[NJARC] How is everyone????

[Bill Zukowski]

As Darren said, we here in Jackson were spared major damage.  I lost 
power about 9 PM Monday night, and it came back about 5 PM Thursday.
I live in an over 55 community with HOA rules that prohibit antennas.  
So, my 2 meter beam in the attic is fine.  No property damage to my 
house, but some
did lose roof shingles and trim.

Thanks to a gas fireplace and gas stove, we had plenty of heat and the 
ability to cook.  My wife loves stocking our 2 freezers, so we lost 
twice as much!
When they got to 40 degrees we either "cooked it or tossed it". Plenty 
of lean cuisine and small frozen dinners.  A neighbor had roasted a 
turkey in anticipation of the storm,
and invited us over Tuesday night for a great dinner.  We reciprocated 
Wednesday night with chicken cutlets that my wife had prepared 
previously also, so none of us starved.
Plenty of canned goods (remember-my wife the hoarder), and peanut butter 
and jelly, but that would be a sacrifice without any milk! Thank 
goodness power was restored
before anyone had to resort to cannibalism.

Cable (Cablevision) was restored before power, so I powered the modem 
with a computer UPS which gave me phone and internet.  It only lasted 
about 5 hours, but I had 4 of them.
(Stocked up when Office Max/Office Depot went out of business.)

LED flashlights were great, never had to change batteries!  Also had an 
oil lamp for light.

My wife wants to get a generator for future disasters, so that will be 
an upcoming project.  Just large enough for 2 refrigerators (the 
hoarder) my hot water heater and sump pump.
The only good thing is that my sump has never had any water, even in 
some of the previous heavy rains (the house is 4 years old).  But I 
figured as long as it's there, I want it available.
Of course, the HOA says generators are forbidden, so that WILL be a 
topic ant the next meeting.  Not sure if they mean any generator, or 
just the 10+ KW, auto transfer, permanent type.

My major concern was my daughter who lives in Bradley Beach.  She's less 
than a block from the beach, but at least she's on the 2d floor.  She 
had no power the last I spoke to her,
yesterday, her major concern was getting gas.  She was staying with her 
boyfriend at his brother's house on Old Bridge, also without power.  
Offered her lodging here, but I guess
she'd rather be with 3 other people her own age sleeping in sleeping 
bags (not together I hope).  She has T Mobile, which is more reliable 
that AT&T cell service.

While all of this is a major inconvenience, we got off lucky.  Some 
people lost everything, and will be rebuilding for a long time.

Bill Zukowski
Jackson, NJ