Hurricane Dolly update
Well, I am now at my parents' house after deciding that I really didn't want to be in the eye of a hurricane all by myself ::)
After the power went out at 6am this morning, I loaded up the cats and made the very scary 35 minute drive. I literally drove through 55 mile/hour winds, heavy rain and oh, there was a tornado spotting while I was driving - talk about an adrenaline rush!!
My dad boarded up the windows yesterday and we've got plenty of water and food (they got vegetarian stuff for me, just in case), so we are all set. Unfortunately my apartment is not boarded up but I did put my two bookcases in the two living room windows and a large painting in the bedroom window. It is on the second floor, so that may help. If something happens to the apartment - c'est la vie, that's why I have renter's insurance! My cats are the most important thing and they are fine now, so that's all that matters. Everything else can be replaced.
Thankfully I am no longer in the eye of the storm although they are still predicting 75-95 mile/hour winds, 10-15 inches of rain, tornadoes and probable power outages. I feel really bad - in Brownsville there is concern the levees may break which means the historic downtown and some very poor neighborhoods would be flooded. Brownsville literally has some of the poorest neighborhoods in the US and some of these people don't even have running water. Our shelters are already beginning to fill up. If you're one to pray, please keep all of these families in mind.
I'll keep you updated and if you don't hear from me for a while, you'll know why.
It's good to hear you are safe. Did you take the wine with you? When I was evacuated during the fires last year, the only thing I cared about was that Cat was safe. Other than that, I'm with you, c'est la vie.
I've never seen poverty like that, with no running water. That's sobering, even before the hurricane.
No, I actually forgot about the wine until I was driving - at which point I was thinking I was going to need it when I got to my parents', lol!
They've got a fully stocked bar at home, so I'm good :)
It is very sobering - I can't imagine living in such poverty to begin with and then losing what little you do have. The power is now out in all of Brownsville and part of Harlingen (the town nearest us) so we may be losing power soon as well. I guess I can always nap if it goes . . . with all the windows boarded up, it's gonna be dark!!
Be safe Jewel. I live in hurricane country too (south Florida) so I feel for you. To me, the worst part of losing power is not being able to flush the damned toilet when the well pump fails. :(
Oh, jewel, I hope your apartment is okay. Here in Houston they are just expecting some rain, a few thundershowers, and a little bit of wind, no big deal. I hear Brownsville down there is going to get slammed!
But I am with you on the stuff. The only things I really care about are my cats, and my computer (I have files that are irreplaceable, but it is a laptop, so it is easy to grab on the go). Whenever I have a fire alarm, I dig the cats out from under the bed, or wherever they are hiding because the alarm scares the daylights out of them, put them in cages, stuff the computer into my backpack, and go. The rest of it could get all burned up, I would be bummed, but it can be replaced.
How long do they expect this to last? As I have to fly over Mexico to get to Costa Rica, I am a bit curious.
Aren't there 2 hurricanes happening down there right now?
How did the cats fare in the car ride out of there? Oh I bet they didn't like it. I'm glad that you & your fur babies are out of harms way.
Stay safe jewel.
Be safe Jewel. You know we'll keep you in our thoughts.
ah! i dont know how you handle it. its windy and rainy and stormy up here. and even that freaks me out. storms dont bother me.... but if its related to a hurricaine! AH! maybe its cause i'm used to PA. give me 6 feet of snow and i could care less. but a hurricaine or a tornado and i am huddling in the hallway. haha.
ah! i dont know how you handle it. its windy and rainy and stormy up here. and even that freaks me out. storms dont bother me.... but if its related to a hurricaine! AH! maybe its cause i'm used to PA. give me 6 feet of snow and i could care less. but a hurricaine or a tornado and i am huddling in the hallway. haha.
I'm totally like hiimkelsi, I'm scared of anything that has to do with hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes. Probably because I live in a place where that, well, never happens. Be safe, Jewel, although you all seem to be very well prepared to face that Dolly.
So far in SA we've only had a few thunderstorms and some wind. Supposedly we're getting the worst of it overnight and into the morning. This will be the first time I've been exposed to something like this so I don't know what to expect.
jewwwelllll, still got power?
Hey Jewel!!!
I've been thinking about you all day wondering how you are! The coverage on our local news doesen't look to bad--but it's still a freaking hurrican so it's gotta be bad enough right!?! I hope you and your family and belvoded pets are all doing OK and that your power comes on soon and that you're safe and able to come back to vegweb soon :) :)
i'm thinking about you extra hard and sending you beams of cosmic energy* your way!! :)>>>
*sometimes I am such a freaking new age hippie it makes me sick *lol* wheres my hemp skirt and kiln? ;D
*sometimes I am such a freaking new age hippie it makes me sick *lol* wheres my hemp skirt and kiln?
In Arcata, the epicenter of hippiedom. Come to California and I'll show you around.
Hey y'all -
I'm over checking email at my neighbors - they are hooked up to a generator. We're still without power (lost it Wednesday at noon) and they're saying it may not be back up until Thursday!! Thankfully we only lost water for 24 hours - that was a bit rough. We're all fine - we lost about 15 trees and we'll need a new roof, but only minor leakage. Unfortuately our next door neighbors lost their house - they are living in their shed but have a window AC unit, a blow up mattess and cable, so it's not as bad as it could be.
We're very blessed,my apartment was just fine and our house is fine - people around here have lost absolutely everything and their houses are still flooded. FEMA still hasn't claimed this as a disaster area, although Pres. Bush did last night - only 2 days too late :( We actually went to get water, ice and food rations today from some group that donated it - it was very humbling and I almost cried . . . I have never been so thankful for food and water before. It's just devastating to drive around here - unfortunately everyone is focuses on Harlingen and Brownsville and our little town of Rio Hondo (1200 people) has been overlooked :(
Thanks for all the thoughts - I miss y'all and I'll back once we have power again.
<3 to you, Jewel
So glad you are safe.
It's good to hear you're okay and that your neighbors have a place to stay in the interim. How did the poor community that you mentioned fare?
Yikes! I'm so glad you are safe! Thanks for writing and letting us know how it's going down there. I was living in Houston during Hurricane Katrina and did a lot of volunteering at the dome, so I kind of saw how devastating it is to lose everything. And also during Hurricane Rita, when Houston did not get hit, but was predicted to and the whole city was like apocalyptic for a week.
Please let me know if I can send you anything! Seriously!
I am so glad you and your family are safe Jewel! The damage just sounds awful. How sad for people to lose their home and everything. :(
WE JUST GOT POWER ;)b ;)b ;)b
I could seriously cry because I'm so thankful right now - 5 days without power (in 95 degree weather) is a bit rough! Thank you for all the kind words - I've been so lonely without all of you!
The town of Brownsville is actually alright thankfully; however a few towns over from us there are still families that have standing water in their homes, fortunately FEMA is now there helping them. It's certainly not Katrina, but it's going to take some of these families years to rebuild.