An ice storm in early 2009 created a crisis for residents in Western Kentucky. Residents were without electricity, water, and telephone services, among other resources. As such, residents of the area were unable to send or receive communication messages that are often recommended during a crisis. This study attempted to learn about the sensemaking process of victims. To that end, 327 residents of Calloway County, Kentucky were surveyed about the communication channels they used to obtain information before and after the storm. Results show that residents perceived little hazard or outrage before the storm and therefore, continued their current activities. Hazard and outrage after the storm were significantly higher than before the storm, suggesting a potential cosmology episode (Weick, 1993) as residents relied primarily on interpersonal communication to get information immediately after the storm. After the storm, radio communication became the sole source of mediated communication for residents who remained in the area.