Friday, August 26, 2011

How I Spent My Summer Hurricane - Part 1

I didn't have my car yesterday, my son took it to work hoping to get/buy/borrow a generator. Our generator heard there was a hurricane coming and decided to pass away into the great depot in the sky.

So today at 7 AM I began my preparedness. I got water - had to go to 2 places - and I filled up the car and I got non-perishables and I got a carrier for Isadora. I decided Siren and Isadora shouldn't be expected to share the giant carrier when they're already stressed out.

Thanks to the young sales people at PetSmart I got a dog carrier that was suitable, all the cat carriers were sold out, and I found out that a Holiday Inn inland allows pets. I now have a room reserved there for me and the kitties and a second room for my son/his wife/Hope.

Tomorrow morning at 5 AM I will be at Lowe's hoping the generator delivery comes and comes early. If I don't get one and the power goes out - which will surely happen - then my basement will become a wasteland.

I will admit to being a bit nervous and, at this moment, totally exhausted and aching from head to toe.

I am on the border with towns that are being evacuated.

It occurred to me that I am so lucky to have resources. Credit cards to use to reserve rooms and cash on hand to get extra supplies and I have a car with a full tank of gas. I remember the people in the very poor areas during Katrina saying over and over - "where do you go when you have nothing"

I get it

Stay safe out there

This scene from just a few days ago ...


Has been replaced by these scenes shot during my morning rounds ...



25 comments:

Sylvia K said...

I have been thinking of you and Hope, your son and the kitties and hoping you'll be okay! I almost feel guilty that I live in an area so far removed from the latest weather problem. Of course, we've had some rumblings from nearby volcanoes, but hopefully they're just pissed off because they're not getting all the attention just now! Do take care, stay safe!! Hugs to you and Hope, the kitties! Much love and good thoughts. Let us know if you're alright when you can.

Sylvia

Kay L. Davies said...

I hope all your preparations will prove unnecessary, but of course you have to do all you can, just in case, not only because it is the wise thing to do but also because you are a mother and grandmother, so your instincts are ringing bells in your head, "Save the children, save the young people."
Hoping you are all well,
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Twin City Joan said...

My thoughts are with you over this next weekend. I so hope you and all the others affected by this come out of it OK. It does seem that your part of the country has had a rough year. Maybe next year will be better.

CrystalChick said...

We're about an hour from the shore points in NJ so we weren't evacuated.
It's been a rough week and will be a very difficult weekend for so many.
Stay safe!

Ron said...

OMG, Dianne...I LOVE how prepared you are!

You GO, girl!

And it's very wise to be prepared.

Having lived in Florida for 20 years, I'm so use to hurricanes that I'm totally unfreaked about this one we're getting. And everyone at work is going, "Why aren't you FREAKING OUT, Ron???"

Friends of my family who live in Atlantic City had to evacuate because they live right along the coastline.

You take care, dearest lady.

Sending much 'energy' your way...

((((( Dianne )))))

X to you and your family!

Rambling Woods said...

Oh you are going to be impacted? I wondered...I am so sorry about that. I hope you can get a generator. I hope they are way off on the predictions...stay safe......hugs..

dianasfaria.com said...

Thanks for your thoughts today Dianne-much appreciated. I will be thinking of you the next couple of days & hoping we all prepared for nothing!

oh, & a friend of mine once said he lives by the 5 P's

Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance.
thought you'd get a kick out of that.

Also am glad to hear about your son getting his smile back.
; )

Mike said...

How many air miles to the coast line for you?

jaycoles@gmail.com said...

Honey, You get on the Interstate and come to Iowa. I have room for you and Hugs for Hope. You and the kids and the cats are in my thoughts constantly. Love and hugs, Jay

Kay Dennison said...

Where are you heading? If you get to Ohio, I'll do what I can.

DJan said...

Your preparations seem very complete. I look forward to hearing how it went, after it's all over. I know it might take awhile... computers don't work well without power, do they? I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best for everybody.

Trisha said...

Hopefully, all of your prep work will keep things safe and sound. I will be thinking of you and your family.

Jinksy said...

I do so wish you all well...

Daryl said...

be safe .. xoxo

CG said...

I hope you are all okxxxx

ds said...

Stay safe, Dianne, and your family too. Wise you are to have prepared so well.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Our thoughts are with you. We have family (grown grandkids) in Charleston and in New York, so all of us here on the opposite coast are keeping a close watch on the storm.

I am glad you (and the kids) are prepared but I feel so sororoy for those who are not (cannot be, as you say).

christopher said...

I'm pretty well prepared as well, sans the generator though.

Hopefully I won't need one.

Good luck, stay safe.

Jim said...

Dianne, I hope for you the best for you and for your family. Yes, I guess you would need a good generator to keep the basement sump pumps going. We don't have many basements in Texas.
I'll watch to see how you are doing. The best wish would be to not lose power and not get high water.
..

Vol-E said...

Be safe, y'all!

Jeni said...

Definitely don't envy all that evacuation process you're going through there but sure am glad you're getting the necessary stuff to have, just in case! Boy, what a mess life can be at times. What a week it's been too -earthquakes, hurricanes, evacuations of hundreds of thousands of folks in New Jersey and my gosh, NEW YORK CITY too! Incredible, isn't it? Hope you come through this whole ordeal unscathed though. Right now, I'm worried about a cousin of mine who is a patient in a nursing home on Long Island and how he will fare through all of this mess now. Prayers flying all over the place for so many people to come through this safely.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I've been thinking of you, my dear Dianne, and hoping you are okay...You are smart to be this prepared, my dear...! I have so many friends and family back east---Praying for all of them, and you, too!

HermanTurnip said...

Hope all went well!

The last time I had to evacuate my house was during a huge wildfire. Had to sneak the cat into the hotel in her carrier. She was mewing the entire time. I'm surprised we weren't caught! :-)

Granny Annie said...

Eager to hear "the rest of the story" when you post Part 2. Obviously we can't get any truth about this hurricane from the media. They are just running around looking for a body count even if it means counting heart attack victims and blaming the weather as the cause.

Akelamalu said...

I'm thinking of you Dianne, stay safe m'dear. x