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Storm hits Washington DC area, thousands without power
Reuters ^ | June 29, 2012

Posted on 06/29/2012 9:21:01 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

(Reuters) - A powerful storm hit the U.S. capital on Friday, downing trees with wind gusts of up to 79 miles per hour, topping hurricane force levels and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes in the Washington area.

Bands of rain lashed the city and winds toppled power lines and littered the streets with tree limbs as the fast-moving storm, which started in the Midwest after a day of severe heat, reached Washington and its suburbs late in the evening.

WTOP radio said more than 800,000 people in the Washington area were without power.

The Washington Post said it had reports of winds gusting up to 79 miles per hour in Reston, Virginia.

There were power outages in several Washington Metro stations, the Post said, after a day of extreme heat across the southern and eastern United States.

A flash flood warning was issued in Fredrick County, Maryland, until 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, and severe storm warnings were issued in areas between Washington and the Chesapeake Bay to the east.

WUSA television in Washington said "thousands of trees" and tree branches were likely downed by the storm.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: derecho; electricity; heatwave; powerfailure; powergrid; preppers; prepping; shtf; virginia
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To: ottbmare

I would think that a prepper would have a generator and a portable air conditioner.


41 posted on 06/29/2012 10:32:58 PM PDT by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

God is reading the riot act to John Roberts for selling out.


42 posted on 06/29/2012 10:38:16 PM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (REPEAL OBAMACARE. Nothing else matters.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

They are always in the dark anyway


43 posted on 06/29/2012 10:39:22 PM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I hope they all have to “swim for it”...whatever safe haven it should be.

When you find out nobody cares....well drowning sounds like an option.


44 posted on 06/29/2012 10:58:53 PM PDT by acapesket
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

On boo hoo, Obammy was just trying out the grid off switch.


45 posted on 06/29/2012 10:59:41 PM PDT by Sea Parrot (Don't ever think that the reason I am peaceful is because I forgot how to be violent)
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To: sickoflibs

When the power goes off here, I just crank up the gen set on the old motor home and we go hang out there.


46 posted on 06/29/2012 11:02:18 PM PDT by Sea Parrot (Don't ever think that the reason I am peaceful is because I forgot how to be violent)
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To: samadams2000
I hope nothing happens to the politicians. They are our treasures.

Suck-up much?

47 posted on 06/29/2012 11:03:26 PM PDT by null and void (Day 1256 of our ObamaVacation from reality - Heroes aren't made Frank, they're cornered...)
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To: advance_copy

The DC Amish are roaming tonight.


48 posted on 06/29/2012 11:07:30 PM PDT by Sea Parrot (Don't ever think that the reason I am peaceful is because I forgot how to be violent)
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To: Sea Parrot

RE :”When the power goes off here, I just crank up the gen set on the old motor home and we go hang out there.”

Thanks for the offer, freepmail your address :)


49 posted on 06/29/2012 11:11:33 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is a liberal. Just watch him closely try to screw us.)
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To: Freedom_Is_Not_Free

The party is only beginning.


50 posted on 06/29/2012 11:23:20 PM PDT by DarthVader (Politicians govern out of self interest, Statesmen govern for a Vision greater than themselves)
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To: ottbmare

Imagine hauling tail home on a Harley with the sky going off like fireworks from Hell....LOL

The wind was nearly blowing my skinny butt off the bike and we got home before it *really* hit.

I got inside just in time to hear the dreaded emergency tone and the creepy-echo-voice announcement of impending tornadoes, hail and 80 mph winds.

Sure enough , shortly after, the lights went out.

So, I watched a movie on my laptop and then started to read a great book I found, “The Lore Of Dogs” and was about 2 chapters in when they came back on.

The cool breeze through the open windows was wonderful and the pitch black night interrupted only by lightning and fireflies was very “Bradbury”.

Turned off the Coleman lantern, blew out the candle and popped in here.

I might go back out and watch the fireflies some more if the rain’s stopped.


51 posted on 06/30/2012 12:13:57 AM PDT by Salamander (I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

This prepper in Maine is ready for it if it comes tonight.

I’m trying to find out if there’s oil under my property. That way I could drill it, perhaps refine it into kerosene for my lamps in case the power goes out.


52 posted on 06/30/2012 12:39:54 AM PDT by tsowellfan (http://www.cafenetamerica.com/)
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To: Salamander

Those Colemans scare me. What kind of fuel is that? Did I hear you can use gasoline in them? (maybe I heard wrong).

I prefer good old kerosene


53 posted on 06/30/2012 12:42:12 AM PDT by tsowellfan (http://www.cafenetamerica.com/)
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To: tsowellfan

The light fixtures screw onto little tiny tanks of propane.

Haven’t had a bit of trouble with them.


54 posted on 06/30/2012 12:53:22 AM PDT by Salamander (I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I am so tired of the ap’s ignorance. “A powerful storm hit the U.S. capital”—capital is money, our nation’s governance is CAPITOL!


55 posted on 06/30/2012 1:25:02 AM PDT by richardtavor
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Love it Lord when you tell them you are displeased!!!


56 posted on 06/30/2012 1:26:32 AM PDT by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have mercy on us and protect us from evil.)
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To: Salamander

Oh they are very popular. I’ve never heard about any problems. I think my grandfather who used them always told us kids it could explode or something like that. Probably just trying to scare us from not touching it.


57 posted on 06/30/2012 1:45:37 AM PDT by tsowellfan (http://www.cafenetamerica.com/)
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To: Salamander

I live in the DC burbs in an area that often seems third world, the power cuts out so frequently.

Got tired of the Coleman propane camp lights, especially on hot humid summer nights. Too hot, noisy, unstable, and lights of glare with little useful light. Way too much kitchen counter real estate eaten up for food prep.

Found some AA battery powered LED cordless puck lights with magnetic bases that cut-off automatically after 30 mins. With velcro bases I have several mounted under wall cabinets that sit there out of the way and unseen until needed. Got them at Lowe’s for about $25 a pair. Single high intensity LED that casts warm useful light. These have metal cases, not the flimsier plastic jobs. Box of 100 AA alkaline batteries runs $20@Lowes.


58 posted on 06/30/2012 2:47:04 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Covenantor

I have a 120volt LED desk lamp, its connected to my computers UPS, hardly uses any power, its like 2 watts.

Gotta love those LED puck lights, problem is feeding them with batteries.

Yesterday I tried for the first time to access FR on my Galaxy S2 smartphone, I finally figured out my password. Of course posting tends be brief comments.

And I keep charging cords in both my personal truck and the company truck so I can get the phone charged anytime.


59 posted on 06/30/2012 2:55:56 AM PDT by Eye of Unk (Is your state Obamacare free yet?)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I can think about 545 people i WISH were without power!


60 posted on 06/30/2012 3:00:30 AM PDT by djf ("There are more old drunkards than old doctors." - Benjamin Franklin)
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