipes froze.
Making It Work (Improvising Along the Way)
For now, we’ve been recharging phones and devices using the golf cart, which has actually worked well and is fairly quiet. I’m still trying to save phone battery for texting when needed.
This morning, we managed to make sausage and biscuits by cooking the biscuits on the grill—and they turned out great. If this keeps up, I may bake a cake next….lol
Future Preparation (Lessons Learned)
Going forward, first on the agenda will be researching natural gas generators that connect to the house and come on automatically. We may never need one again in our lifetime, but if we do, we’ll be better prepared.
I’m also going to look for a coffee pot that works on the stove (clearly an essential!). Another way to charge phones and devices would be nice as well. And we’ve realized how helpful an old-school, battery-operated radio would be—simple, but reliable.
Grateful & Learning
I’d truly be grateful to hear your ideas on how best to prepare for something like this. Every storm teaches you something new, and we’re learning as we go. Please keep our community in your prayers.
