Post-Fern Update: We're Still Here
Hey everybody! I know it's a bit delayed, but I wanted to update y'all on the status of Crow's Contraptions post-Winter Storm Fern.
Our beautiful town was directly in the worst of it. We got more than an inch of radial ice on every single tree branch, power line, and fiber optic line for miles around. This led to a blackout lasting around 8 days for us(some people here still are without power, keep them in your prayers), a ton of trees damaged on our property (we had to chainsaw our way out of our driveway early after the ice accumulated), and the loss of our fiber connection around 1:30 AM January 23rd.
As of today, that's 29 days without a steady connection to the outside world, which has significantly hampered our typical workflows. Our design station, print farm, and upload pipeline all depend on that connection. We've been running on coffee shop WiFi and intransigence to keep things moving.
Just because the ice has melted doesn't mean the damage it caused has gone away, and in some ways it's even more dangerous now, although thankfully improving by the week in the places most people go. Still a long road to recovery. In some ways, it's all we can do to survive even now, but we're resilient and will adapt to this new normal, remembering those who have lost their lives to this storm and its aftermath(RIP gpg, you are missed).
We Haven't Stopped
We are still taking orders. We've actually picked up a major B2B opportunity and are producing a custom branded merchandise run right now. We'll have more on that once the production is complete and we can show rather than tell.
The printers have been running, even if they'd prefer having Internet. The LAN/local WiFi and SD cards still work, and the CAD laptop is as happy at High Point Coffee as I am. Jason and I have been on the grind even when the infrastructure wasn't cooperating.
What's Coming
We've got new products on the horizon, new capabilities we've been quietly building out, and a new workflow that should improve our video production capabilities. (You're asking, what videos? And yeah, I know. There's dogs involved, often when they are not needed, which has greatly slowed production.)
We should be getting internet back any day now. At least, I hope so — there are fiber trucks and trailers parked outside almost daily.
How You Can Help
If you've been thinking about placing an order, now's a great time. Hueforge graphics, custom prints, branded products, whatever you need designed and built — we could use the work, and storm recovery doesn't pay for itself. Every order right now helps us come back stronger on the other side of this.
Hit us up at socmedia@crowscontraptions.com . We survived Fern, and we're going to keep growing despite the temporary setbacks and required storm cleanup. We look forward to helping bring your ideas into reality.
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