Electricity is on

Electricity is on at my house,and all of Portageville,should be up today.Ameren UE brought trucks in from everywhere,and they did an amazing Job.At one point there was not one single House,not one single buisness had electricity.Generators were the order of the day.Those guys worked underneath trees that had limbs already snapped just hanging,ready to fall.The lingo for those limbs I learned were "Widow makers"Through all this I got a full time Job as a police dispatcher for the city of Portageville. No more part time,no more going to New Madrid part time.The Job affords me Insurance,etc.I have three wonderful son"s,and they all are blessed with good wives,and good Kids,and they will help me clean up all the mess in the back yard.
We got by with just one leak so far,where a tree limb fell.Insurance companys I do not understand.They will not pay to have a tree trimmer trim a limb that is almost ready to fall on the house,,and it might cost a hundred bucks,but they will pay thousands to fix the house if it does fall.I would pay to have it cut,but they have all left town,But the Insurance company knows it is up there ready to destroy part of my House,and surely they could influence someone to come by and get it.Oh well maybe it will not fall until I can get a tree trimmer in town.
Portageville was blessed,no one has died as a result of the Ice storm.The Red cross came in and set up shelter at the school,and provided meals for anyone who wanted them.The Missouri Baptist association has crews cleaning up peoples yards,and I saw Bellview Baptist out of Memphis in town with a crew yesterday trimmimg trees,etc.I heard of no looting,which is great.Some firemen came to town from up north with a extra pumper.There was three of them,and two of them said they would move to Portageville,if they could find a Job.Just good ole southern hospitality,thats all.
Katie's a local diner provided all the electric crews with three hot meals a day.The Highway Patrol sent in Extra troopers,to patrol the streets,help anyone in distress.Fema approved us as a disaster town,which means that the kids do not have to make up school days missed,so all the kids are happy.
My wife works at the drug store,and her boss would let us have one of the generators at nite,that they were using at the drug store during the day.Dr.Boyd and his crew at the church cooked hot meals every day.Tim Ferrell,David Brands and others cooked on two different occassions,and invited everyone to come by and eat,at Baker Implement.Johnsons Station,got a generator,and pumped gas twenty dollars worth for everyone,the lines were long,and then Bruners got in on the act,so everyone could get gas.Shutins were delivered meals.I could write all day,but got to run errands.I may write,more later,but it will only be on good stuff that happened,none of the negative stuff,you always have that,it is just a way of life with some people,accept it and move on.Goose