Published: March 14, 2009 11:24 pm      

Open letter to the community of Meridian:

Many of you in your town may not be aware of the problems we experienced in late January/first of February when our state was hit with the worst ever ice storm. The damage was so extensive that it was declared a disaster area. Our entire region was without power for 7 or 8 days, and many of us were also without water and phone service of any kind for 3 or 4 of those days. You cannot imagine the number of trees, and limbs down. It sounded like shots being fired for 2 days as trees around snapped around us, breaking whole tops of magnificent trees completely out. On a personal level, our family was without power 8 days ... our van was totalled from a huge limb snapping in the yard and smashing the roof and glass. No one was able to get in or out of the driveway for several days because of the thick ice covering the other vehicle, the driveway, the trees blocking the driveway and the danger of falling limbs.

Anyway, the families, power companies, utilities in our community were overwhelmed, most themselves were without power at home. Restoration looked to be weeks out. We saw convoys of utility trucks exiting the interstate to come and help us and they all looked like angels from heaven. You can imagine our delight when finally long at last we saw utility trucks in our neighborhood! Everyone was so excited! I asked a group of workers where they were from and they said Meridian, Miss. I had never heard of Meridian, but I was sure thankful for your town who so graciously sent your own to help us!! Let me also say that working conditions were sub zero, icy and most uncomfortable weather to work outside in. Anyway, to the men of Meridian who came and personally restored the power back to my house, my neighbors we say THANK YOU for coming!! To the community of Meridian we say thank you for sending them and to their families, thank you for sparing them the week or more you were without them. We were so happy to enjoy warmth and creature comforts again. Life as usual has resumed, and we have gotten back to normal, pretty much, except for the cleanup. But I wanted to pause and say thanks to the town of Meridian. I now know where you are located!



Pam Harlow

Elizabethtown, Ky.