Last week. We were told Ian was coming straight to us for landfall, bringing a 10-18 ft storm surge. I would have stayed home but for the surge forecast. I drove 90 minutes inland to escape it. Still Ian passed right over me. It was very very frightening...so intense. It was night and black dark, the power had gone out (of course). The hotel had no provisions for the outage. I made a place to wait it out in the bathroom of my top (second) floor hotel room. Well the roofing flew off of my room and the ceiling was cracking. I kept thinking to just not panic. Sure. OK. I went back into the bedroom and closed the bathroom door. The wind kept on for what seemed a long time and then lessened. I actually then went to sleep. When I woke dawn had broken, the wind was still there but not hurricane force. I opened my door and couldn't believe it. Sheets of roofing all over and metal strips from the building hanging from the balconies. I knew I could not stay there for another night in the dark with no way to light a room. I did turn on my lap top and dimmed it. So I called someone who would have a very good idea about the roads and decided to drive back to see if my house was even there. I could get no one on the phone. It was a hard drive and I drove through deep water (I was in a family member's F150.) He and his wife were on a cruise. I made it home to a slightly blemished house with a dry interior. The death and destruction around me is unbelievable. Blessed I am! And still a little shaky.
This post was edited by Thriftymaid at November 4, 2022 7:20 AM MDT
Nature can humble us, for sure, with not only its power, but also its unpredictability. My brother in Tampa Bay expected the worst, but was not affected, but it is sobering to see what might happened there and did happen elsewhere.
I was thinking about you and wishing the best. I remember somewhere else on the site you had posted you were concerned about Ian's arrival. Glad to see you here sharing.
Hey -- and watch that video if you haven't seen it -- that's Madonna and Roseanne Barr there, too --- I picked the video by chance - - but Barbra Streisand surprises them at the end of the skit by appearing -- I read that she was in her car by chance and heard the skit on the show and had her driver take her to the studio and she walks in!! Ha!!
When my mother passed several years ago. I'm rarely so overcome that I'm unable to speak. I've been stonkered and discombombulated more times than I can remember, but I'm rarely verklempt.
Thriftymaid 