After the Storm

Hurricane Ian finally left us for greener pastures. We were fortunate and kept power throughout. However, we lost internet, cable, and cell phone reception and, as night fell, we were literally and figuratively in the dark as to the destruction being caused elsewhere.

We now have cell reception, but I'm typing this on my phone in the mosquito laden courtyard - the only place I can find internet!

At daybreak on Thursday, I set out on my bike to do a damage assessment - that and logistics are my typical roles when I deploy with Team Rubicon. I often feel guilty that I'm not doing the physical work of the sawyers or mucking out homes. But, we each have our own skill sets.

I rode to my friends home to check that she was ok, and determined that she obviously wasn't; front door unlocked and wide open, doors into lanai were wide open, and she .... doing her own damage assessment in the neighbourhood! Close friends can imagine the exchange when we caught up!

We rode our bikes the short distance to McDonalds, hoping, unsuccessfully, for internet. But, it provided my favourite photo from the storm; during the recent funeral for Queen Elizabeth, we Brits were ridiculed for queuing. The queue at the McDonalds drive through stretched about a quarter of a mile ... but McDonalds wasnt even open!

Donna and I continued our ride around the subdivision. Many downed trees - although few blocking the road. She lost her favourite tree and there was damage to another.

Some damage to carports and fences, but, mercifully, little apparent structural damage. The coming days will give a fuller story.

Much of the remainder of the day was spent in delicious, delightful, peace and solitude. There are benefits to losing internet and cell reception! I did discover that a cheap, primative, Cricket phone, belonging to one of the organizations with which I'm involved, was able to send and receive texts! A lifeline - and one I used to keep in touch with Frank, Linda (in NY) and Jim.

My neighbour, Joann, and I went for a short bike ride at sunset and encountered a squirrel in the middle of the road. Her tail had been badly damaged and she appeared to have a broken leg. She was trying valiantly to right herself, but not doing well. I scooped her up and put her in my bike basket - I'm not sure what she thought of the bike ride, but she seemed to sense we were trying to help.

I named her Pickles, and made her as comfortable as I could. She gathered the towel around herself and lay quietly as I stroked her head gently. A couple of hours later she let out a couple of whimpers and then she died. At leadt she wasn't alone on the road. 

Today (Fri, Sept 30th), my friend Roxy and her hubby came over to cook pizza. They have had a full house - all refusing to play strip poker with her - and are without power. Roxy is one of the delights in my life. She believes that almost anything can be solved with orange sherbert and vodka served in a pretty glass, with a spoon. She balances my seriousness.

After pizza we took a quick drive on the island. The devastation to our little theatre is heartbreaking. I'm not sure what will happen to Michael Biehl park, the park I adopted through the City's Adopt a Park program. The beautiful mural is painted on one side of the theatre. (Pic, below, was taken months before the storm).

At the beginning of Sept, I had a date with a fella named Jim. He seemed nice... kind, thoughtful, considerate, laid back, funny - and intelligent!  I could not have anticipated how wonderful he has been through this storm. Although he lives nearby, he has been witnessing the storm from afar, at a conference in Las Vegas! Concerned about his own house, but remaining in contact and checking in with (on?) me, and offering suggestions and solutions to issues that arose. I am very fortunate and hope he sticks around for a good long time! He's definitely a good'un.

Here's a link to photos from my damage assessment

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8YsFbKjzqn7dTxf6A

Catchin' & Hopin' - Ian Part 2

Hurricane Ian made landfall at 15:03 as a Cat 4. The 5th most powerful storm to hit the US. The weather Channel says you could fit hurricane Charley into the eye of Ian! It’s quite some storm!

It’s been an interesting afternoon. I’m on the ground floor of a 3-story building. Before the storm really got started, I watched parts of the roof sail past the window. There’s quite a debris field in front of my window now. A persistent banging lured me into the hallway where I discovered the hallway door opening and slamming shut with the whims of the wind. I did my best to secure it with bungee cords, but I don’t hold out much hope. At time of writing, some 3 hours later, it’s still clinging on! But there’s another door banging somewhere else on the upper floors of the building, and the occasional clatter of metal rolling around! Unfortunately, these are things I cannot take care of. But I think Bjork might appreciate the ‘orchestra.’

Power and internet remain intermittent, but, thankfully, mainly on.

My clients have been in contact with me throughout the day and, to my complete surprise, the State Floodplain Manager also checked in. Oh, he didn’t check in with you? There I was thinking this was a new state policy, personal outreach to every citizen! I used to work with Conn in the State Floodplain Management Office, when Steve Martin was the State Floodplain Manager. It was very kind, and thoughtful, for Conn to take time out of an exceptionally busy day to check on me. Between Conn and my clients, I feel much loved.

 I have made 2 ‘nests’ for when the storm becomes really bad. But so far, I have not needed to use them - although I think that time is coming close.

My laughter for the day came from correspondence with a Canadian co-worker of sorts: 

I ventured out in the hallway to help a neighbour about an hour ago and discovered a little over 2 inches of standing water in the hallway. I then returned to find my bathroom ceiling leaking. I texted Frank and he told me to catch the drips and hope the leak doesn’t become more widespread. So, here I am, catchin’ and hopin’  and, so far, staying safe and dry

Now I think it's time for some of that roast duck and jackfruit salsa.

I often share pics of the beautiful blue skies and beaches in Fl.

Click here for a 2 min video of the storm from my window

  

                      

Hurricane Ian - Part 1

 

The view from my lanai at 8am on Wednesday. I hope to have the same view - with blue skies - once the storm has gone.

I believe I'm as prepared for this storm as I can be. I have determined that I'm not as prepared as I could be for the behaviour of my neighbours during this storm. I am calm and relaxed, continuing to work while I still have power ... but the phone calls, texts, and visits have been incessant as they want to alleviate their nervousness. I'm an introvert (specifically, an INTJ). I'm a caring individual … but there are reasons I do logistics when I deploy with Team Rubicon on disaster ops; give me inanimate objects any day!

It could be worse; I could have had hurricane buddy plans cancelled by a positive Covid test, as happened to a friend. Yes, Covid is still around - and I wonder what that means for those in the shelters. 

I received a mid-morning call from Frank; I helped him pack on Monday so that he could evacuate to his sister’s home. He called me from the road ... on the way across the state to Fort Pierce! Like I don’t have enough to worry about!

Frank doesn't scare easily, but I know he is 'scarred,’ for want of a better word, by his experience with hurricane Andrew. Frank spent a good portion of his career as the Building Official in various municipalities across Florida. He was involved in inspections and cleanup after hurricane Andrew and helped rewrite the Florida building codes afterwards. He views hurricanes through a different lens than many of us. This storm is making him uncomfortable – but, he feels that I should be ok where I am, sheltering in place instead of the evacuation shelter. His reasoning is that the upper floors of my building may suffer wind damage, which may add to any water damage and flooding in my ground floor home. But, I also live close to a grocery store, and right off a main road. No matter what damage is sustained locally, he believes that my general location – although not my subdivision – will he high on the list of places to be restored asap. We shall see what the storm brings.

"This storm may be like Charley in landfall location, but with a size up to four times larger. Wednesday and Thursday will be a hard, long days." (Meteorologist Dan Henry, 5am, Sept 28).

It’s 10.45am and the winds are picking up. But, I still have power - unlike friends in Fort Myers. 

I love my job, but I miss being in the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) during a storm..

I think I can turn off the storm tracker app on my cellphone!

Still my favourite photo of the police 

at the City of Venice shelter

the morning of Hurricane Irma (Sept, 2017),

Additonal links:

Hurricane Ian’s Damages Are Forecast to Be Worse Than 1992’s Andrew

Ian is not Charley

Prepping for Hurricane Ian

The current track for Hurricane Ian does not look good for my City.

I feel good about my preparations. My car, my beloved Steed, my companion of 17 years, became an 'organ donor' last week I feel bereft of my partner in crime. I turned in my rental car this morning because it makes no sense to keep it; I won't be driving through the storm, and probably not for a couple of days after - depending on what this storm does.

I left my wellies (galoshes) in a client's car yesterday after a survey. To be honest, I feel a little vulnerable with no knee length waterproof boots to venture out in after the storm.

I do have an inflatable rubber dinghy!! Hopefully I will not need it.

A quick update on my hurricane prep:

My neighbours are driving me crazy ... (what evac zone are we in?)

 
I have moved all of the furniture indoors from the lanai.

My neighbours are driving me crazy (If we lose power, how long will it be out...?)

I have enough batteries and chocolate to last me until the end of the year :-)

My neighbours are driving me crazy ("we're expecting 10ft surge in Bird Bay!" (My response: No!, We're NOT!! Show me your sources))

The bathtub is filled with water. So is the fridge. So is the freezer. So is the large cooler.

My neighbours are driving me crazy ... yeah, you don't need to know!

I have cooked the meats from my freezer ... my first hurricane meals will be roast duck (courtesy of my friend Linda who emptied her fridge into mine when she moved to NY.), scallop ceviche (scallops courtesy of Frank earlier in the summer), and jackfruit salsa. If you're going to do a hurricane, you should do it in style :-)

My Scotch collection is looking pretty good right now!

And I have a large 'mournful sphinx' moth keep me company