As I write, Irma has come and gone. She was an uninvited guest but has thankfully has faded away. About a year ago, a different hurricane, Matthew, had threatened my area, but it had weakened into “just a bad storm” and didn’t cause too much damage in central Florida. Not Irma. She came with a vengeance and brought tornadoes, torrential rain, and 70 mph winds.
I had moved into an older house in an older neighborhood about two months previously, and the electric wires were still above ground, attached to telephone poles. I knew that my little cinder block house would hold, but who knew if the roof or windows would. It was a scary night when Irma blew by. More than once I questioned my move to Florida and specifically to an older house.
The next morning was sunny and calm. I went outside to review the damage. My yards were full of broken branches, palm fronds, and leafy debris. Several small trees had been uprooted and one large tree had uprooted and crashed into my porch roof. I knew some branches were on the roof as I had heard the thuds during the night, but as far as I could tell, the roof was not damaged. I had managed to clear out the last few boxes in the garage enough to fit my car into it for the first time since moving. Good thing as the driveway was blanketed with branches and other debris. More than once I questioned my decision to buy a house with a yard instead of a townhouse or condo.
For some reason, I didn’t truly believe that I’d lose electricity, but Irma won that round. Power went out with a BOOM on Sunday evening. The next days tried my patience sorely. It was about 90° every day plus humidity. AC is not a luxury in the south, but not even fans would help without electricity. I found it hard to breath in the muggy heat and my allergies worsened. Sure, I can live without TV and internet, even lights, for a while, but it’s still a challenge to give up hot meals and my beloved tea. I don’t have camping lanterns or stoves to help out during power outages because I don’t like camping. However, I’m going to fight my minimalist nature and get a few supplies for these kinds of emergencies. More than once I questioned my decision to live in the hot, southern part of the country.
When the power was restored, I was filled with gratitude. Some friends without electricity or water came over to enjoy the cool air, take hot showers, and even sleep. One friend moved in with her little dog, much to Zac the cat’s delight (though the pup ignored his friendly overtures). That was perhaps the biggest challenge—sleeping in a hot, muggy home. Once the AC kicked in, I cooled off, slept better, and calmed down. I stopped questioning my decision to move to Florida and into an older house.
Looking back, I’m thankful that my garage was nearly empty of moving boxes by the time the hurricane threatened. I moved two donation boxes and one box full of kitchen items (waiting for shelves to be built), so there was just enough space for my car. It was easy to move around an uncluttered house with little or no light, and once the power was restored, the AC quickly cooled down my little house. I had to dispose of the food in the refrigerator, but it’s a small one, so I didn’t lose too much. My yards, bigger than I really want, are a mess, but I’m thankful that I hadn’t yet started on a garden or landscaping—silver lining! Life is slowly returning to normal again. I may even begin working in my garden, once I’ve cleaned it up and the hurricane season is truly over.
Thanks, Irma.
RESOURCES
After the Fire: Rebuilding House and Life after a Fire
For resources, go to this page: Resources
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Glad you and your home made it through Irma without too much damaged. My brother-in-law lives in Palm Beach Gardens and was without electricity for almost the exact same time. He said the worst was the heat during those days and night. Like you, the main damage was done to his landscaping, and at 76, he just wasn’t for sure if he was going to try to replant and repair the back yard garden.