Nows and Forevers

An epic winter snowstorm is about to hit the East Coast and the Midwest, where I live. It’s a little unclear what’s going to happen, but the forecasts are kind of worrisome: A couple of inches of snow atop rain that’s been falling on and off all day, then 60-mph winds that will bring an Arctic cold front that will drop temperatures to just below zero.

Everything could flash freeze, making driving hazardous.

I’ve been through enough snowstorms — and even my share of ice storms — that I’m not looking forward to whatever happens tomorrow. I don’t have anywhere to go. I’m working all day, but remotely. I have several assignments that are tomorrow and we’re lightly staffed because of the holiday. Plus I have to write whatever news stories happen tomorrow. (I don’t know what’s going to happen but today was a pretty busy news day.)

I’ll admit that not having to drive anywhere takes the edge off of worrying about a big part of the storm. A lot of things are going to stop tomorrow, and the authorities have asked people who don’t have to travel to stay off the roads. I’m happy to do my part.

But I am concerned about another consequence of an ice storm: The loss of electricity and heat. I’m not clear on what might happen if there’s a power failure at my house. Technically, I suppose I could still have heat — thanks, natural gas — but electricity could be a problem. A big problem. I am not prepared at the moment for a big ice storm and the potential for power outages.

What it’s time to do is charge up the iPhones and MacBook batteries, and make sure the portable battery I have for this occasion — which can power devices for a few hours — will be ready if needed.

And then wait. Guess we’ll see what happens.