Saturday, October 5, 2024

Hurricane Helene 2

 

all of this was in our driveway the next morning.

The next day, our yard was covered in debris and limbs, the pool was full of the same, the back yard covered entirely. no trees down and I was so thankful for that. I cleared the mess above while bob worked on the pool, it is more than i can do to lift limbs and things out of the pool. 

As I stood staring at the mess, I realized we could not back out of the garage because the drive was full of oak limbs. I also went into panic mode when I realized our huge, new heavy hurricane double door is electric.  2 years ago it was taken out by hurricane Ian and replaced with this. I cannot lift it and thought bob could not either. I was wrong, he did get it open, I backed the car out and went to find ice and when i came home he wanted to close my car in the garage. I refused; my Kia lived outside for 3 days until power came back.

It took us 6 days, the two of us working 2 hours a day, to clean it all up. 
I learned that if you use a rake and pitchfork you will struggle to get out of bed each morning but after 4 days in a row, on day 5 and 6 you will not be sore. 

After the power came back

3 Sweaty gowns, 5 sweaty underpants, 3 sweaty Bob tank shirts, were washed with the sheets/pillowcases, TOGETHER, for the first ever time in my entire LONG LIFE. (we are still under water conserve, use washers/dishwashers/flushing only if you have to, no watering, filling pools etc, turn off water while brushing teeth/take short showers) because our sewers and water pump facilities are overwhelmed and already so much water, we can't add to it.

Helene is # 9 hurricane we have been through in my 40 years here. the first was Elena and in 1985. We moved here in 1989 and since then have been through. In all of those we had the same clean up and some was more, 2 took down trees, but we never had damage to our house.

This one was the scariest but might have been because we are both in our 80's and unable to cope as well. After all the others we cleaned it all up in 1 to 2 days.

these are all labels of our trials by hurricane. From the bottom of the west coast of FL to the top of the state, the beaches are devastated. We live 7 miles from our beaches and the storm surge has shut down every west coast beach there is, many drowned in their homes. 

and now we await Hurricane Milton, who is speeding across the Gulf of Mexico aimed right at the big blue dot which is US... Ready, Aim, Fire! 




I AM NOT BACK ON THE BLOG TRAIN YET, I WANTED THIS FOR MY FUTURE REFERECNES AND WILL DO 1 OR 2 MORE. I JUST AM NOT ABLE TO READ AND COMMENT ON OTHERS BLOG AND THIS IS MORE FOR MY INFO THAN THE PUBLIC.  

WE ARE FINE.        


21 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Whatever the new hurricane brings, it cannot be as bad as Helene. It was the worse in something like 100 years. I'm glad you only worked 2 hours a day!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Right old mess, eh? Horrid that there's another on the way. Praying it peters out before it reaches you... YAM xx

Ann said...

I can't imagine what it must be like to go through all of that. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Helene sure did leave a mess behind. The important thing is you Bob and Beau were all safe. You were smart to take your time cleaning up, I hurt just thinking about all the clean up work.
I do pray Milton will not be so bad for you. Take care!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Lots of work to be sure, especially for two octogenarians. And looks like Milton is barreling down on you. Stay safe and evacuate if you need to.

Rose said...

I know you will be glad when hurricane season is over..the cleanup woukd be awful.

Mevely317 said...

Thank you for journaling these first-person hours spent in H***. 80 y/o or not, I think the two of you are remarkable.
Please, at least consider evacuating if Milton strengthens. Central Alabama's a pretty nice place to be this time of year (*wink*).

My Mind's Eye said...

Sandra dag gone back to back worries I'm so sorry.
Rest while you can and I pray no wind just rain which is bad enough.
Hugs Cecilia

DawnTreader said...

I'm impressed that Bob still managed the pool, and that garage door - and you all that job in the yard!

Debby said...

Oh Sandra - Life can be so hard at times but God is good always. Keep your eyes upon Jesus.

Chatty Crone said...

This hurricane was horrific. I am so very sorry for your losses. I can't believe another one is coming right at you. I have you in my heart and prayers for sure.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

You two have been through so much. So sorry about the clean up you had to do but so thankful you were okay. Also the things you have to limit now. I am now worried about the next one coming through. I pray you guys will be okay and my family too. ((HUGS))

Linda P said...

I'm sorry to hear about hurricane season and all the mess and upheaval it creates. Very scary I can only imagine it and pray for your safety. Take care Sandra, Bob and Beau.

Linda said...

Love and prayers....
I'm still praying for your family in Georgia....

Susan Kane said...

wow. You are getting set for the 2nd inning. Reading about and watching the impact Helene had on an uncounted number of lives reminds me that we are not in control, never have been. Thankfully, God is.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

You are very much in my thoughts and prayers as Milton heads your way. He will probably visit us as well, but not with as much force as where you are. I know, the older we get, the harder it is to get through these things. They are very traumatic. Praying hard that it either dies or turns further away from already damaged areas. Sending you (((hugs))). Please just take care of yourself. One day at a time.

Tigger's Mum said...

I can't believe how you cope with all this. I would be digging myself a storm cellar I think - a big hole to hide in. But then there's the flooding to think about... oh heck and there is snow and avalanches on mountains (and sand storm in deserts) - where does one run to?

CheerfulMonk said...

I'm so sorry you had to go through it, but I'm glad it wasn't worse, and I'm glad you paced yourself on the cleanup. Fingers crossed about Milton and the future.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Hugs from all of us. I'm right there with you. We have worked every single day to get the limbs and tree debris raked up and just finished today. We have a brush pile about 10 feet high. Y'all be safe.

Shug said...

Oh goodness...so sorry that you all have had all this damage. The cleaning up can be very difficult. Praying for you all in the path of this next hurricane...I know it is a very active hurricane season and sure praying that is there are any more, they go out away from any land. Take care. so sad the damage that Helene has done and so many lives loss.

DeniseinVA said...

This is awful! I am so sorry about all this and now with Milton heading your way. I heard that there are going to be evacuations. Will you be part of this? Sending you lots of hugs and prayers.