Thursday, August 24, 2017

Harvey


So, that pissant tropical storm Harvey that formed in the Atlantic and then meandered around Cuba et al and up into the Gulf of Mexico finally decided it wanted to be a hurricane once it was headed in my direction. Thanks.

It has wavered back and forth between Corpus Christie, south and west of us and Matagorda, the beach I drive to when I want to go to the beach. It's basically a straight shot for about 60 miles from there to Wharton. Most of the day they have been predicting landfall for a little east of Corpus Christie. Last report I got from Marc it was headed for Matagorda, landfall predicted for Saturday. Great.

This will be our first hurricane in this house. Since it's been 9 years since the last hurricane in this area, Ike, we are due for one. We rode out three direct hits in the old city house but that house was over a hundred years old, built with first cut timber and full measurement boards, shiplap on both sides of all the walls, and that wood was so hard you couldn't drive a nail into it. Also we were fortunate not to ever have a tree fall on our house. So now, we are preparing, as much as we ever do, for a hurricane here.

Gas up the cars, bring in all the tall and gangly and small and medium pot plants or snug them up in a protected corner, 


take down all the wind chimes and bird houses, 

plus the three over at the shop

bring in all the totems and plate flowers, 


bring in the chairs and up end the patio table...basically anything that can be blown away or broken, stake a few things in the ground, get kitty litter for the cat. We don't bring in 'provisions'. Usually the biggest inconvenience is losing electricity and since we don't have a generator there's nothing we can do about that besides cross our fingers and deal with it if it happens. I did buy a 32 pack of bottled water just because it was so cheap and an extra loaf of bread.

Right now it's the calm before the storm, cooler than it has been and still, sky fairly clear yet.


edit:  Friday morning, as of now, it's aimed at Port O'Conner, about 30 miles down the coast from Matagorda, a category 2 storm that they expect to continue to strengthen until it makes landfall sometime tonight or early Saturday. Currently a gentle rain and no wind here.

edit:  At 4:30 it is raining lightly and breezy though earlier we had some heavy rain and higher winds. It comes in bands.




21 comments:

  1. I sure am thinking about you. I know how you're feeling and it's not great. You'll be fine, I'm sure, but the waiting is hell.

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    1. as long as we don't lose electricity and a big branch from the big oak next to the house doesn't fall we should be fine.

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  2. You know what you're doing and you're gonna be okay. You are seasoned so you know how to prepare for a hurricane that moves inland. Rain! Watching this from dry Oregon.

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    1. we really do need the rain, just not 12" - 15" all at once.

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  3. OMG Ellen FREAK!!! Sounds like you are an old hand at this and looks like you know exactly how to prepare, I hope it runs out of steam before it arrive at your house!

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    1. it will weaken some as it has to travel about 60 miles over land to get to us.

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  4. I hope you are on the good side - the side that doesn't get as much rain. Looks like you've done it all. I know someone at the beach that has to carry everything upstairs. Crossed fingers that it peters out before landfall.

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    1. I'm pretty sure we'll be on the wet side unless it moves much farther east.

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  5. I sympathize, living near coastal CT. It's a lot of work bringing things in to be protected and tying down anything that might fly around.
    Stay safe and I hope you don't get as much rain as predicted.
    And why is the worst almost always at night?

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    1. right?! they always want to come ashore at night.

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  6. Looks like you're ready. I hope it turns out to have been unnecessary.

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  7. Such a lot of work to protect all those things we love, and will defiantly put back when the storm passes. A fine metaphor for life. Just keep on.

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  8. sounds like you are prepared as well as you can. my thoughts are with the whole area. being land locked and living in the desert, all I can do is send good thoughts. xoxo Oma Linda

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  9. Tough to wonder if you will get hit. Lots of prep, hope you stay safe

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  10. Oof - nerve wracking! And that's a lotta totems & chimes :)

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  11. A guy who's a seasoned hurricane tracker has a camera set up in Port O'Connor, with a live feed on UStream. It will be up until the batteries fail, or it goes under water. It's interesting to see the storm live -- without any media blathering. You can find the stream here. I've been down there a good bit. Looks like their POCO Bueno fishing tourney has turned into POCO no bueno.

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    1. I saw they called for mandatory evacuation in Shoreacres. did you get out? Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

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  12. I'm praying that you will be safe. Please taker care.

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  13. You have been on my mind all day. Hoping you are safe and ride out the storm with few problems. Mother Nature....

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  14. Hey Ellen, I should have thought of this sooner, but if you feel like making a run for it, we would be happy to put you guys (and the cat) up in our apartment.

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    1. thanks Brenda! we're good here since it made landfall further west of us.

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