Polar vortex driving record freeze

[davidthegnome]

15. Up here in Northern Maine...

We're used to freezing temperatures in the winter, we're also used to lots of snow. This year though, and the last... I can't remember a colder winter up here - and I've lived in Maine almost my whole life. The last several years we've had much less snow than is usual for us, which is driving down our already struggling economy even further - because we rely heavily on snow mobilers. We're getting more snow now, towards the end of January... but the road conditions, the ice, the freezing cold weather and wind... no one wants to go anywhere or do anything.

I had a co-worker tell me last night that she actually broke down and cried - there were several inches of snow on her car, it was more than ten below with freezing, strong gusts of wind, and she dropped something important in the snow and had to search for it.

The cost of heating fuel keeps going up, the Governor has cut the budget for snow removal - and heating assistance is really, really hard to get.

I worry for those who can't afford to heat their homes up here this winter - and I have no idea how the heck they're getting by. Lots of clothes and blankets, maybe, but on some nights, it's so cold it hurts to breath.

It's enough to make me cry, too.