epistasthai | Hurricane Iselle

Well, we've two hurricanes headed towards my home. The other islands get hurricanes but historically, there's never been a hurricane make landfall on my island. But now, almost certainly, a hurricane is going to make landfall. Hurricane Iselle is due to hit in the next few hours. I've boarded up the windows and taken in everything that isn't nailed down. Filled up the bathtubs, several 5 gallon buckets, and hauled in 30 galleons of potable water. We've our own water system, so I'm not worried about not having water (unless our tank gets damaged by some flying debris). And my hubby is boiling soybeans (yum) from my Father-in-law's garden, and some Okinawan purple sweet potatoes (from the garden as well), to munch on when the power goes. (yes, we've lots of tinned/packaged/ready-to-eat foods, but those purple sweet potatoes and soybeans are delicious anytime). We live up the mountain so high surf or storm surge isn't a problem, but high winds are. I hope my roof stays put. (sorta kidding). Anyway, the power is almost certainly gonna go out, so I might not be online for a while. I don't mind not having power, it happens all the time here anyway (we're smack in the middle of the Pacific, and well, things happen). I just don't like not being able to get online, haha.

Everyone's kinda spooked, because hurricanes have always veered off or broken up before they hit my island. (and then they go on to hit the other islands). So they've no idea what to expect when one does hit here, because there's simply no data to be going on. The cats are spooked as well, and keep following me around. They're feral and not house pets, so I know they're spooked. But they're good company. (and so cute!)

To top it off, this morning at 6:30am-ish, we had a small earthquake (4.5). Not big but enough to feel.

Hopefully the hurricane will fizzle out, but so far it's not. I've got some good books to read for the duration, yay!

Wish me luck!

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Stay safe and let us know how you are when it's over~

I really hope that the hurricane will pass by with very little impact or damage. It is very tough to go through something like that. And I can see how you'd be on pins and needles until it passes and you and your family can take stock and hopefully breathe easier once it's passed. (After the devastation that hurricanes have cost so many places all over the world lately, I do not blame you at all for how you're feeling right now.)

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that all goes well and you will be back online soon with news that there was no damage or, if there is, that the damage is very minimal. Good luck and take care, my dear! *hugs* And, I await your return online!

Thank you so much for your thoughts! We made it through the night - the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm (only 70 mph winds instead of 75). But with gusts of up to 90 mph, it's still a problem. We only lost a bit of roof, and the kitties are safe, and we did not lose power!

There's a Category 3 hurricane bearing down on us, due to arrive in a day or two, so we're leaving the windows boarded up. It's probably gonna veer off north. But then everyone thought this one would veer off and it didn't. (and it was only a Category 1).

Hope you can quick patch your roof or at least secure a cover over the part you lost so you won't get water damage from the 2nd incoming storm.

Oh thank you for your good wishes! We made it through the night with minimal damage; only part of the front porch roof blew off. But it is no fun sitting there listening to the wind and hearing your roof creak. Hurricane Iselle was downgraded to a Tropical Storm about 40 miles offshore, but we still had torrential downpours (4 inches an HOUR at times). Some people got 12 inches in a few hours. And we didn't lose power! But our place was relatively calm, other areas were hit quite badly and suffered massive power outages (still out) and roads are blocked with trees and downed power lines. And the kitties are okay. They were so spooked that one of them actually let me pet him. They didn't wanna go outside this morning, but they're getting their nerve back. And they've decided they like being house cats, haha, because they keep running back inside to say hello.

And now we have another hurricane, a Category 3 one, bearing down on us, due to arrive in a couple of days. So we're leaving the windows boarded up. But it's far to the north, so I don't think it'll hit us. But no one thought Iselle would hit us either, so it pays to be careful.

thank you so much for your kind thoughts and hugs!

Yes, my husband is out there now, sussing out the damage. All the neighbours band together to help, so that's good. And even if that second hurricane doesn't hit us, we'll still get lots of rain and wind and power outages.

The schools are all closed, so at least there's lots of happy kids, haha.

lol yeah until they have to make up the school days :P

I'll cross my fingers and wish you luck ♥

thank you so much! I think I used up most of my luck last night. Fortunately on this island we don't get big storms. The last tropical storm to hit my island was in 1958, I believe, and historically there's never been a hurricane to make landfall on this island. They always veer off and hit the other islands.

There's this radio DJ I always listen to in the mornings, from 6am to 10am, and he came back on again yesterday from 3pm to 1am, then was back on again at 6am. He slept at the station. It was comforting to hear a familiar voice on the radio, and we were all of us up all night.

I'm still trying to reach some elderly friends who were in the hardest hit areas, but with power down and the phone lines down, it may take awhile. They didn't want to go to any shelters (even the pet friendly ones) and you can't force someone to leave if they're not actually in an evacuation zone. So I'm really hoping they're okay.

Still, we came through in pretty good shape, all things considered, so I'm grateful.

It seems a really tough emotional and practical experience to go trough ... I sort of feel guilty to be on a holiday. I'm glad the cost is clear now and I home you'll get soon in touch with friends and family you haven't heard of.

Thank you for your kind wishes! I did get in touch with my friends - their power is still out, but they are fine, no property destruction.

And my goodness, please don't feel guilty because you are having fun and enjoying life, whilst at the same time someone you know might not be. Knowing that "the heart of life is good" is like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel; at least it is for me. And nothing bad happened to me - just uncomfortable moments and a few hours of fright. I've friends who won't be getting power back for several weeks - the destruction in their area was quite bad. But no one died, and that alone makes it worth bearing with a light heart, no matter how much the value of the destruction. Material things can be regained, but life is much more precious. So please enjoy the time you spend with your family, and don't fret or feel guilty about enjoying your holiday.

Hurricane Iselle

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HUGS

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