News Photo by Reagan Voetberg An ice covered tree is pictured fallen on a powerline in Alpena Township.

ALPENA — On Tuesday morning, many Alpena residents continued to struggle without heat or power as temperatures dropped to the single digits Monday night. Wind chill dipped well below zero to exacerbate the situation.

Residents reported temperatures in their homes dropping to between 32 and 42 degrees, according to Facebook commenters on a post in the What’s Up Alpena group by a staff member of the News.

Amber LaLanna commented with a photo of the “ole terra cotta trick”, using candles and terra cotta pots to heat her home.

She said she is keeping one room blanketed off and keeping the temperature at 55 to 60 degrees in that room. She is using blankets, sleeping bags, and the occasional run to the car for some phone charging.

Alexis Acker said in a Facebook message that her house is at 55 degrees. She is using a stove intermittently to help warm up the house and lighting candles. Her kids are keeping busy with board games and their imagination, she said. She also cooked chicken nuggets and garlic bread with a cast iron pan on the stove.

Patti Hayward said in a Facebook comment that she has no power and no heat and is snuggling with her dog under lots of clothing and blankets. She is doing her Bible study and reading, she said.

Chayla Benton said in a Facebook comment that her house is at 32 degrees. She finally busted out the generator with a very tiny space heater. Her power line is down from her house and her pipes are frozen. Benton is staying under lots of blankets with her dog.

Anne Martin said in a Facebook message that she slept in her clothes, sweatpants, sweatshirt and sweater to stay warm, and used every blanket she has. She played solitaire with a real deck of cards to pass the time.

“Don’t know if I could do another night sleeping in my clothes,” Martin said. “My power just came back on–want to thank all the linemen who made it happen!”

Toni Schmidt, her fiance, and her son and daughter are all keeping warm under blankets, she said in a phone call.

Her children both have autism and are 23 and 24 years old, she said. They have four dogs and pet birds. Schmidt said she covered the bird cages with a blanket as well.

Schmidt said her power went out on Monday around 6 a.m. and that she is the only one in her part of town without power. There is a powerline down in her yard.

During last year’s ice storm. Schmidt said she was without power for seven days. She said she and her family were a little more prepared this time with their vehicles all filled up with gas, and she knows of the resources that she can reach out to if she needs anything. The family is charging their devices in the car and between trips to the store.

Schmidt said she is worried about losing all the freezer and refrigerator food like she did last year, but said she is inspired by all the people in the community willing to help out.

“I like how the community is willing to work together,” she said.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.