We did all that we could. We were as prepared as we could have been. We have 2 cases of bottled water. Tubs and bowls and pitchers are filled and placed strategically all over the house. At this point all is lost in both my fridge and freezer. The Ziplock bags filled with water and frozen have melted and are now leaking all over the place. We have bread and crackers and peanut butter. And flashlights, batteries, and a radio. Books, magazines and wine. We are prepared. We have cash. We have everything we need.
But truthfully nothing can really prepare you for the devastation of a super-storm such as Sandy.
Our power went out at about 5:30 on Monday evening. We were lit and warm and enjoying the shelter of our warm home until then. We overused our internet as we knew we were going to lose it. We baked and played games. And in a flash it was dark. It was beyond dark. And suddenly branches and things started hurling themselves at our house. We could hear it all but we could see nothing. The wind was fast - rushing past us, through trees and leaves with a fury and anger I have never heard before. We huddled together. Our radio was on, flashlights going strong. Candles on the mantel.
This was the first storm I've been through as a single mother. To be terrified but not to show it would prove hard. My daughter was scared too. We were all a bit on edge, acting out. Wanting this dreadful thing over. Why is everything worse at night? Why does nighttime heighten our senses?
A good night's sleep would help us all. My daughter went into her room. My computer still had power and my phone was charging from it. I could be in touch with the outside world. This was a bad storm. This storm was worse than bad. I'd heard that a firefighter in my old town died when he and his crew were trying to remove a downed tree to get to a fire. The truck was stricken. I'd heard of another story where a home partially collapsed, also due to a downed tree. Two little boys were injured. In another town, not too far, two little boys were killed when a tree struck their bedroom. This was not just wind. This was an angry and menacing wind.
I worried about the tall pine near my room and the boys' room. Pines don't uproot but they do snap. We slept in the living room. My oldest son had one couch to himself. My youngest and I shared the other. Not much sleeping was done as things continued to hurl themselves at the house and windows.
For a while I could see the town lit below. Then suddenly a large flash and all was dark. I had taken comfort in the lights below. Now the situation was even more ominous. Meanwhile emergency messages were being delivered via the radio advising anyone in a beach area who hadn't yet evacuated to climb to the highest floor possible and hang a sheet out the window. At 11:30, during the height of the storm, when the rising tide was at her highest our emergency responders were out there risking their lives for ours. Finally we fell asleep.
We woke up and surveyed the damage. No trees down on my property but a great many limbs and brances were lost. We are lucky. Very, very lucky indeed.
I got in the car and drove around. I was amazed at what I saw. Trees and powerlines were down everywhere. I've seen downed lines and trees before but never to this extent. Getting from Point A to Point B was truly like driving around in a maze, a potentially dangerous maze.
Our public schools are closed through the week.
The houses down by the water have suffered insurmountable damage.
One elementary school sits under water.
And yet we are lucky.
We have lost power.
Our homes have damage but they are still standing.
We have lost no lives, just things and food.
We will move on.
As with every storm both figurative and real we will be fine. We will be better than fine. We will emerge stronger and better and grateful for what we do have.
I have been told that I could be without power for 10 - 14 more days. With that I decided to take the kids to my parents for a couple of days. We will stay until Friday and then figure out what our next steps are. We will take this, as we take everything else, one day at a time.
My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to those families who have seen total and complete devastation - who have lost their homes, belongings and loved ones.
To those of you who can read this be well and please stay safe!
XOXO