Back from the Storm

[Dee Bee]

This is possibly the wrong forum (mods, please feel free to adjust) -- and probably more info than y'all want to read-- but I wanted to thank everyone who was joining in positive thoughts for those in the path of Wilma. As my roof tiles were crashing onto my patio/pool and the metal structure of my patio/pool enclosure was wrenching away from the house wall, I could feel those thoughts of safety and protection.

After a few false starts yesterday and today, the power which had gone down ~ 5 a.m. last Monday morning came on here late this afternoon (well before the FPL date of Nov.15, praise God).

Boynton Beach has the distinction of the officially highest recorded winds in Palm Beach County: 118 mph. The damage to my home, particularly as compared to other homes in our small subdivision, suggests a microburst which didn't just blow over our 2-story pool enclosure, but ripped the metal gutters/bracings off the house (pulling chunks of stucco, as well), twisting them, submerg them into the pool and slamming them at (but not through) the neighbor's housewall. Our top roof lost an entire row of concrete capstones and a few flat concrete tiles; most of the capstones bounced onto the garage-level roof, shattering those tiles, before hitting the ground all around the house and others plummeted into the pool, where they're currently sharing space with mangled enclosure bracings, screen, leaves, and other debris.

Most of our front palms and shrubs were stripped of leaves; my gorgeous, large red-flowering tree (name escapes me) was split vertically, and half of it blew away. Another large palm blocked the whole width street in front of our house. Our subdivision gates were blown apart and off their hinges, the metal bars having blown out of them, as well. One of the traffic lights which normally hang in the major intersection about 500' slightly southwest from here lay in the entrance driveway. Throughout the development we lost many more trees and shrubs than we had during either Frances or Jeanne last year.

All the damage occurred after Wilma's eye went past, according to (stupid) neighbors who went out during the eye. Since my husband Kurt is in charge of the EOC as city manager, he had left home Sunday evening and I rode out the storm alone. My cell phone worked until the eye passed; then as I heard the crashing and creaking, I put in earplugs, curled up on top of my bed (should have gone into the walk-in closet, in retrospect), closed my eyes, murmured Unity's prayer for protection, and actually drifted off for a few minutes, I think.

Soon I heard people outside. The only shutter to open from the inside is on our patio door, but the mangled enclosure kept me from being able to exit there. About an hour after the all clear, Kurt and the police chief took an initial damage tour by truck. They stopped outside our community; he picked his way through to our house on foot, opened the front door shutter for me, quickly checked for any gaping holes in the walls/roof, and left. He's been mostly gone since then, stopping at home for an hour or so during the day and sleeping here overnight. Last night he was actually home around 7 p.m. and stayed until 8 a.m.

Since Monday, we had been running a small generator to the refrigerator and a lamp ~ 6 hours on and off per day to conserve fuel. It was wonderful not to hear the "Generator Drone" in the neighborhood this evening!

As my cellphone became more reliable yesterday, I added our name to a roofing company voicemail list and am trying to do the same for a subcontractor to work on removing the enclosure and a landscaper to take down/ trim away the remaining damaged trees not on communal property. Unfortunately, the voicemailboxes of most companies are full already. Callbacks will be a long time coming....

I'm still basically planning to stay at home this coming week since gas lines are still long. I'm grateful that my house is habitable and I can take a hot shower tonight. And I'm actually looking forward to "normal" housework, like starting one load of laundry a day (since citizens are being asked to conserve water to help keep lift station pressure stabilized).

I had taken fall term off as a break, but the budget I had earmarked (pre-Wilma) for a next major project (interior painting and minor remodeling) will now be allocated to whatever insurance won't cover for the roof and patio, as well as for what insurance definitely won't cover: draining and checking the pool for cracks from the falling roof tiles plus landscaping. So I guess it's time to run my resume up the flagpole and see if a college or adult ed center which is closer than my Ft. Lauderdale spot will salute.

I was proud that I didn't have chests pains (the Lexapro I started on 3 years ago for anxiety has passed the supreme test); however, I'm back to using my cane and wearing T.E.D. stockings (so attractive!) as a result of overdoing yard/street triage Monday and Tuesday. But by claiming health and wholeness and concentrating on an "attitude of gratitude" I'm getting around quite well.

Again, thanks for the positive thoughts that I know S2K was sending for everyone in the Yucatan and Florida. I realize my experience doesn't come near to that of Katrina and Rita's victims; nonetheless, I am grateful that my home is habitable and I and my loved ones are safe.

[rainydaze]

God Bless you Dee Bee.....I will be praying for you and your husband.

[Radar]

Dee Bee, so glad to hear you have electricity and that your home was spared and you and your family are safe.

[gatorcane]

possible Gamma will get very close to FL later this week I'm afraid....start paying attention to it.

[fci]

Welcome back Dee!

We had a similar experience in West Boynton/Lake Worth but my home did not fare nearly as badly as yours, I think.
2 story enclosure lying in the pool sharing space with the roof tiles and unknown damage to the pool (dependent on what the aftermath of the twisted metal etc... coming out of the pool!)

You may want to check around to see if anyone who is collecting the metal from enclosures is cruising your development. They collect the metal and get money for it at the recycling place. My neighbor is checking with someone who may come out and remove it for free since they will sell the scrap.

The Boynton Beach Mall is open if you care to venture outside!
I own a store there and it seems that traffic is picking up since it opened on Friday.

Glad you are OK as is my family albeit with the damage.


And Chris:
STOP taking about a Gamma storm!!!
I refuse to accept anymore this season.

[MiamiensisWx]

What were the strongest winds reported from Boca Raton during Wilma? I got some very strong winds (including powerful and continuous gusts) in my area in eastern Boca Raton.

Any thoughts?

[gatorcane]

I wasn't here for the storm

[MiamiensisWx]

It was simply incredible in my area. The winds were strong and persevering, with a huge amount of very strong gusts. I estimate that at least some of the gusts (at least) were over 100MPH; unfortunately, I don't have a private wind measuring machine (anemometer) or weather station to have measured those winds. I wish I did, though, because it was amazing.

Any thoughts on winds from those who stayed in Boca Raton during Wilma?

[gatorcane]

Boca-Delray was one of the hardest hit in S. Florida but yet the media doesn't mention this because they concentrate on larger areas like Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.