This is bad (but not too bad). 02-20-21 UPDATE.

[Laelth]

Good morning, DU. This Saturday is bright and sunny in Laelth’s world in the Free State of Van Zandt (East Texas), and things here are not too bad.

The temperature is currently 21 degrees with a high of 43 expected this afternoon. That will melt us completely. Freezing temperatures are not expected to return until Sunday night. Even then, the low is expected to be around 28. That’s plenty high enough to keep the pipes from freezing with slow drips on all the faucets. Late this afternoon, after the big melt, I will see if I can get our water up and running again.

As you may recall, our last day above freezing was Sunday, Feb. 14. We actually broke freezing yesterday and had a five-hour melt in the afternoon as the temperature rose to 36 degrees, but that wasn’t enough to get our water moving. Fingers crossed, we will have water later today. We remain on a county-wide boil order for all tap water because it’s not moving fast enough through the pipes to be deemed safe. Non-emergency use of water (showers, baths, sprinklers, etc.) is technically forbidden until full water pressure returns.

We continue to have reliable electricity. We have food, bottled water, and internet access. The minivan has a full tank of gas. Ultimately, we’re doing quite well under the circumstances.

Thanks again to all our DU friends and allies for your generous moral, spiritual, and material support. You have meant a great deal to us through this remarkable experience. Cheers!



-Laelth


Previous “This is bad.” threads are linked below, solely for their historical value.

This is bad. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181470783

This is bad. 02-16-21 UPDATE.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181470956

This is bad. 02-17-21 UPDATE.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181471625

This is bad. 02-18-21 UPDATE.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181472034

This is bad. 02-19-21 UPDATE.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181472438

[UpInArms]

1. So glad you have an end in sight

For this disaster ...

Keep hanging in there

[Laelth]

5. We made it, yes. It was touch-and-go for about 48 hrs.

This is certainly an experience that we won’t soon forget.

Thanks for the warm, loving thoughts.



-Laelth

[Rorey]

2. That's so good to hear

If you haven't done it, you may want to scoop up some of that snow before it melts into the ground so you can use it to flush your toilets, just in case it's awhile before you have all of the water you need.

[Laelth]

6. We haven't yet collected snow. Honestly, we have no place to put it.

There’s actually a bathroom/shower station in the park. Yesterday afternoon, running water was restored there—much credit to the park management. The water is under a boil order—can’t drink it because it’s moving through the pipes too slowly to be deemed safe for consumption. We’re also under an “emergency-only water use” order, i.e. no showers, baths, or sprinklers until normal water pressure returns. So, there’s water nearby if we need it. We just can’t use it unless we boil it.

Ideally, I will have running water in our trailer this afternoon, and it won’t be an issue.



-Laelth

[Rorey]

8. Awesome! NT

[riversedge]

3. hope you get your water up running.

[Laelth]

9. Thank you, my friend.

Tomorrow’s update could be a glorious celebration of “situation normal,” or it could be a long list of everything that went wrong when I tried to restore water to a trailer that had just gone through a 6-day deep freeze. You will have to wait and see.



-Laelth

[niyad]

4. Good morning. So glad that things are improving! Fingers crossed for water!! Continuing

Vibes for safety and well-being. Thank you for keeping us posted.

[Laelth]

7. You're welcome.

Thanks so much for the love, kind words, and positive energy.



-Laelth

[c-rational]

10. Good to hear you are finally thawing out. All in all it sounds like you did quite well considering

the circumstances. Continued good vibes.

[Laelth]

11. Thanks.

Appreciate the good vibes.



-Laelth

[frazzled]

12. It's good that you are having a slow thaw

A quick thaw would create a whole other set of problems (flooded basements, etc.).

[Laelth]

13. There will be a lot of flooding.

Plumbers are already in high demand across the state, and it may take a week or more for water to be fully restored in some areas. In that sense, the daughter and I are lucky. We’re attached to a relatively small water system that may be able to deliver water to us sooner rather than later.

-Laelth

[frazzled]

14. I didn't mean flooding from pipes

but rather flooding from fast melting snow seeping through foundations.

[Laelth]

15. Ah, gotcha.

Yes. That’s highly likely as well.

-Laelth

[TigressDem]

16. Big sigh of relief!

[MustLoveBeagles]

17. I'm glad to hear things have improved