Winter puts Hamtramck and the country in a deep freeze

Few residents and visitors were spotted walking the streets this past week because of the frigid temperatures. Forecasts call for a warming up next week, reaching into the low 40s.

By Charles Sercombe
After a warmer than usual December, winter came howling in from the north last Friday.
And it was freaky, on Friday afternoon, when this winter storm started out as a transition from a light drizzle to a heavy, wet snow – which meant shoveling driveways and sidewalks became a heart attack waiting to happen.
And, just for kicks, Mother Nature decided to throw in thunder, giving us official “thunder snow.”
Well, the lightning was entertaining, but the strong winds led to power outages here and elsewhere across the metro area. Many residents here also lost their internet connections.
The curses about Comcast’s “service” could be heard from house to house.
Fortunately, for most households that lost either power or cable service, it returned in time for Sunday’s Detroit Lions football game – and what a game!
(For those who have purposely ignored what happened, the Lions won their first NFL playoff game since 1992, and they will play once again this Sunday on their quest to make it to the Super Bowl.)
Hamtramck was hardly alone in suffering a bad case of winter. Actually, Michigan was hardly alone for that matter.
A polar vortex – an atmospheric condition that generates extreme cold – came barreling down from the arctic and into much of the U.S. – from the Dakotas to Florida.
In general, temperatures were about 20 degrees colder than normal.
The weather was so extreme, the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day prayer Breakfast held at the Hamtramck Schools’ Community Center had to be canceled.
And Hamtramck Public School students got additional days off, on Tuesday and Wednesday, because of the cold.
Hamtramck’s Department of Public Works was pretty much on top of things when the snow started on Friday, and most streets had been cleared by later that evening. High winds caused some cleared snow to drift back out into roadways, though, creating hazards anew.
As of Thursday, the weather prediction calls for more freezing temps on Saturday, but by Monday temperatures will rise back up into the 30s and by Wednesday, flirting with 40 degrees.
If you haven’t taken any precautionary steps, here’s a reminder of how to prepare in case the cold or snow causes a loss of electricity:
• Stock up on the necessities: Water, canned food, a battery-powered flashlight and radio, batteries, medicines, a first aid kit, portable chargers for phones, a manual can opener, a basic tool kit, baby supplies, warm clothing, cash and more.
• Refrain from using candles in order to avoid starting fires.
• Unplug all electronics and major appliances to avoid damage from voltage surges when power is finally restored.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed to preserve food. Use dry ice if possible. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: Only turn on generators outdoors. Keep them away from doors, windows, and vents.
• DTE customers should report power outages here: 800-477-4747. Consumers Energy customers should report outages here: 800-477-5050.
• If there is an emergency, such as a fire or a downed power line sitting, for example, on an unoccupied car, first call 9-1-1, then call the power company at those same numbers above. For non-emergency situations, DTE customers can also report the downed power line online.
• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines.
Lastly, cold weather like this can take its toll on folks, and now is a good time to interject some humor.
Let’s revisit some of the cold weather jokes that former legendary late-night talk show host Johnny Carson worked into his monologues.
Herrrrre’s Johnny!
“It was so cold, the politicians had their hands in their own pockets.”
“Last night, it was so cold, the flashers in New York were only describing themselves.”
“It’s so cold I had to break the smoke off my chimney.”
“It’s so cold Dunkin’ Donuts is serving coffee on a stick.”
“It’s so cold I had to chisel my dog off a fire hydrant.”
Posted Jan. 19, 2024