If you're one of the millions of Americans caught in this monster storm cutting across the country this weekend, consider this your friendly reminder to stay warm, stay safe, and use a little extra common sense. And even though I live in Florida now, I'm no stranger to winter weather. I spent most of my life in Buffalo, New York, so I've seen firsthand what heavy snow and ice can do when it hits hard and knocks out power. In fact, one email from a student this week kicked loose a whole flood of storm memories (and a few survival tips worth repeating).
I received an email from one of my Silver members, Shawn. He told me he's just outside of Nashville, and that their biggest concern right now isn't data issues or computer problems, it's simply keeping the power on. They've got a lot of ice weighing down the trees around them, and anyone who's lived through an ice storm knows that's when things start snapping and the lights start flickering. He also mentioned (very politely) that he remembered I'm in Florida now, and hoped I was warm and dry. I appreciated that, and yes... I'm warm and dry at the moment, but I'm going to rub it in just a tiny bit later. :)
Now, Nashville is a lovely city. My wife and I were just there last year. We spent a day or two exploring, checking things out, and we even did one of those bar bikes downtown, which was an absolute blast. I'm not a huge country music fan, but I love the atmosphere in Nashville. It's like the whole city is walking around with a smile, a guitar, and something deep-fried. Mmm... I do miss that hot chicken.
But back to the storm. I've been watching this winter weather system cutting through the country on the news, and if you're anywhere near it, please stay warm and be safe. And I'm saying that as someone who currently lives in Southwest Florida but spent most of my life in Buffalo, New York up until around 2013. I know snow. I know ice. I know what it feels like to wake up, look outside, and realize nature has chosen violence.
One of the worst storms I ever lived through in Buffalo was the October Surprise back in 2006. It hit early in the season (October, duh), which is important because most of the trees still had their leaves. And that combination is a recipe for disaster: wet, heavy snow sticks to those leaves, piles up fast, and suddenly every branch in the city is carrying the weight of a small refrigerator. That storm absolutely hammered the area, with tree limbs snapping everywhere, power lines coming down, and whole neighborhoods going dark. People were without power for over a week in many places, and I personally went about 10 days without power.
And here's where my inner computer nerd takes the bridge. In the early 2000s, still in the post-Y2K mindset, I had gone out and bought a portable generator "just in case." Today, generators are everywhere. Back then, not so much, and they were expensive enough that a lot of people didn't bother. I think I paid close to $2,000 for mine back then (roughly about $3,600 in today's money), which I know sounds outrageous now. But when the storm hit, I was the only person on my street who had one.
So what happened next? Extension cords. Everywhere. I'm talking giant orange extension cords running to my neighbors' houses so they could keep sump pumps running and save their eggs and milk. Why sump pumps? Because right after the storm passed, the temperature warmed up into the 50s and 60s, so all that snow started melting fast and everybody's basements started flooding. It was like we got hit by a blizzard and then Mother Nature immediately said, "Okay, now let's do indoor pools." It was chaos, but we survived, and honestly it turned into one of those moments where the neighborhood felt like a neighborhood again.
And afterward... wow. Cleanup was unreal. There were tons of branches and debris all over the city, and parking lots at malls and shopping centers looked like someone dumped an entire forest there. They brought in these enormous wood chippers, and when I say enormous, I mean these things looked like they could shred a car. It was like a scene out of a movie. I was out in the front yard with my little electric chainsaw - running off my generator - chopping up trees that fell in my yard for what seemed like two years.
Now, I'm not telling you all of this to win the suffering Olympics (although Buffalo would be a strong contender every year - that's why I moved). I'm saying it because when I hear someone say, "Our big concern is keeping the power on," I instantly know exactly what that feels like. And yes, Florida has its own brand of weather chaos too. I've been through several hurricanes already, and Hurricane Ian in 2022 was especially rough.
We're nowhere near the water, so storm surge isn't a concern for us (and storm surge is one of the most dangerous parts of a hurricane), but we still got hit hard. We lost our fence, we lost power, and we were without electricity for over a week. The funny part is this: when I first moved to Florida and bought a house, the very first thing I did was install a whole-house generator. I never needed it. Even during Hurricane Irma back in 2017, the power never went out at my place, so I had this whole-house generator sitting there like a perfectly trained guard dog that never got to bark.
Then I sold that house around 2020, moved into a condo for a while, and rented for a bit. And of course, Hurricane Ian hits while I'm renting. During Ian, all I had was a small portable generator again, and that little thing got us through about 10 days with no power. It wasn't luxurious, but it worked, which is really the theme of surviving storms: you don't need perfect, you need functional. When I bought my most recent house, you better believe the first thing I did was install a whole-house generator again, and in the past three years we haven't really needed it. It's kicked on once or twice because here in Florida we get those quick two-minute power blips during lightning storms, but nothing serious. Still, I sleep better knowing it's there.
So Shawn, yes, I understand the priority shift from "data issues" to "keep the lights on." Now for the part where I rub it in just a little bit. Right now it's about 80 degrees and sunny here in Southwest Florida. We're getting ready to take the dogs in the pool today. But here's the twist: we're also getting a cold snap. By Tuesday morning it's supposed to be in the 30s around here, which is pretty rare. Not unheard of, but unusual enough that Floridians react like the apocalypse is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. Just like pre-hurricane, everyone makes a run on groceries, TP, and... yes the liquor stores are packed.
Also when that happens, there's an absolutely hilarious Florida phenomenon: falling iguanas! Yes, iguanas fall out of the palm trees. This is a real thing. Look it up. They're not dead, they're cold-stunned. They basically get paralyzed when it gets that cold, lose their grip, and drop out of trees like scaly little lawn darts. It's funny... as long as you're not walking under one.
Anyway, all of that brings me to the important part: staying safe. I'm not going to give you the entire generic checklist that you already know. You guys know the basics: flashlights, batteries, bottled water, basic first-aid kit, all that stuff. I'm not going to spend your day reciting what everyone already posts on every storm-prep list ever created. Instead, here are the weird things people forget, and the things I've seen go wrong.
First: stay indoors if you can. Second: stay off the roads. And third: don't drive just because you have four-wheel drive. This one drove me nuts every year when I lived in Buffalo. Four-wheel drive helps you go. It does not help you stop. It might help you get out of a ditch after you've slid into it, but it does not magically change the laws of physics. I've seen so many people in big trucks and SUVs thinking, "I've got 4WD, I'm good." No. No you're not. You're not good on ice.
Next: generators. Please do not run a generator indoors. Not in the house, not in the basement, not in a garage, and not even in the garage with the door open. Generators belong outside. Carbon monoxide is a killer, and it doesn't announce itself. People fall asleep and don't wake up. It's silent, invisible, and ruthless. Get yourself a carbon monoxide detector, and if you can, get more than one.
In fact, I have a small portable CO detector that I travel with. There have been multiple reports over the years of people traveling to resorts (even fancy ones) and dying in their sleep from carbon monoxide poisoning due to some equipment malfunction or ventilation issue. Every time I check into a hotel, I plug it in. It's cheap insurance and one of those "I'd rather feel silly than be sorry" habits.
While we're talking power, a good solar charger is one of the best storm tools you can buy. Not just for your phone, but for lights, emergency radios, rechargeable battery packs, all of it. Even if the whole area is out, the sun still shows up and does its thing. I'll include a link to the one I recommend because it's one of those purchases you don't care about until you really, really care about it.
Also, write down your emergency numbers. Do not rely on your phone memory when the phone itself may be dead. Whenever I travel, I write down important numbers on a business card and keep it in my wallet: hotel number, taxi service (or two), and any key contacts I might need. Because when you're stressed and cold and your phone is dead or cell service is down, the words "I know it's saved somewhere" become completely useless. Paper doesn't need a charger.
Another one: be smart about shoveling. If you're not in shape (and let's be honest, most people aren't in "snow shoveling shape"), you can absolutely hurt yourself. Warm up first. Use your legs, not your back. Take breaks and don't try to do it all at once. A lot of heart attacks happen from shoveling snow, and that's not hype, that's reality.
Now let's talk pets, because this one makes me angry. Bring your pets inside. I hate when people leave their dog outside all winter freezing, and I hate it just as much down here in Florida when people leave dogs out in the heat all summer. That's not "toughening them up." That's cruel. Your pets aren't yard decorations. They're family members. They deserve warmth, food, safety, and comfort just like everyone else.
And finally, consider a go bag. Hopefully you never need it, but if you do need it, you'll be glad it's ready. We keep those down here for hurricane season, because sometimes you really do have to get out of Dodge. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just the essentials: medications, copies of important documents, chargers, flashlight, some cash, and basic supplies. It's the kind of stuff you don't want to be scrambling for at 2 a.m. when the world is sideways.
So yes, while Shawn's email started off as "keeping the power on," it turned into a reminder that weather doesn't care about your to-do list. It doesn't care about your plans. It doesn't care about your schedule. It shows up, throws furniture around, knocks out power, and laughs at your confidence. But if you're smart, prepared, and cautious, you'll get through it, and you'll have a story afterward.
Shawn, stay warm and stay safe up there. Keep an eye on those ice-loaded trees, keep your phone charged, and stay off the roads unless you absolutely have to go somewhere. And if the power goes out, at least you know you're not alone, and at least you're not dodging falling iguanas.
LLAP
RR
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