Beating Coffee Beans With a Meat Mallet: Stories of Irene

"I took my coffee beans, put them in a ziploc bag, and beat them with a meat mallet on my kitchen counter. It woke my son up."

That's what Katonah resident Deborah Chodoff said when she described how she creatively addressed her need for morning coffee but no electricty to grind beans and brew them.

She remembered she had a french press coffee maker but only had whole bean coffee. So she found a way to "grind" her beans. Her teenaged son was not happy, but she had her morning joe.

The Chodoff family, who live on Edgemont Road in Katonah, were out surveying the damage Sunday afternoon. David Chodoff said they had no major damage to their home but their street was blocked by downed trees.

Bart Tyler, proprietor of , said one resident came in to purchase a siphon, to move fuel from his car to a portable cooking system. The store was open without power—they were writing credit card numbers down to run them through when power was restored.

The Katonah Restaurant had about six tables by noon, serving up hot breakfasts with no lights, but food prepared on its gas stovetops.

A Waccabuc family was assisted by the South Salem Fire Department after a tree crushed a corner of their home.

A Cross River family ended a long day without power with kids playing a game of manhunt in the backyard while adults chatted with their neighbors over wine.

Patch contributor Maria Colaco built a bonfire and roasted marshmallows.

Still others were perhaps beginning a long night of pumping out basements and clearing debris from backyards.

How were you affected by the storm? Were you helped by a friend, neighbor or emergency responder? Did you overcome obstacles presented by the storm in a unique way? We'd love to hear from you. Email lisab@patch.com or post your comments here.