Poor timing

This is the Season when we should be singing “Oh Holy Night.” But instead the wind is singing “You Better Watch Out.” It’s nearly an obscenity that many of the Palmer holiday decorations have blown to Wasilla. It’s a Christmas casualty that there is no parade and no fireworks. It feels like a deliberate insult.

Another One—It wasn’t four days ago that many of us just received electric power back after as many days without. It took our houses days to warm back up. And now, as the wind has recently returned, the phobia and fear has cranked up. This always happens after a traumatic weather event. We swear to be better prepared next time. We commit to a resurgence of coping strategies, attention to detail, including fuel and alternative heating and lighting sources. Some of us are trying to budget for a generator, but they are way out of the price line for many families. The families that have wood-stove back up and generators can and should feel very proud of themselves. And the fact that many of these warm families helped others, is wonderful. However, there will always be the “have nots.” And when its cold and dark and windy and scary, it’s not cozy at all.

Storm Psychology—There is lots of discussion on how severe weather impacts affect mental health. Many of us have stress responses which are aggravated every time we have another storm. Irritability, anxiety, astrophobia (fear of storms), PTSD, sleep issues, hyper-vigilance and ultimately home attachment and weather fatigue. I think we see this a lot, especially when there are quick-repeat storms.

Sciences—There are lots of new scientific theories about this buffeting wind pattern that seems to be more frequent, higher velocity with longer duration, than ever before. I read the science and its difficult to understand despite some higher education in both climatology and earth sciences. Sadly it involves physics, which is not in my wheelhouse.

“The influence of local relief is most pronounced in connection with the effectiveness of insolation on slopes with varying colder exposures and with the modification of wind direction and speed.” Okay. Got it. It explains nothing but the words fit together well. (Critchfield, General Climatology, 1966) What is now being discussed, nearly 70 years later is: the Venturi Effect of the more popular “Gap Winds” which is acceleration of cold and bulging crosswinds along with pressure from a narrow gap or valley resulting in large scale friction on cross barrier surfaces.” These words come from national weather discussions and still offer no relief or true understanding at all.

HEROS.—What we all clearly understand is our dependence on electric power; and the heroes of the week were not reindeer nor elves. The superheroes of the week were the linemen. (There are no line women, with MEA, by the way.) These well-trained men were amazing. I had a front row seat to watch an elegant coordinated operation of human beings in white buckets, fixing electrical lines high in the sky, suspended and buffeted by wind chunks and gusts in the dark. It was kind of like a clunky, ballet and somewhat robotic, but you knew that those were not robots in those little white outfits up there. They were the “Light Savers,” the “Cowboys of the Sky,” the “Electric Bronco Busters, or the “Light Squad.” They were human beings that dealt with the weather temps of 4 degrees and 40 mph wind at minimum. The operation involved four vehicles. ladders, lights, headlights and spotlights, and people on the ground, helping to direct the shenanigans of the wind versus the towering lifts. It was an elemental, slow procedure carefully tweaking high voltage lines. It was humbling to watch and I am ashamed I was a whiney baby.

Palmer Moving On—Hopefully this week we can celebrate Solstice and Hanukkah and Christmas without more storms. Don’t forget to carry cash for the Salvation Red kettles at the grocery stores. Be a helper. Don’t forget to wear proper foot gear. Don’t forget to be grateful for all the friends and neighbors that always show up to help during the storms of life. Celebrate Palmer in every way you can and be safe. May the winds be kind to all.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222.