At risk of Electrocution

At Risk of electrocution

 

It takes time to carry out the necessary work that the customer does not recognize as vital. The work crew must complete their process to ensure everything is safe. Nothing can be acted out impulsively. The goal is to get the power back on safely.

 

Whether it’s raining or snowing or wind blowing they're out there working to get the power back on. They are there against snowsqualls and storms with high winds, the worst kind of climate you can think of. That's what they're working in, with up to 30 mile an hour winds.

 

Mike has an unusual story of a situation that occurred in the middle of a treacherous snowstorm. He was parked in his Bronco, which for some reason, Hank liked to call it B Oronacle.”  Snow accumulated to surround him. 

 

He was sitting there rather than moving along which caused a question in an on-coming traveler’s mind. A lady in a blue station wagon came along. 

 

She suspected he was going no farther because the road leading to the bridge must be closed warning travelers the bridge was out. It didn't occur to her that she was driving in a treacherous storm. Thank goodness, Mickey had the sense to wait until the storm settled down a bit.

 

 

She went close to Mickey and asked,  “What's the matter? Is the bridge out?" 

 When asked such a senseless question, Mickey responded with, “Not good weather. Scary, whether the road travels upward or downhill.” 

 

Mickey just knew he needed to be cautious. A four-wheel drive is useless on ice.  It will only help you if you are stuck in the depths of the snow  and he hadn’t reached that level of concern yet

 

Addressing the reader, I'll say let's just picture ourselves in the middle of a blizzard situation, and figure out what we would do.  That blue car kept going. Mickey never saw it again so he doesn't know how well it maneuvered to keep going and if they had any problems.

 

At other times, when Mickey was able, he surveyed in the snow, until his company ACF, owned by Aronson, Pete Chase, and Pete Franzoni, shut work down in the winter making jobs more scarce.  This is when Mickey switched to the focus of the task of measuring for the right of way of property lines.

 

The focus on the task of declaring the right of way gave him opportunities beyond surveying. Having to communicate with people regarding the right of way on their property exposed him to many personalties.

 

When he identified the property owner and wanted to politely communicate with them, Mickey said, “Hello, yes I can talk to you about what is going on.”  Other than being appreciative for his cordiality, she just huffed and said, “You’re very rude,” did an about-face and strutted back toward her house.

 

Unappreciative land owners or civilians would disregard their own safety or care necessary to be taken around the lines especially if a tree came down on the lines. Hank will soon teach us how dangerous it can be if people do not realize the tree has sap.  Sap is liquid and it can carry the electrical current to anyone who touches that tree. 

 

The workers have to isolate everything to make it safe for the public to come anywhere near. They need to wait for the crew to get there. There are too many impatient people wanting my brother and his little team to act more speedily. But they are doing what they can,  as well as they can and as safely as they can.

 

Mickey and any of the crew are always at risk of danger of electrocution because they are working around the trees against the wires. Mickey has a compelling story to tell about Hank.  

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Hank’s Story

 

Mickey was fortunate enough to be trimming some trees a safe distance from Hank and did not recognize the danger Hank was in. Nor did Hank for that matter. 

 

Hank was cutting a poplar tree that had fallen, making contact with a deadly 44 kv power line.  He kept getting weird, uncomfortable sensations in his feet,  he continued to readjust them, assuming he was in unstable footing surrounded by a swampy section. 

 

It finally dawned on him what was happening. He needed to be wearing different boots to prevent any energy or any power from surging downward. A hard hat would prevent his head from becoming involved and safety glasses prevent harm to his eyes.

 

 How bizarre, the sensation in his feet was about to save his life.  The sap was naturally flowing through the tree but a not-so-natural situation was building.  At that point, electricity and voltage were being transmitted through the sap. 

 

Hank knew he had to remove his saw from that tree and distance himself from the voltage being transmitted through the sap of the Poplar tree. He was dangerously close to becoming electrocuted.

 

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Greyhound Ministry

 

When Mickey wasn’t working, he used to venture out on what he called his Greyhound Ministry. For 2 years he continued this good work, which involved handing out Bible tracts which had Bible quotes to read in case of distress. In the 1980’s he met appreciative recipients. 

 

I told him I'm glad he no longer carries out this ritual. In this day and age and with his TBI condition of an injured brain and being 76 years old, he could be perceived as off his rocker. I worry he'd be stabbed or shot or beaten.  He did relish living dangerously.

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He also worked to help the needful people not just with cards that were food for the soul, but he provided real food for them. We would see him buy a grinder for someone he had met at Port Authority.  Good works reap rewards for the do-gooder. 

 

That was not the case with Mickey's generosity at that moment. While purchasing the grinder he dropped his wallet. It was but minutes before it was scooped up by the manager of the grinder establishment.  And he was the owner of the place. As an identified thief he must not have felt he was making enough money building grinders. We will find out more about this thief later.