Prudently preparing

That’s a big red 5 gallon gasoline jug/can/container (it feels wrong to call it a “can,” since cans are generally metal) in front of the passenger seat of my Honda del Sol. (Cool seatcovers, eh? I found 'em on Ebay.)

And filling it is part of my to-do list in anticipation of impending nasty weather.

The National Weather Service still says there is a potential for 2/10 of an inch of ice from freezing rain, but other forecasters think it may be worse. I vote for less or none.

THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION OVER NORTHEAST ARKANSAS... AND TO 2 TO 4 INCHES OVER THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND NORTHERN THIRD OF WEST TENNESSEE. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW AND SLEET... THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR UP TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION OVER THE WATCH AREA.

Ron Bowen, general manager of City Water & Light in Jonesboro, told Ray Whiteside of the Sun, “A quarter-inch of ice is doable, but a half-inch could be the kiss of death.”

The ominous forecast has also triggered a run on electric generators at local home and farm supply stores. The local electric utilities are booking motel rooms in case they have to call in out-of-town crews to help with downed power lines.

I saw three electric utility crews at work along U.S. 49 when I drove in to town this morning. They may have been doing routine work or they may have been shoring up weak spots in the lines.

Much of the northeast Arkansas power grid was reconstructed after last year’s catastrophic ice storm and there are concerns that the fixes aimed at just getting power restored may not be robust enough to take another serious ice load.

We still have several large branches hanging in our trees – branches that broke, but are hanging by a thread or are tangled in other branches. We get deadfall every time there’s a strong wind and it won’t take much to bring them down it large numbers.

My pre-storm to-do list also includes shuffling the lawn tractor and other stuff in the garage to permit easy access to the Briggs & Stratton electric generator in case the power goes out. We also have 5 gallons of kerosene for the heater we bought last year, since our all-electric house will get chilly if the power fails.

With a little luck and sweat, I should be able to move enough stuff to make room in the garage for the Subaru, so it won’t be completely encased in ice by the time Maria leaves for work Friday morning. My del Sol, alas, will have to sit out in the weather along with Austin’s car.