For one Rabun County family, the recent winter storm was, in some respects, worse for them than the Blizzard of 1993, the so-called Storm of Century which struck the East Coast and part of the South with a fury unheard of in recent memory.
Susan Gober and her family live in a remote area near Tiger. Rabun County was the hardest hit area in the state as the winter storm roared through Friday and Saturday.
Gober, 56, said in an email Sunday damage to their property was worse this time than it was in when the blizzard hit. They were out of town at the time of the blizzard so did not face the hardships they are currently having to endure.
She describes the experience as "tough and cold, but (we) kept the wood stove going. Poles, lines and trees down and deep snow drifts on our steep driveway have made travel impossible. Spent the majority of the days off outside enjoying the chiily beauty of nature! It hasn't been too bad, but it was getting cold last night before we got power. We have never had this much damage though."
The Gobers were without power for more than 38 hours before it was finally restored by Georgia Power Saturday night about 9:30 but the utility still has some work to do.
"(A) broken pole still lays on the driveway, with the new pole laying nearby. They attached the lines to (a) sawed off tree, cleared some of the tree from the driveway."
Being without power also mean being without water from their well because "the water pump is electric. However, I did have 'gallons' (of water) I bought just in case."
But, Gober says they had no heat except what was generated by the wood stove. "We have a big home, no generator, but do have a wood stove. The temp stayed at 50 degrees (inside the house) for the majority of the time."
Even though the power in back on and the house is warming up, the family of four remains unable to leave the house except on foot.
"There is no way we can go up or down our long drive. It's too icy in shaded areas and too steep. We have almost gone over the edge several times in previous years. We have had to park the cars at our cabin (garden spot) on the cornfield road, and have to hike down if we want to chance getting out on the level part of Kerby Road."
Gober says they have lived there for 25 years, raising six children during that ttime. They range in age from 14-26. Two are still in school, both attending Rabun County High School. Guy Gober is 14 and a freshman. His sister, Moranel, is 18 and a senior this year.
She said the family planned to spend Sunday "reattachinng the chicken wire on top of the pen, as the ice pulled it down."
