Update from Terri in Bermuda

[GalvestonDuck]

Not sure if anyone had posted this or seen this. I'm sure the date is wrong -- September instead of July. But it is the 8th and I suppose the time is correct. Also, here's a link to a map of Bermuda. If you click on St. Georges, you can see the causeway to which she is referring.


- Safe and sound
From: Terri Mello <tmello AT bermudasun.bm>
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 21:10:47 -0300


Hello everyone,
Before I say anything, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and
prayers during the storm. It really touched me to know that so many people
whom I've never met were so concerned. I can't begin to explain just how
much that meant to me. When I arrived at work this morning there were 27
emails in my inbox offering me encouragement. Thank you so very much,
everyone.

As for the storm, it was frightening but exciting as well. Our home is in a
good location so no part of it was damaged. The yard is a different story,
but I am thankful that it was just the yard. We had an enormous tree
completely uprooted. It now lays on its side on top of what used to be a
stone wall. I'm glad it fell that way and not on the house.

The storm passed through a bit earlier than expected - around 6 or so.
Fortunately I was not alone, thanks to your many prayers. A friend of our
family lives in a home overlooking a bay, and he thought it best not to stay
there during the storm. So he stayed at our house. The wind sounded just
like a freight train blowing against the house. We lost electricity around
1:30 or 2pm. My husband was called in for regiment duty on Friday, but he
was able to come back home around noon before the storm hit. I was so glad.
The three of us listened to the radio until the station went out (after the
storm was in full force) then played Scrabble and Monopoly by candlelight
while we listened to the wind.

My husband left again on Saturday morning to help with the island clean up.
Saturday's weather was beautiful - you wouldn't have believed it was so
different than 24 hours previous. It was warm and sunny, with blue skies and
big fluffy white clouds. Everyone was outside tending to their yards, and
though it was disheartening to see all the damage, everyone was generally in
good spirits.

The Bermuda regiment is embodied a minimum of one week, as far as they tell
us. They spent all of Saturday cutting down trees and yesterday they were
sent all over the island to help with various tasks. My husband's group
worked to restore damage to the hospital. This week the regiment will be
working on the government schools that need help (gov't schools are closed
all week).

My house (and so many others) is still without electricity. I've never been
happier to come to work, where there are lights, air conditioning and
running water. I am hoping our lights may come on sometime today, as some
areas around us have power.

The radio was back up and running on Saturday, and I've been listening to it
since then (it's great company). People who were in need of essential items
such as food and water would call the station and request help. It was
amazing to see just how quickly Bermuda answered pleas for help like that.
The radio DJ would give the name of an elderly person who needed water, for
example, and less than 10 minutes later he would come back on the air to
say that person's needs were answered. It was amazing to see this Island
come together like that. The DJ followed up by playing the song, "Bermuda is
Another World" and it honestly almost brought me to tears.

Driving to work today was when it really hit me - the island looks so
different because of all the trees blown this way and that. You can see
certain buildings that you couldn't before because of the trees that used to
hide it. Beautiful trees and plants and flowers are all just gone, vanished,
taken away by the wind. I saw big palm trees in pieces on the side of the
road, and buildings on the harbour in Hamilton missing whole walls and big
chunks of their roofs. The saddest thing I saw was when I passed the Bermuda
National Trust, where there were several enormous cedar trees completely
knocked down or broken in half (the Bermuda Cedar is a very important part
of Bermuda's heritage and great efforts are taken to preserve the Cedar).
Those trees were very old and it's just such a shame.

One of the most significant things that happened was severe damage of the
Causeway - the long bridge that connects the eastern end of the island to
the rest of Bermuda. It is still impassible as far as I know. Everyone out
in St. George's and St. David's is stranded because of this. The airport is
still closed but looks to open soon - perhaps tomorrow.

You may have also heard of the fatalities that occurred during the storm - I
don't think Bermuda has had any deaths due to a hurricane in a very, very
long time. Originally I heard that there were 4 people unaccounted for, and
today's newspaper says that the first body was recovered - they were
policemen.

Thanks again for all your encouragement and prayers during this terrible
storm. It meant so much to us. Your concern was overwhelming. If I learn of
anything else I will write again.

Thanks again,
Terri

[JCT777]

I am glad to hear that Terri was not hurt and that her home has not damaged. Thanks for the update, AFLAC!