We still have a lot of people without power throughout the state as well.  It's astounding the number of people in the comments on the power company's social media who can't understand why the power company isn't getting their power on faster.  Many complaining how they're out of food already.  The storm just hit the day before yesterday, for crying out loud!

I had to step back.  I wanted to make remarks to all of these people about how they should have taken some responsibility for themselves, but I was getting heated and didn't want to be cruel about it, so I said nothing.  Some of them were downright nasty and I wanted to be nasty right back. 

Maybe they're poor, but I've been poor, so I know what it's like not to be able to buy a lot of extra food, but a can here or there over time gets you prepared.  A gallon of water to safely store under your bed or in a closet is $0.50.  Mylar emergency blankets are cheap.  A sterno and some matches are all you need to heat water in a pot or teapot for warm beverages or ramen.  PopTarts are shelf stable and can be eaten cold.  There is no reason that anybody should be out of food after two days with no electricity. 

We were dirt-freaking poor when we were in a hurricane and managed to keep our family of six fed for the nearly two weeks our power was out. 

That said, what's taking so long is that the power company is clearing hazards to get where they need to go.  Why is the National Guard not deployed for that?  This is the first disaster of this magnitude in Virginia that I have experienced for which the National Guard has not been deployed.  They weren't deployed to clear I95, they weren't deployed to ensure the well-being of stranded motorists, and they have not been deployed to clear hazards for power workers.  What the heck is going on here??

Quote from: majorhavoc on January 05, 2022, 06:38:14 PM

Anianna's reminder about limitations on VDOT personnel stepping outside their established lanes of responsibility is well taken.  But if anything, it reinforces Raptor's central point: in an emergency, especially a widespread emergency, don't expect the authorities to immediately come to your rescue.  You may very well find yourself on your own, perhaps for an extended period.  More than anything else, this is why we prepare. 

As for Aziz and his rough looking welders: I've said it before and I'll say it again.  In times of disaster and human suffering, you have to decide whether you're going to be part of the solution or part of the problem.  Look after your own, for sure.  But if you have the means, help others where you can.

Exactly and well said.

I was not criticizing the VDOT folks that was a quote from the article.

However I have said many times when the SHTF you are on your own folks; plan and act accordingly.

Quote from: Raptor on January 06, 2022, 05:30:16 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on January 05, 2022, 06:38:14 PM

Anianna's reminder about limitations on VDOT personnel stepping outside their established lanes of responsibility is well taken.  But if anything, it reinforces Raptor's central point: in an emergency, especially a widespread emergency, don't expect the authorities to immediately come to your rescue.  You may very well find yourself on your own, perhaps for an extended period.  More than anything else, this is why we prepare. 

As for Aziz and his rough looking welders: I've said it before and I'll say it again.  In times of disaster and human suffering, you have to decide whether you're going to be part of the solution or part of the problem.  Look after your own, for sure.  But if you have the means, help others where you can.

Exactly and well said.

I was not criticizing the VDOT folks that was a quote from the article.

However I have said many times when the SHTF you are on your own folks; plan and act accordingly.

This, right here.
I actually feel kinda bad for the VDOT dude.  In all likelihood he probably wanted to help and do more, but was instructed not to. 
'Think of it like a security guard or a Cop that has to wait for an event to hit a certain point before they can legally intervene...

Quote from: SCBrian on January 08, 2022, 07:19:11 AM

Quote from: Raptor on January 06, 2022, 05:30:16 PM

Quote from: majorhavoc on January 05, 2022, 06:38:14 PM

Anianna's reminder about limitations on VDOT personnel stepping outside their established lanes of responsibility is well taken.  But if anything, it reinforces Raptor's central point: in an emergency, especially a widespread emergency, don't expect the authorities to immediately come to your rescue.  You may very well find yourself on your own, perhaps for an extended period.  More than anything else, this is why we prepare. 

As for Aziz and his rough looking welders: I've said it before and I'll say it again.  In times of disaster and human suffering, you have to decide whether you're going to be part of the solution or part of the problem.  Look after your own, for sure.  But if you have the means, help others where you can.

Exactly and well said.

I was not criticizing the VDOT folks that was a quote from the article.

However I have said many times when the SHTF you are on your own folks; plan and act accordingly.

This, right here.
I actually feel kinda bad for the VDOT dude.  In all likelihood he probably wanted to help and do more, but was instructed not to. 
'Think of it like a security guard or a Cop that has to wait for an event to hit a certain point before they can legally intervene...

Yes!!  My husband is one of the guys that has to go into the field for snow duty.  Imagine if the guy who is supposed to be directing the whole shebang up and disappears from his spot because he went to help some stranded motorists.  The entire operation grinds to a halt because the cog at the top is out of place and now the situation becomes dangerous and chaotic from the top down.  Each piece of the machinery needs to stay on task.

My husband works a stretch of 64 when it snows and there is a particular spot designated for him to sit on the side of a busy secondary highway just off of a convenient exit.  There have been times when motorists pull over to come talk to him, which can be problematic, but he needs to be immediately available for the crews and his designated spot is where it's safe to do that.  He is definitely highly visible in his VDOT vehicle for passing motorists to see, though.

Quote from: Raptor on January 05, 2022, 03:32:04 PM
A good story about being stuck on the closed interstate.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/welder-stuck-on-i-95-food-water-strangers
Some advice in the article; never leave home without boots fully laced.

QuoteThe next morning, Aziz and Hildenbrand used the generator on their welding truck to brew three pots of coffee. Aziz, who told the Post he never leaves home "without my boots laced up" — meaning he always leaves home prepared — had packed Cliff bars, party mix, 32 water bottles, and his mother-in-law's mother's pecan pistachio bread. They shared the coffee, water, and food with other stranded drivers, walking from car to car and knocking on windows to provide a helping hand.

Aziz and Hildenbrand seem to be approaching the status of local heroes. Here's a longer version of their story from their local paper:
https://eu.pressconnects.com/story/news/2022/01/07/95-snowstorm-strands-binghamton-ny-man-virginia-national-news-story/9115993002/

Quote from: sheddi on January 10, 2022, 01:59:57 AM

Quote from: Raptor on January 05, 2022, 03:32:04 PM
A good story about being stuck on the closed interstate.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/welder-stuck-on-i-95-food-water-strangers
Some advice in the article; never leave home without boots fully laced.

QuoteThe next morning, Aziz and Hildenbrand used the generator on their welding truck to brew three pots of coffee. Aziz, who told the Post he never leaves home "without my boots laced up" — meaning he always leaves home prepared — had packed Cliff bars, party mix, 32 water bottles, and his mother-in-law's mother's pecan pistachio bread. They shared the coffee, water, and food with other stranded drivers, walking from car to car and knocking on windows to provide a helping hand.

Aziz and Hildenbrand seem to be approaching the status of local heroes. Here's a longer version of their story from their local paper:
https://eu.pressconnects.com/story/news/2022/01/07/95-snowstorm-strands-binghamton-ny-man-virginia-national-news-story/9115993002/

QuoteAt about 8 a.m., finally done with being stranded, they drove about a quarter mile along the side of the road to exit 140. It looked like a way out, but first they were faced with moving two large trees that had fallen over the guardrail and blocked passage.

Like that line.   

It is easy to sit here in Florida and armchair-quarterback this event, but I lived the first 38 years of my life in Maryland along I-95 and that last 3' snowfall is what drove my wife to inform me that we were moving to Florida. 

From the time I got my first car I started planning what to keep in it for getting stranded in cold weather. While I understand that some people stuck on the Interstate were from warmer climates that don't normally need to worry about such things, the locals had little excuse. But it is a mindset; either prepare for the things that could go wrong or hope that your luck does not run out. Even items as basic as some food, water, and a candle lantern for warmth would go a long way to safety and even comfort. Unsurprisingly, I still keep those things in my truck even though my area has January average highs in the 70's. I still have my Yaktrax too. 

Just saw this story this morning, 34 yr old died after abandoning his SUV to walk 6 miles home during the storm.  A couple news reports with some details:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-34-year-old-father-tried-to-walk-home-in-last-week-s-record-snowstorm-his-body-was-found-three-days-later/ar-AASDTvg
https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/family-of-missing-louisa-father-found-dead-devastated-sheriffs-office-responds/

14% charge on his phone, left his jacket (or maybe it was an extra one?) behind, still had some gas in the SUV's tank, spoke to a couple family members who didn't try to talk him out of his plan (apparently), and taking a cross country shortcut instead of sticking to the roads.  Not looking to spark a discussion to speak ill of the deceased but it got me thinking about the psychology of survival and decision making during emergencies.  Maybe he was angry with himself about getting stuck, anxious to get home to check on the house or take care of his dogs, or any number of other things that influenced his thinking, but he was making a life/death decision and likely didn't recognize it for what it was - until it was too late. 

I'd like to think one of my strengths is logical cool-headed thinking, my Mrs maybe not so much as she tends to rely on feelings and not enough on facts (imo).  I bought her a little survival book for her vehicle kit years ago, one of the little 20-page or so pocket ones that used to be common at the checkout lines in grocery stores, because #1 in the authors list of what to do was "Stop.  Think.".  Need to remind her that unless the truck is on fire the first thing to do is read that book again if she gets stuck, some decision made in haste or influenced by anger or frustration might be your last.

Quote from: Crosscut on January 11, 2022, 10:46:12 AM
Just saw this story this morning, 34 yr old died after abandoning his SUV to walk 6 miles home during the storm.  A couple news reports with some details:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-34-year-old-father-tried-to-walk-home-in-last-week-s-record-snowstorm-his-body-was-found-three-days-later/ar-AASDTvg
https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/family-of-missing-louisa-father-found-dead-devastated-sheriffs-office-responds/

14% charge on his phone, left his jacket (or maybe it was an extra one?) behind, still had some gas in the SUV's tank, spoke to a couple family members who didn't try to talk him out of his plan (apparently), and taking a cross country shortcut instead of sticking to the roads.  Not looking to spark a discussion to speak ill of the deceased but it got me thinking about the psychology of survival and decision making during emergencies.  Maybe he was angry with himself about getting stuck, anxious to get home to check on the house or take care of his dogs, or any number of other things that influenced his thinking, but he was making a life/death decision and likely didn't recognize it for what it was - until it was too late. 

I'd like to think one of my strengths is logical cool-headed thinking, my Mrs maybe not so much as she tends to rely on feelings and not enough on facts (imo).  I bought her a little survival book for her vehicle kit years ago, one of the little 20-page or so pocket ones that used to be common at the checkout lines in grocery stores, because #1 in the authors list of what to do was "Stop.  Think.".  Need to remind her that unless the truck is on fire the first thing to do is read that book again if she gets stuck, some decision made in haste or influenced by anger or frustration might be your last.

I agree lets not speak ill of the dead but do let us all learn from this incident.
I agree that IMO this is classic case of underestimating the risk. To me this is a case of get-home-itis which is frequent cause of aircraft crashes.

The first thing that caught my eye was the aforementioned coat left behind and the cross country trek.

I can also see how if I was stuck 6 miles from my farm that I would most likely set off on foot to safety. I could see my self doing this. Now I would stick to the road and hope for a passerby & a ride but yes I could see myself walking through snow to get to safety. I assume no one was coming down the road for a while so he had no opportunity to hitch a ride.

QuoteJacob Whaley was located on Thursday in the woods approximately 209 yards off the roadway in a very dense pine plantation

While I do not live in that area I am very familiar with pine plantations and they are not easy to traverse. The ones in my area generally have enough undergrowth to make you to frequently deviate from your path and it is quite  easy to get disoriented even in familiar woods. The uniformity of the trees (they are planted in rows) makes landmark navigation awkward. Couple with with snow and any chance of navigating without a compass is remote.

The other thing about pine plantations is an abundance of fuel (pine needles and pine cones burn unless they are sopping wet) so building a fire is a possibility. Something to keep in mind should you have to deal with this.


It is not bad advice to stay with the car. He could also have used the engine to charge his phone before departing. There is a old sailor's advice "You should never jump into the life boat; wait until you can walk into it". In other words stay with the boat (or car) as long as you can.

If you find your self in this situation it is a tough call to make since everyone has different physical abilities and 6 miles is tantalizingly close. I can easily walk that in about an hour or two +/- (assuming dry pavement and it is not summer time @ 95F) however, cross country through the woods (no trails) though, that is easily 6 + hours in my AO. A definite no go.   

I would be most concerned about cold snow in my shoes and would try to find something in my car to water proof my feet like the garbage bags I keep in my car for picking up trash. I also have some duct tape. Wrap my shoes and ankles with the garbage bag and duct tape it in place. That and a blanket as well as any coat I have with me.   

Snow in my AO is a remote risk. That said I do carry basic items like a BOB, water and food year round and I add a blanket and coat to the mix in winter.

There are a lot of lessons here for us to draw upon.

I think your book and advice is the best advice in a situation like this. Stop & think! Go though the alternatives and then once an alternative is chosen stop and think though the risks and what you have to mitigate those risks (if anything).

To make matters worse for this particular incident was that he crossed jurisdictions.  When the family reported him missing, the locality wouldn't look for him because his car was in a different jurisdiction.  The locality where the car was said they couldn't look for him because the direction he walked was to another jurisdiction.  It was too late by the time they figured out their nonsense and actually went to look for him.  Always try to avoid putting yourself in a place of dependence on others.

There is evidence that he tried to start a fire at one point but had been unsuccessful.  I wonder if he had anything on him to start a fire or if there was just too much snow and wind. 

The family says he was in a hurry to get home because he had visitation with his son and didn't want to miss it despite there being no electricity at home and despite it not really being safe for his son to be traveling anyway.  Some of the reporting is confusing because the family's statements aren't very coherent.  One said he tried to go through the woods "when he could have just crossed the road" and I have no idea what they were saying, maybe that he should have walked the road home instead of trying to cut through the woods.

He really did not seem to have thought it through.  I absolutely agree that it's important to stop and think first.  Such a very sad case.

In my younger days, before my left leg became mostly useless for any sort of hiking, I have walked many miles in heavy snow.  It can be done fairly easily if you stick to roads and open terrain and you have the appropriate dress for it. (Though I did once walk home ~5 miles in a blizzard in the Allentown, PA area after all the buses stopped running, while dressed for my manager's job.)

The failures here were in going offroad into the pines and allowing the phone charge to get that low.  Every vehicle we own has multiple ways to charge cell phones.  Everything from USB ports to full-up AC outlets, and cords & adapters to fit the majority.  The cords take little space in the seatback bags we use, and we also have USB power banks we can take with us.  A phone is a lifeline, even with no signal.  At the very least it's a flashlight and there are apps to make it into a flashing distress beacon.