A word (or two) about hurricanes

In the summer and fall of 2004 (the year the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years), there were 16 storms of which 4 hurricanes that criss crossed the state of Florida. My first encounter was while staying with my aunt and uncle before I found my own place. Her name was Frances and she took her sweet time doing her thing off the coast before deciding to move inland. It was weird- I had been in storms, but nothing like that. I helped put the storm shutters up and get all of the supplies and listen to the nonstop hurricane updates. The media really knows how to play it up, let me tell you. The hurricane had such low pressure the I slept through it (which was nice.) Soon after, Ivan and Jeanne criss crossed the state in just about the same area. Not good for those who had roof damage from Frances. Kids were happy because we were out of school. Palm Beach County is one of the largest school districts in the country, so if one school is without power, we're all out of school. Luckily the Sox were playing in Tampa Bay so I got to go and see them while waiting to go back to school!

2005 was an even busier year for hurricanes and tropical storms that were in the Atlantic Ocean. There were 28 named storms to be exact, the most in recorded history.

2005 hurricane map

I remember during one hurricane (either 2004 or 2005- I don't remember now), I was in my apartment during a hurricane. I had a big window in my bedroom and my back wall was sliding glass door/window to my patio. The wind was making the back glass door move and I was afraid it might burst or something. So I hid in my bathroom (the safest place). When the eye of the hurricane came, it was quiet- no rain or wind. I heard some people outside so I went out and checked on the damage too. A tree had landed on a neighbors car- so lucky mine was ok! Then the back end of the hurricane started. Thank the good Lord my door had a deadbolt because my door was going to blow in! Scary stuff! Power went out. Driving anywhere was taking your life in your own hands- not many people stop at a stop light that isn't on. Like I've told many people, I'll take a snowstorm over a hurricane any day! You just shovel and keep going! Hurricanes, there's flooding, power outages, heat, bugs. Not fun.

So, to all you hurricane "virgins", there will be wind. There will be rain bands (the arms of the hurricane bring bands of rain). There is the potential for tornadoes. But since this storm has already hit land in North Carolina and Virginia and else where, the most we'll get here in Vermont is wind and rain. And it may be heavy! We might loose power, but we're used to that. The stupid news and other media hypes storms up. Maybe because people aren't prepared and have any lick of common sense ("common sense ain't so common"). You've all made your list and bought out the store with batteries, milk, (why?) water, maybe even a generator (don't use it in your house, please). You'll be fine. Curl up with a good book. Drink a beer or other beverage, and watch the storm.

Just don't get yourself electrocuted after the storm or have carbon monoxide poisoning because you put your grill in your house to cook hot dogs.