HURRICANE CHARLEY
Friday, August 13, 2004
I Saw A Leaf Move!
Yes, it's Friday the 13th. Forecasts for the last few days have Hurricane Charley entering Tampa Bay today. All the pool furniture and potted plants were hastily put away yesterday before my husband left for the center of the state. He is not happy about leaving, but duty calls. He works in telecommunications for a large power company and as soon as the storm passes it will be up to those in his department to keep the lines of communication open. Hundreds of utility workers working long hours to restore power will depend on that communication.We are hosting a hurricane party. At least that's what the kids (cousins ages 6 to 18) are calling it. The adults are fatigued from the preparations and are a little less enthusiastic. My husband's sister and her family arrive after having made the last of two trips across town with a four-horse trailer to the nearby Florida State Fairgrounds. Eight horses are now bedded down in the steel and concrete barns that hopefully will keep them safe. A steady stream of bodies carry suitcases, sleeping bags, pillows and what has to be all the contents of their refrigerator, freezer and pantry — all of which needs to be unloaded and crammed into an already bulging refrigerator and pantry. Oh, surprise! They also brought with them a new puppy that they've only had for a couple of days. It's cute, but the thought of a puppy piddling my carpet leaves me with a headache.
My sister-in-law plops down on the couch for a well deserved nap and announces she will cook dinner when the wind begins to blow. My brother-in-law decides we should tape the large sliding glass doors to the pool. I can't find much tape, but he makes do and places a large "X" on each panel. I wonder to myself if Charley will use the X's as a target. The children begin what will end up a marathon of game-playing and the others settle in front of the TV for the latest weather update. It is then that we learn that Charley has taken a detour of sorts. He is now making a turn in the Gulf that will slam the unsuspecting Southwestern Coast with Category IV winds. We settle in for an afternoon of wondering when and if the storm will affect us.
It is late afternoon and we're already getting restless... and hungry. We haven't gotten the first drop of rain. Suddenly, my 16-year-old shouts, "I saw a leaf move!" My sister-in-law got the message and promptly got up to start cooking dinner.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
That's Just Like Our Building!
It was an uneventful night even though my husband ended up in the path of the storm. He was alright. All of us slept amazingly well and we awoke to sunny skies. We were glued to the television and it would reveal the terrible truth that many were not as fortunate. Terrible destruction was spread over a large area of Florida — from Fort Myers and Sanibel Island to Punta Gorda and Arcadia to Orlando. As the reports came in, we discovered that Captiva Island was literally cut in two by the storm; mobile home communities were leveled leaving many homeless; and, millions were without power. Then there was the view from a helicopter of what had been a large steel and concrete building. The steel was twisted and the concrete walls were nothing more than piles of rubble. My sister-in-law exclaimed, "That's just like our building!" Indeed, it was just like the one where she left her horses. We were so fortunate.
HURRICANES FRANCES AND IVAN
Friday, September 3, 2004
Priorities
Hurricane Frances is coming to Florida, but she is taking her time and can't seem to decide where to make landfall. I decide that she definitely female — she has all the traits.My teenagers are off school. Both girls have jobs at a nearby grocery store and they find themselves behind the register with endless lines of customers that are cleaning the shelves of any left over supplies. I see small supplies of water, but no ice and the only batteries left are the wrong size for the nearby flashlights. At the area's Home Depot stores, there is no plywood. There are reports of more supplies on the way, but it is reported when people go back, they find those supplies were diverted to the East Coast where Frances is expected to have the biggest impact. There is no gasoline. If you have not filled up your tank before now, you are out of luck.
We have decided that Frances poses a serious enough risk to take additional precautions. My husband will be home tonight to help with last minute preparations. I can buy water and ice, but I can't board up our sliding glass doors — that will be his job since he was able to find plywood last night.
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