10/13/2024
Thanks to everyone who has asked after us.
Tracey and I survived Milton. They were calling for a direct hit with storm surge estimates varying from 10-20 feet. Our house is at 7.7 feet. 2 weeks ago we had Helene at 7 feet and narrowly missed getting flooding in the house.
So -- With the help of our friends Lois and Brad Kustin and Frank and Mary Abram and a few others, we moved 80% of our home to a storage unit inland, boarded up, filled and placed 150 sandbags, and bugged out to Mary and Frank's place out east at around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. We were fairly sure we would come back to a total loss. Had a great dinner and lots of laughs and went to sleep very heavily. We woke up at 7 am and drove home very carefully -- no traffic lights, wires down, etc.
The storm turned just slightly south of us and so we were spared the surge. We had some damage from flying debris from the construction site next door -- plywood sheets all over the yard, destroyed the pool cage and dinged the roof a bit -- but we're ok and count ourselves as blessed. Thinking of all the neighbors and friends who were not so lucky.
No power yet. Portable generator is running the fridge and one small AC unit. Watching old DVDs and trying to rest, recover, and get ready to clean up.
Thanks again to all those who helped us and who have inquired after our safety. Tomorrow is another day.
