It isn't whether you're rich or poor . . . if you don't have means to heat things, you need help. About 35,000 people live in Washington County, about 14 people per square mile. Almost every one decided to weather the storm at home. In some ways, they were better prepared here than in the city. Power outages are common along the 500 miles of roads that wind through long desolate stretches, where houses can be a mile or more apart.
Many people have wood stoves or kerosene heaters, and oil lamps.
Quite a few people have generators. Just in case. When the power went out, they did what they usually do. They covered their windows with plastic and cardboard, stuffed towels in doorways - anything to keep in the heat, keep out the cold. We come from the county, but it was still cold,'' he said.