S2K Hurricane Grief Relief - Share your stories and feelings

[Mattie]

I have been through countless hurricanes, Betsy and Camille to name just two biggies, and I thoroughly understand that you do talk about your experiences with anyone that can share your feelings, remember the smells, remember the sound of the winds, etc.

There are LOTS of posters here who cannot understand totally what actually takes place - from preparation to storm to aftermath.

Since everyone returns to the board for information, etc., maybe we should have a topic here, (although a *bit* off topic) so while you read you can have one thread that you can come back to and express your feelings and have people that have been there share your pain, anguish, fear an whatever else you might have coming your way in relation to hurricane effects.

This might prevent some negativity and negate some remarks if you can get an understanding, caring answer. The mods may boot the idea - but I think it will keep the other topics flowing.

Just my two cents - (I'm running out of pennies).

[Taffy]

I will bite. Been through Charley and now Frances and up and coming Ivan. I am in South West Florida. On the coast. Cape Coral, Pine Island/Punta Gorda area.

Charley was amazing and we were lucky with 100 mph winds while it decimated Punta Gorda 20 miles up the road. I was nervous, but calm. I was awed by the damage it did in my neighborhood. The wind was remarkable and non stop. But, it wasn't what I imagined it would be. We lost power for 4 days. A long time, but not as long as others. Lost all the food in the fridge. Didn't realize I would need Ice. It didn't occur to me that we would be out. No phone. No A/C No way to live. But, in retrospect, not horrible.

Frances was a tropical storm for us. But we boarded up because we expected more.

The boards are still up. The darkness is taking a toll on my psyche. The constant vigilance is taking a toll. Seeing the destruction in my state and knowing FULL WELL that this could happen to me soon.

I want to cry, but I don't. I have small children to protect and I can only do so much and leave the rest to God. I have two dogs and I can't run to a shelter. My house is OLD and made of wood and reminds me of a box of toothpicks. I have a 150 ft tree in the back yard. It tried to pull out of the ground with Charley, and I am tripping over the roots. What if it falls on the house? If I run, where do I go? The options in the state are slim.
I am SICK of eating hurricane food. I don't stock up on freezer food because it is a waste of money. All this worry is constant. No one can get the repairs done on their houses, because tons of people haven't even seen an adjuster, let alone a check. FEMA help is months away for most people. Contractors are booked out for months, just on estimates alone. You can FEEL the powerlessness in the air. The constant interruptions to school is taking a toll on my kids. The routine is not set, the boards on the windows, the pantry doesn't have the usual food. Their friends have lost the outside toys they play on. All they here from the adults is Hurricane this and that.
I am in Florida because my family moved here 26 years ago. I am tied to this place through family and friends. Where would I go? It isn't greener anywhere else. So, here I stay and pray that if we die, we all die at once so that no one is left behind to suffer alone.

That is the end of my depressing vent.
THanks
Taffy

[tracyswfla]

I am scared and I am leaving on Saturday.

[bosag]

lets just say, its emotionally draining

Barb

[hibiscushouse]

Can any of you without power for so long, offer any recommendations that most of us might overlook? I have three kids, so I'm thinking of how it would be trying to feed them for weeks at a time without power. What am I missing in my hurricane kit?
Any "I should of had, wish I had, need to have next time" advice?
Me? I found with Frances that the battery operated lanterns/lamps worked better than flashlights and/or candles. I only had one, but will be purchasing as many as I can find.
But, how are you feeding your children for so many weeks? How are you heating things up?

[ncbird]

We have a little 2 burner camping stove that uses the small propane bottles. Of course it must be used outside, but its small enough that it is easy to use right outside the door, and is great for heating up canned foods. We also have a rechargable latern, and one of those powersupplies you can plugged into cigarette lighter to convert the power. Works great for charging up the lantern. Plug it in during the day to charge and will last all night.

[betsy65freddy79]

Frances was my 6th hurricane - Betsy & Cleo (in Homestead), Frederick & Elena (In Mobile), Josephine & now Frances in WPB area. Found that MWatkins topic with preparation steps really covered a lot of necessary items. For hurricanes, I also have water-proof, battery operated coleman lanterns (better light), battery operated fans, clip on booklight, radio that is hand crank and solar powered, as well as battery operated, propane cook stove, sterno with sterno stove, heavy duty plastic tarps. Make as much ice as I can in icemaker prior to storm, then do not open freezer for as long as possible after power goes out. Also, if there is breeze blowing and no power after hurricane, wetting a sheet and hanging it in a window with the breeze coming through helps cool it off a little. We had no power for 3 weeks after Frederick, so you do learn to live without it. On my list of things to get is a battry operated television. Must admit, this hurricane season has worn me out!!! Thanks to this board, I've managed to keep my cool.

[fortmyerseng]

Opal and Charley.

opal got me while i was in college, so i got drunk and partied at the fraternity house. we got a piece of plywood and cut it into a surfboard and tried to surf in the pool behind the house. after the storm we were out of class for like two weeks and that was fun. but we had no water no power and no food, to make it worse the girls couldn't even shower and put on make up. they start getting really ugly after no shower and no make up for a while.

charley went just north of me as i live in south fort myers. I got drunk and ran around in the parking lot during the storm so friends back in alabama (who were also drinking as it was a friday and all) could hear the wind and rain. rain blowing at really fast speeds hurt when they hit bare skin.

so basically i get a lot of bourbon (and some good ole dr. pepper to wash it down) for the storm, but opal taught me to get plenty of bottled water, and foods that you can eat without really cooking. we did get some charcoal before charley so after the storm we could go grill our food before it went bad.

[bosag]

I have 4 kids myself, 17, 9. 4.5. and 2 yr old, I have lots of canned fruit, mac/cheese, ramen noodles, canned meat, (Walgreens has canned ham and roast beef-pricey but works) vienna sausage. I am freezing as much as I can. When we are finished w/ a bottle of juide, I make Kool-aid and freeze that. My youngest is still nursing, so I dont have to worry about him liquid-wise. We had brought a case of soy milk at Costco, that works in a pinch for cereal, pancakes, etc.. If your kids are picky (I know mine are esp the 17 yr old). I tell them to deal w/ it, they are lucky to have food. If you have room, you may want to cook pasta or rice and freeze in ziplock bags, so as not to use water later on.

HTH Barb in Jupiter

[Guest]

If you can't do the canned meat thing, you can get your protein from peanuts and other nuts. If a storm is headed your way, start making ice like crazy. You can fill up tupperware, ziploc bags, anything that will hold water and freeze it. You can even put some of your bottled water in the freezer. Make sure you have plenty of coolers if you plan on trying to keep anything cold or save much. I ended up having to throw out everything in our fridge and freezer TWICE this month because of the ice shortage. And if you can afford a generator, they are awesome. You can hook up your fridge, some lights, heck even a window a/c unit if you have one. But make sure you stock up on PLENTY of gas before the storm. My mom's generator took 12 gallons per day to run 24 hours. Also, if you get a generator, make sure to use it outdoors. Don't let the fumes get into your house. One more note about generators, make sure when you add more gas to it that you turn the unit off first. Some idiot down the road left it on while pouring gas in it and it exploded last night! Nobody was hurt, thank God, but part of their house was damaged. HTH someone.
...Jennifer...

[bosag]

I forgot to add something. Ground up Flax seed makes a great egg subsititue,(not to eat, but to use in baking).

Mix 1 tblspn of flaxseed to 3 tblspn of water, cook until it jells up and use in any recipe calling for eggs. (pancakes, breads etc). This is equal to one egg. Adds fiber to keep you regular too! LOL!

Barb

[seaswing]

I was born here, lived here all my life (45) years. The world is changing and I firmly believe that the magnitude of the storms. I listened to Frances... I tried to decipher which way the wind was coming from because it was dark and I couldn't see. I know tornados will sound like a freight train when they are coming......this storm never let up on the fright train sound. I would hear it coming from the ne and then from the sw. It was everywhere..... I heard tress crack and fall, I heard transformers pop...all night. When I did manage to fall asleep, I was awakened by a gust of wind hammering at my tin roof. I could hear the wind making it rattle. I live in an old home, built in 1927. I solice myself by saying..... "this ole' house has seen many winds and it has withstood all these years" but this year is different and I can't deny it..... I have never left because of a storm, because I AM INLAND! but inland brings it's own set of destruction. Tornados, lack of planning, supplies don't get here as quickly~ because we are INLAND and its safer here! If Ivan comes this way as projected by the NHC at 11 am. Even if it is a cat 1or 2, I am leaving....don't know where is safe, maybe Minnesota?

[njoynit]

you can get cans of canned heat.
after storm collect wood,can make a pit to cook in
I've made coffee on grill sealing coffee in coffee filter,course they make those now.Gas grill is a must or charchoal& keep plenty of charchoal.Gas lanterns or battery powered.cards.games.books.a radio.ear plugs.I went through one when was 16 and would have killed for a pair.sm medical kit.stuff to treat cuts& thread& needle,medical tape gauze alchoal/peroxide hydro creame bug repellant.If in area with snakes.have a gun& keep bullets dry plastic tarps nails.you may not find that stuff to repair with after a storm.
I'd consider adding a hurricane safe room if lived in hurricane prone area.
oh have a gas grill you fry foods in pan of grease.If got kids a great thing would be a battery opperated tv vcr combo like the kind that RVers use can convert to 12 volt also& run on car battery.And yeah a generator is great,but gotta stock on desil& gas.and the more stuff hooked up the more fuel they use.I won't part with mine.we just leave it in garage and run extension cords to it.hate the pull start.I have to jump it off.Itraded my comp for it when got new dell.best trad I ever done.
water heater has water,can buy a 55 gallon trashcan and hook a water facet to it with a short house and turn for water.stock up on soadas,beer juice.Be drunk when eye wall hits.

IMO....camp cook stoves suck.my luck is can runs out while cooking half done.gas grill or charchoal is the way to go.chuncky charchoal burns longer.
you can freeze water in milk ugs and use in cooler

[FloridaDiver]

There are LOTS of posters here who cannot understand totally what actually takes place - from preparation to storm to aftermath.

I couldn’t agree more… I’m a Native Floridian, born in 1960 so I have lived through many storms; most memorable of course was Andrew in 92. I lived in the lower part of Dade County, South of Cutler Ridge next to Black Point Marina. We were in the “zone” so to speak and experience the core of Andrew. 12 years later I still have nightmares, the sound of the wind, watching my house crumble around me, and a well protected house I though after paying big bucks for high end shutters, problem was the garage door, when that went I didn’t have a prayer.

The storm experience was unforgettable; the hardships of the aftermath were incomprehensible. The stifling heat during the day and night, there was no wind for days after the storm! Waiting in line for hours on end just to get a bag of ice, no running water, electric, phone, cell towers down so the cell phone was useless, no car since it sat upside down in what was left of the garage. Could not get supplies locally since the majority of business were wiped out, the looters sifting through business and homes, the gawkers from other areas driving down to view the damage clogging what little streets were open, the inconsiderate businesses that came down and price gouged everything including basic supplies, the rip-off roofers and other contractors who took advantage of a bad situation, unemployed because you employer got flattened, and stuck with a BIG bill because either one was under insured or their insurance company went belly up. Last but not least was the smell, ahhhhh after a week it was nauseating!

After a month this I gave up and sold what was left of my home to real-estate investors that were buying up damaged property.

This was Andrew, it sucked! For those that think hurricanes are “cool”, get on your hands and knees and pray hard, pray VERY hard to whomever you worship so that you do not have to experience this hell on earth either.