Three freezing days since they lost power, Oregonians want back to the future of hot showers and fully-charged cell phones
Updated Feb 17, 2021;
Posted Feb 15, 2021
Ice coats trees and power lines across Portland on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian
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Jen Weaver lay awake in fear much of Friday night and Saturday morning listening to trees and limbs crashing to the ground, overcome by the weight of their icy silver shroud. With no warning, their bedroom lights flashed on and then went black.
She clicked on the light switch. Nothing. Her entire Lake Oswego neighborhood was black.
Weaver and tens of thousands of other Oregonians are now entering their third night without electricity. When the ice storm knocked out the power, it was like they were transported back in time. For some, no electricity means no heat other than fire, no way to cook, no lights other than flashlights and camp lanterns, No television, no computer, no cell phone. For others it means no hot water, for an unlucky few no water at all.