Thanks Storm2K members

[jes]

I want to thank all of you for your help prior to Ivan. I was completely prepared prior to this storm because of you. On Sunday I made reservations in Montgomery --- just in case needed --- Not many other people in Mobile had reservations that early. If I had waited I would not have been able to leave. All my grocery shopping was done early so no long lines for me. I hired a guy to purchase, cut and board all my windows. I didn't want to (and didn't plan to) leave because of my cats and elderly parents. My dad weights 275 lbs, is 83 years old and is in a wheelchair so getting him in my van is impossible without help. Leaving just seemed to hard. Tuesday night I was up until 2:00 in the morning reading your post to get a handle on where Ivan would go and at what strength. Winds were supposed to start by noon the next day so I knew I HAD to decide whether to go or stay. Late that night Sir Cain and others posts finally convinced me of the danger -- at that time Ivan was to come up the Al/Ms boarder--I live in West Mobile which would have been directly east of the eye. You finally got it through my head that this could be much worse than Frederick. I got up at 6:00,a.m., packed a quick bag, called fire rescue to get my dad in the van and was in Montgomery by 11:00. The relief I felt after getting out of Mobile was tremendous. I know the storm damage in Mobile is minor because Ivan turned a little east prior to landfall. Noone can ever predict where a storm will go until it is too late to get out. I don't regret leaving at all even though I would have been fine at home. Never again will I procrastinate. Its crazy, the power and phone lines went out in Montgomery early Thursday morning and never did come back on before I left on Friday morning. When we got back to Mobile I had power, cable, phone and not even a big limb from my Oak trees had come down. This board has been a great help to me - the help provided involves life and death and I again would like to thank all of you.

[MBismyPlayground]

OMG....SO glad you are alright. I was seriously worried about you and how you fared through this all. Glad you are OKay

[jes]

It was your true concern that convinced me.

[Terry]

Jes - Sooooo glad to hear you got out and are Ok. We were worried about you!

Did your parents do Ok with the evacuation and how about your kitties?

Thanks for updating us!

[DaylilyDawn]

Jes, so glad that you are safe! It is better to be prepared prior to the storm than waiting till the last minute to prepare. I have ridden out both Charley and Frances recently and the only damgage we received was the loss of a tree I had planted and our TV antenna. Before Charley had formed in the Atlantic, my hubby had removed limbs from the tree we lost that had been touching the house . When the tree went down, it fell alongside the house without damaging it. The pre-removal of the limbs ensured that there would be no damage to the house.

[jes]

My parents did fine, but I couldn't leave them. Mom didn't realize she was in Montgomery and tried to let her dog out in the middle of the night (she thought she was at home with a fenced yard) Dad couldn't get into the bathroom. I plan to call cities 150 miles East, South and West of Mobile to locate motels that provide rooms for the handicapped and will accept dogs. So next time our trip will be easier.
My cats behavior was interesting. When my husband was dying we sought medical care in another city and had to be gone from home for a week. When we got home the cats seemed a little happy, but really didn't act any different. This time when I walked into the house I couldn't find my 19 yr old cat anywhere. I called and called and he didn't come. That was very different behavior for him. I finally found him hidden in the back of my closit. Ivan had hit 36 hours earlier so I can't believe he was still scared from the noise. I think the problem was that the cats lived in total darkness for two days. I had all the windows boarded so the house was completely dark even during the day. They were all much happier to see me this time -- they wouldn't leave my side for the first couple of hours.

[Stephanie]

I'm glad that everything worked out well for you jes!

[Chilly_Water]

Great to see you're ok, Jes.

[HurricaneGirl]

jes, Glad to hear you and your loved ones are okay!

[LAwxrgal]

Glad to hear you and your loved ones made it through the storm!

[ncbird]

Soooo happy to hear your ok.

[Guest]

Jes, this is what the forums, websites, and shows are all about. To help people be better prepared for the worst that mother nature can throw at us.
I'm so very happy your ok, as well as the rest of your family.
As for the cats, they can become extremely stressed in a situation like that, and will crawl up inside furnature even to try to escape the terror. We normally take them with us in pet carriers, and also the canines, but those get a little tanqualizer to help them deal with the stress.
Glad your home where it's safe, bright, and cozy!!

[Rainband]

I agree Bob and I too am glad you and yours are ok Jes.

[jes]

Barameter Bob,
I know, I felt terrible not taking my cats. They were the primary reason that I was not leaving. With my two parents, their dog. my dads wheelchair and walker and everything else there just wasn't room for 3 cats. One of them is wild and I can't even pick him up. Tranqilizers sometimes have the opposit affect on cats - makes them hyper. I know because my husband was a veterinarian. I said this board was responsible for my decision to leave. The board was right. My final rational was (1). there is no way my house can ever flood so the cats are probably OK (2) very well built brick house so maybe it won't blow down unless a tornado hits it (3) if roof blows off cats will probably be safer than me because they will be under sturdy funiture (4) if I stay and roof blows off how can I help the cats - I'll be busy helping myself and my parents. (4) even if I had had room for them they may have died from heart failure with an unfamiliar dog and surroundings for two days. Because the house will never flood and probably would survive a severe hurricane I decided my beloved cats would probably be safe. This board however, helped me decide that I should not take this chance with my own life or my parents life. It was a hard, hard, hard decision. I did not want to leave them ---

[Lindaloo]

I took all my animals, including my fish. They left town before me though. I had advised my family not to let a certain two cats out of their pet carriers and they did anyway. They found out real quick why I asked them not to. lol. Total chaos when I arrived in LaGrange.

My big dogs and horses were 70 miles inland with their veterinarian. Although, I have NO clue how I am going to get the bright red nail polish (painted phone numbers) off the hooves of the horses.

[DaylilyDawn]

Lindalo, you can use fingernail polish remover on the hooves, it is just like our fingernails.

[Lindaloo]

Yeah, their vet said non acetone remover. But, I doubt they will let him remove it. Which means I have to go do it.

[iluvseashore]

Jes,

Glad you are ok. I was thinking of you too. I know how hard it was for you to leave your animals and no one faults you for your decision. I also know the relief you felt when you got you and yours out of harms way. I felt the same way when we left for Charley. Even though we didn't get hit here in Clearwater I don't regret leaving. That was a late turn Chaley made and we were just very lucky. When my Schnauzer is in a stressful situation I use liquid drops to help her stay calm called Rescue Remedy. Its completely safe is used here at the Seabird Santuary. You can find it at any heath food or vitiman store.