G and I drove to Miami last Tuesday to avoid Hurricane Ian.
As we did with Irma in 2017, we sat in comfort (and guilt) as we watched the weather and our local news stations report on the devastation wrought by Ian.
It’s the strangest feeling to wait out a hurricane. It’s an uncomfortable mix of emotions…gratitude for being able to evacuate safely and worry for your home and all earthly possessions.
When I was little, I remember we had tornado drills at school. We had to know to sit under our desk with our hands on our heads. More than once I remember retreating to the bottom level of our split level house to stand or sit in the doorway during a tornado warning. Living on Lake Erie, lake effect weather was a neighbor who might turn against us. Snowstorms, thunderstorms, wind storms could always bring damage and the need to find shelter.
Preparing for a hurricane requires a lot more effort. If you don’t have hurricane windows, then you have to install storm shutters to protect windows and balconies and patios. You need to fill up the car with gas in case there is no gasoline available after the storm. You need to make sure you have a “go” bag packed in case you are ordered to evacuate. Jugs of filtered water fly off the shelves. No potable water means rationing water for brushing teeth, washing, and drinking. If you can, you fill a cooler with ice to store beverages and food in case of a power outage.
Luckily we found out that our power was restored on Friday so we packed up and drove home across Alligator Alley.
About two exits away from ours I held my breath. What would we find?
We exited the highway and found working traffic lights. A good sign. Cars were in line at the gas stations, so that meant gas was available. We drove into our community and saw no real damage.
We practically ran up the stairs to our place, opened the door and found nothing wrong. Everything was as we left it. I breathed a sigh of relief and shed some tears.
Ian took every drop of moisture out of the air so fall is immediately here. The windows are open. The fountains are working in the pond we overlook from our lanai.
Before we left Miami, we stopped and filled up our cooler with eggs, milk, turkey and cheese for sandwiches. Saturday, after a sleep in our own bed, I headed to the kitchen.
After eating takeout, grocery store subs, and hotel breakfasts, I made a feast. It felt so good to be in my own kitchen, cooking up my kind of storm.
Now that we’ve slept in our own bed and rested for a couple of days, we’re ready to find ways to help our community. Sunday, we stopped at the Von Arx Wildlife Hospital and donated some lettuce and carrots to help feed the animals. Something so simple like that made me feel like the Grinch when his little heart starts to grow.
Coastal cities and towns in Southwest Florida are in desperate need of help. The storm surge destroyed so much of our beautiful Gulf Coast.
If you want to help our region, please check out these links:
José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen
Wildlife Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Thanks again for reading and thank you so much for checking in on us during this chaotic week. We appreciate all the comments and well wishes and prayers more than you know.
Such an honest account of your time - so appreciated - and laced with words that tugged at my heart, made me nod in agreement, and even chuckle a little. Be kind to yourself like you encourage others to do and thank you for providing links to how we may be a part of the healing. Still sending prayers your way!
I got chills, and a bit teary eyed, reading your words. What a storm, what a flurry of emotions and work, what a wild planet we live on... 💓