Thousands Will Spend Thanksgiving In The Dark
Several thousands of people are still without power in the foothills, including just about the entire town of Arnold.
Trees took down power lines left and right during the storm, causing some families to be in the dark since Sunday.
Power problems are forcing Kelly and Tracey Ellifritz to think outside of the box this thanksgiving -- starting with the turkey.
"Since we have no power we are going to use the deep fryer and deep fry it, we though about barbecuing it but heard deep fry is the way to go!" said Kelly.
The Arnold couple is planning on a quiet dinner for two; a traditional menu with a twist.
"Instead of the green bean casserole I think we'll do steamed green beans and sprinkle the fried onions on top of them instead of casserole," said Tracey.
Snow is keeping the fridge full of food fresh. And the propane stove top allows for a few pots of hot water. But without a generator, staying warm inside is hardest part.
"That's why we have sweaters on and walking around house with stocking caps on," said Kelly.
While thanksgiving is starting to feel a whole lot like camping, holiday cheer is enough to get this couple through what may end up being a frigid feast.
"We're just going to do the best we can we know we are fortunate to have what we have because there are people who don't have anything," said Kelly.
PG&E crews are working to get power back on tonight. Residents say that can't happen soon enough.
As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the power outages by county are as follows:
Nevada: 3,100
Placer & El Dorado: 1,800
Calaveras & Amador: 5,400
Tuolumne: 6,700
