- Hurricane Ike
It seems to be our lot in life that every time we plan major events, external circumstances get in the way.
Yes, we know all about challenges. We’ve decided to make the best of things, however. Since all the schools have closed, including the one I attend, the one where my husband works, and my sons’, we’re going ahead with a small “just us” pre-party on September 12th since we’ll all be home, and if we have to evacuate, at least they’ll know what they received as gifts. I’ve got a frozen yogurt cake in the freezer, and we plan to eat it all before the electricity goes out, which it is almost guaranteed to do.
The last time a major hurricane came through our area, three years ago during Rita, we panicked. We had only lived in Texas a few weeks. Coming from the Los Angeles area, where a natural disaster meant “earthquake,” we figured better safe than sorry, so we did what two million other people decided to do and evacuated early. Twelve hours on congested freeways, four days in hotels, and several hundred dollars later, we learned the wisdom of the words “shelter in place.” And now we have a pet to worry about as well, a sixty-pound Aussie Shepard mix who we are not leaving behind (most shelters and hotels won’t take pets). Besides, it really is safer to stay than to run unless one lives in the low-lying surge zones, which we do not. So, we’re hoping for the best and planning for the worst. We’ve got canned food, snacks, bottled water, flashlights and batteries-heck, we’ve even got two battery-operated table fans (which, when one lives in ninety-five degree weather with high humidity and West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes, can be very important. We can’t open our windows-those flying bloodsuckers find a way through the screens and will carry you off to the next county).
Here are a few things I’ve learned about life from living in hurricane territory:
- There will be high winds, and they will come your way. Not every year, but at some point, they will come. If they didn’t this year, there is always next year. Be prepared for the worst, and if it doesn’t happen, be grateful and give thanks.
- Pray for those who were in the path of the worst of the storm when it moved away from you, because if you didn’t get it, someone else did.
- Be generous to others who can’t take care of themselves. If you have something to give that you can spare, give it before it is asked.
- Accept help. Let others be a blessing to you in this way. Give them a chance to do good and feel great about it.
- Know what is important: family first, friends next, and then your stuff. Your stuff you can replace.
- Figure out what you can carry with you, and leave the rest behind. Know what needs to stay and what needs to go, and take action.
- Always keep your gas tank full. Metaphorically and literally. This could mean filling the trust and love tank with your friends and family because you never know when the worst will happen and you’ll need to draw on that tank.
What about you? Has life taught you any lessons you’ve learned through challenges?
TJ Bennett
www.tjbennett.com
THE LEGACY (available now) When secrets destroy, can love live on?
THE PROMISE (May 2009) In a dangerous world, sometimes the greatest
risk is love….
September 12, 2008 at 6:41 am
Hi TJ,
I love your list, it’s like a checklist for life, not just storm preparation.
Renee
September 12, 2008 at 8:15 am
Great post, TJ. Living in earthquake territory (in Seattle), we’re always reminded to have a disaster preparedness kit too. We’re always reminded that we could have “the Big One” at any time.
September 12, 2008 at 9:29 am
Hunker down and be safe. My Clear Lake kids have evacuated to North Texas but who knows if their house will still be there when it’s over. Like I’ve said before, I’ll deal with my little tornados.
September 12, 2008 at 11:16 am
Great post TJ, You guys take care there in Texas. Maybe you will get lucky and it won’t be as bad as they think. We are praying for you. Where I live we have to deal with a few tornados but that is about it. We have had very dry weather this year, so send us some of your rain.
Please take care.
September 12, 2008 at 11:17 am
To your hubby and boys a
GREAT BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
September 12, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Well, this will be one memorable bday for your guys anything. Stay safe. We’re sheltering in place, too, neighbor, so if you need anything, let me know.
September 12, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Hey T.J.
Happy birthday to your three special guys. Hope you don’t have to suffer too much from Ike. I just read up on his progress, looks like it’s going to be a wild ride. Hang on!
Loved the seven points you made.
September 12, 2008 at 2:28 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with the people in the path of Hurricane Ike.
September 12, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Thanks, everyone. And Colleen, right back atcha.
We celebrated the guys’ birthday today, and it went quite well. I’m rather proud of myself that I pulled everything together and they each got something they a) had asked for and b) weren’t expecting (I surprised each of them with something special). My professor husband was overjoyed with his DVD MEDIEVAL LIFE by former Monty Python member Terry Jones, and we sat and watched it for an hour before we got up to gather our important papers together for our hurricane kit. Hope to stuff it all back in the file cabinet after this is done…sigh.
TJB
September 12, 2008 at 5:57 pm
TJ! I was thinking about you and all the other Texans in the path of Ike just last night. Your post was timely! Hope you are all okay and stay that way. I love your list and am thinking about printing it out!
September 12, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Paper is cheap, Maria. Print away!
September 12, 2008 at 9:27 pm
TJ, I’m, watching that storm carefully, and thinking of all my friends in the Houston area. Hoping and praying you all, and everyone, come through safely. I’ve lived in tornado country most of my life, and now in an earthquake prone area. I like the earthquakes better.
September 14, 2008 at 7:50 pm
TJB…I hope you and your “boys” are all safe. I haven’t heard a thing about Elaine. I have a feeling you were both in a bad place and so were Elaine’s daughters…Friendswood, Santa Fe and Katy. Elaine was in Memorial, all by herself. Good luck and hugs to your gang, Rae
September 15, 2008 at 8:33 am
Just a quick note, folks. We made it through the storm, although our neighborhood was hit hard. Lots of downed trees and power lines. Absolutely no power, maybe for weeks. My family and I have evacuated after the storm to Dallas for a couple of days to charge our computers, use the internet, and get cell phone coverage. We had NO contact with the outside world (cell and regular phones down), and after the ice ran out, we figured it was time to take our fully gassed minivan out of the area. Roads were busy, but we made it out (we waited a couple days for all the trees across the roads to be chopped up.) An enormous oak tree between us and our neighbor’s house decided to fall right instead of left, sparing us but taking out their garage and four cars parked in front. There but for the grace of God…
I’m afraid many folks had trees on their homes or damage to their residences. Those south of Houston and in Galveston hit the hardest, but I heard of damage to my cousin’s place all the way up in Bryan, and Huntsville was without power as well. Yikes! No clue how we will get along if the power doesn’t return in a couple of days when we get back. Can’t afford he hotel life indefinitely…not to mention we have to go back to jobs and schools at some point. Keep your fingers crossed that the predictions of 2-4 weeks with no electricity are being exaggerated!
TJB