My Life : Blizzard of 2022 by aryr |
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Oh my, it hasn't been since 1991 that I have seen such snow. When we arrived in Bismarck, North Dakota on Thursday, March 24, 2022, we would have never guessed. The grass was a dirty shade of brown and the farthest row had only Mike at the far end of that row. He arrived the day before but was not a worker with us.
Slowly the row filled up with a lot of our workers and we were set to go by Sunday evening. Then midweek the pipe burst in the first row, Jim called Dawn to advise her that we had shut it off. She lived on the farm that is separated from us by trees and several large silos. We were good for a couple of weeks, then the 'blizzard of April 2022' hit. On Sunday, April 10th, we had a light dusting of snow, which was really a prelude. Monday brought a heavier snowfall which ironically was the Montana Dakota Utilities kickoff. Jim works for Southern Cross which has its home base in Atlanta, Georgia. We are in a fifth wheel trailer and travel the country with me being retired and Jim in gas line and meter surveying. By Tuesday morning all hell broke loose, roads were being closed, no one could get out of the park as there was no where to go. Dawn's husband, Ron was amazing, each morning and each evening he would plow the RV park, sometimes more than twice a day. Our excitement was watching the humongous plow at work. We were all snow bound. Depending on which way we go, it is about ten or twelve miles east of Bismarck, North Dakota in the middle of nowhere. Lol. By the following Monday people began shoveling out, a couple of the guys offered to do a propane run and get groceries things that many were out of. Jim put the propane run on his company card since the blizzard was unexpected. We were advised of another blizzard coming Friday and could only hope and pray. Mostly it was very high winds and some snow on Friday, Saturday. But high winds on Sunday. The western part of the state and Montana really got a double whammy-another blizzard. We had to go to our doctor's appointment on Sunday and we had to drive to Sioux Falls, South Dakota-it was an adventure we will never repeat in a Smart car. A little tiny car with two seats and adequate storage area. What a thrill. Even coming back on Monday, we had gusts of wind that shook the car. All of the workers finally got out the week between blizzards and the week after. Now on May 3rd, some are branching off on their own. Their adventures are taking them to Billings, Montana; Sheridan, Wyoming; Mobridge, South Dakota, etc. Jim takes the Smart car and checks up on everyone about every six weeks. He is constantly on the phone and ipad. He usually starts about 6:30 am and shuts down about 9:00 pm - given his different time zones. Oh, most of the snow has melted in Bismarck, just the larger piles in the parking lots. Me, as I said I am retired and just sit here in my camper with my cat, Tabitha and my computer, a few books and a kindle. Such is life, but this was definitely an adventure.
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aryr
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