The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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February 26, 2013

The night the lights went out in northwest Oklahoma

Enid News and Eagle

ENID, Okla. — We braced ourselves for the blizzard, braving crowded grocery lines and preparing for the worst.

We held our breath when the lights flickered last night. And many of us spent hours without electricity.

We’re better off having learned the hard lessons of the 2002 ice storm. Growing up on the hardscrabble prairie, we don’t take electricity for granted.

We’ve learned how to help each other. And we know how to check on our neighbors without power because it’s the right thing to do.

Sadly, a man died in Woodward in a snow-related fatality. Frankly, we’re surprised that was the only death from this significant weather event.

The forecasts were pretty close. The snow was wet, which made it heavier, and the whipping wind showed no mercy.

We’re lucky the temperature wasn’t lower in the Enid area, where some snow apparently melted from underneath. We figure it could have been much worse

We’d like to thank the first responders for helping make us safe. Area fire departments were out in force. In Waukomis, firefighters blocked off the highway to protect citizens from downed power lines.

Law enforcement officials, city crews and OG&E workers searched for snapped poles.

Mike Honigsberg, certified director of Enid/Garfield County Emergency Management, sent out his Tuesday morning update and apologized for typing mistakes due to a lack of sleep. We know the feeling, Mike.

If you see Honigsberg, feel free to give the man a hug of appreciation. We’re sure he’s really worn out.

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