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Cold and Hoping for Snacks: Officials Plan Power Cut to End Oregon Standoff

© AP Photo / Rick Bowmer Oregon Rancher Standoff
Oregon Rancher Standoff - Sputnik International
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The armed militia camped out in a bird sanctuary in Oregon is on day three of their takeover, and they are already pleading with social media to send in snacks. Meanwhile federal authorities are reportedly planning to cut off their power supply amid sub-zero temperatures.

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The dozen-or-so militia members have vowed to stay for “months” in protest of the imprisonment of two cattle ranchers, but federal authorities now plan to freeze them out.

“It’s in the middle of nowhere,” an unnamed official told the Guardian regarding the US Park Service’s plan to cut the power. “And it’s flat-ass cold up there.”

The move would certainly escalate the situation, and the right-wing militia have repeatedly claimed that they are willing to die there, and go out shooting if need be.

“After they shut off the power, they’ll kill the phone service,” the official added. “Then they’ll block all the roads so that all those guys have a long, lonely winter to think about what they’ve done.”

On Tuesday, snowstorms were expected to begin and the temperature is expected to plummet to a freezing —8F by evening.

Ammond Bundy, one of the occupying militia members and son of Cliven Bundy, told Raw Story “we’re ready and waiting if the power should be shut down.”

The group has claimed that they are prepared to tough it out “for months,” but during a tour of the site, the Guardian noted that they have enough food for a few weeks — at best.

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The newspaper described their inventory as having apples and oranges, a few dozen pots of instant ramen, 24 cans of chicken noodle soup, a similar number of cans of sweetcorn, peas, beans and chili, 20 boxes of macaroni and cheese, three sacks of potatoes, one bag of flour, another of rolled oats, boxes of raisins, a single bag of pretzels and one granola bar.

This likely explains why members of the group have been taking to social media to beg for supporters to send them snacks.

“Things we could use: cold weather socks, snacks, energy drinks, equipment for cold weather, snow camo, gear, anything you think will help. Thank you all for the support,” Blaine Cooper wrote on Facebook on behalf of Jon Ritzheimer.

It sounds like Ammon Bundy’s claim to the Oregonian that they were prepared to stay “for years,” if necessary, may have been a slight exaggeration. 

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