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Wannabe
Sailor
Hurricane havoc brings out the
good and the bad
 We’re
two months into our second hurricane season in South Florida. Last
year I was nearly frantic with worry that we didn’t have storm
shutters, that no one had trimmed the coconuts out of the palm trees
across the street and did we have enough bottled water if a storm
hit. And of course, my worries were unfounded. Nothing happened.
Nothing even threatened to happen. So this year to date, our
hurricane preparedness plan can be summed up by saying we have a few
gallons of water, some canned goods and we watch the weather every
day.
But hurricanes are a regular topic of conversation
down here. Everyone remembers the last one, Wilma, in 2005 and a few
long-timers even remember Andrew in ’92. Never having been through a
hurricane, I’m curious what it’s like. All I really know is what
I’ve heard on the news – the same news channels that broadcast
“Winter Storm Watch 200-” causing runs on the grocery stores at the
first sign of the shadow of a snowflake. So I asked around.
Preparing for the storm is the first step, of course.
Stocking up on food and water is a given but also on alcohol, ice
for drinks and gas. I asked Mary the Martini Queen what she did to
prepare and if she was worried before the storm. “Had plenty of
vodka and ice. No worries.”
Dorie commented on having to bring in everything from
outside such as yard tools and lawn decorations … and the bugs and
spiders that live on them and the oil that leaks from them. Nice.
Lisa adds, “Don’t wait for the last minute to get
supplies.” The lines get longer the closer the storm gets and the
supplies run out quickly. Other tips included figuring out a way to
keep your cell phone charged, learning how to cook everything from
frozen pizza to coffee on the grill outside because Sterno is gross,
and having cash on hand because the power is out and most places
can’t run your credit or debit card. I found that last bit helpful
because I seldom carry cash and it probably wouldn’t have occurred
to me.
And then the storm hits. Wilma reached Fort
Lauderdale as a Category 2 hurricane in the middle of the night and
the power went out around five in the morning. The first part of the
storm was loud and fierce but the second part, when the eye had
passed and the back wall hit around 9:30 in the morning, was
vicious. Lisa saw a privacy fence lift off the ground in a single
piece and shatter outward. She thought she was imagining things
until it was confirmed by her brother. Darleen, from her 15th floor
perspective saw a stretch limo picked up and flipped over. Lauren
passed the time drinking with neighbors. Danny slept through it all.
But aside from Danny, everyone else seemed to pass the time watching
the storm and waiting it out.
The aftermath. People were outside investigating
damage by two in the afternoon and the weather was nice. Cool,
clear, comfortable. But by sundown a cold front had moved through
behind the storm and the temps dropped low enough to require
jackets. Debris, in the form of tree limbs and anything else the
storm could pick up, was scattered everywhere, making travel by
vehicle nearly impossible. A1A was buried under a mound of sand from
the beach. Power was out, water was off, and it was darker than
South Florida had experienced in ages. Standing outside that night
you could look in any direction and not see the faintest glow of
city lights. But the stars were out in force and everyone recalls
how magnificent the night sky looked and how silent the city was. No
traffic, no hum of air conditioners or roar of planes overhead. Just
silence.
The days that followed were tougher for some than
others. Power and water outages ranged from three days to three
weeks. Showers were taken in cold water or not at all, toilets
flushed infrequently with water saved in bathtubs before the storm,
people stood in lines for ice and water and communication with the
rest of the world was infrequent. But the human spirit comes shining
through in moments like this and people drew together. Sean
commented that it was the first time he’d met many of his neighbors
and everyone kept an eye out for each other; shared food and shared
power by way of extension cords run across yards and streets. Ric
said he gathered with friends every day to throw whatever food they
had on the grill (things you wouldn’t normally eat together) and
drink warm beer or rum and cokes with no ice. Lauren mentioned the
neighbor aspect too. She said the kids played outside together while
the adults mingled and talked and got to know each other. Not a bad
way to pass the time while waiting for life to return to normal.
Actually, not counting the damage and the costs, both large and
small, not a bad way to pass the time in any circumstances.
So maybe a few gallons of water and some canned food
isn’t the best preparation. Maybe we need to think a little further
ahead. But as with anything in life, you take the bad with the good.
And the good that came from the last storm was acknowledged by
everyone I spoke with. And not a single one of them would consider
moving elsewhere for even a moment. I’m not suggesting that a
hurricane is fun or exciting, not by any means, but it sure does
make you think about things in a slightly different way. And maybe
that isn’t all bad.
–
Not-quite-captain of her own ship,
Amy Thurman
s/v Write of Passage
Amy Thurman of Ft. Lauderdale, FL (formerly of Flowery Branch, GA), has
been bitten by the sailing bug. We’ll follow her exploits as she learns to sail from
scratch.
writeofpassage@gmail.com
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