On this day in 1993, we had the deepest Snow on the ground that we've had since the state began keeping records.
I was at work that morning, and Jilda kept calling to tell me what was coming. I thought she was exaggerating, but when my shift ended, I headed out. Had I waited for another half hour, I would have been trapped on the Interstate.
When the white stuff stopped falling, Birmingham had 13 inches. Empire is north of Birmingham, and I can tell you we had more snow than that.
We lost power during the night, and they didn't come back on for almost a week. Today that would be aggravating, but in 1993 it was a problem. Our house was totally electric. Electric lights, stove, and furnace. The water froze, and the batteries that boost the signals for our landline phones died, so we didn't have phone service either.
Fortunately, Jilda's brother, who lives next door, had propane heat and a gas range. Thanks to him, we had food to eat.
We stayed here, but we were bundled in layers of clothes and wrapped in quilts.
When the sun finally came out, Jilda and I went to the garden door and laid down on the floor to let the warm sun fall on our bodies. I had ice crystals in my beard, and neither of us had bathed since the power went off. We looked like homeless people.
As soon as the power came back on and the roads cleared, we went to the local propane place and bought a gas fireplace, space heaters, and a gas range.
We haven't had snow that deep again, but we're prepared if we do.
I was at work that morning, and Jilda kept calling to tell me what was coming. I thought she was exaggerating, but when my shift ended, I headed out. Had I waited for another half hour, I would have been trapped on the Interstate.
When the white stuff stopped falling, Birmingham had 13 inches. Empire is north of Birmingham, and I can tell you we had more snow than that.
We lost power during the night, and they didn't come back on for almost a week. Today that would be aggravating, but in 1993 it was a problem. Our house was totally electric. Electric lights, stove, and furnace. The water froze, and the batteries that boost the signals for our landline phones died, so we didn't have phone service either.
Fortunately, Jilda's brother, who lives next door, had propane heat and a gas range. Thanks to him, we had food to eat.
We stayed here, but we were bundled in layers of clothes and wrapped in quilts.
When the sun finally came out, Jilda and I went to the garden door and laid down on the floor to let the warm sun fall on our bodies. I had ice crystals in my beard, and neither of us had bathed since the power went off. We looked like homeless people.
As soon as the power came back on and the roads cleared, we went to the local propane place and bought a gas fireplace, space heaters, and a gas range.
We haven't had snow that deep again, but we're prepared if we do.
