Talked to my sister in Tallahassee post-Hermine...

[Laffy Kat]

They just got their power back on and are much more comfortable. They were w/o running water (they had plenty of bottled) and electricity, spotty cell service, yesterday. There was no damage to their house, but many trees down. They have dozens of acres so it's a big deal. Anyway, I didn't hear from my sis all day yesterday and I am very relieved. Whew.

[malaise]

1. Whew indeed

Better the trees than their home. I remember an old man telling me not to cry over the trees lost during Gilbert in 1988 - he said they'd all be back in seven years. He was right but you can't replace the really old ones - ever.

[Laffy Kat]

8. They actually grow lob-lolly pines, and they do grow very quickly.

She didn't tell me if they were pines that went down or hardwood. It's the hardwood trees you get attached to. I'm just glad nothing fell on her house!

[rurallib]

2. Daughter lives @ 20 miles north of Tallahassee in Georgia

They got their power back last night @7. The day got pretty hot after the sun came out.
They lost most of what was in their freezer and some in the fridge, but they needed to clean out anyway.

She was able to post some short reports on facebook and we talked a couple of times, so we were kept informed.
Her husband had to work @ 12 hours while she held down the fort with a 6 year old.
She wasn't to fond of being primitive.

I think a hurricane was the last major weather experience she needed to complete her weather bingo card.

[Laffy Kat]

5. Has to be difficult to go through with a small child.

Glad your daughter and her family are OK.

[sheshe2]

3. So glad your family is safe.

[Scurrilous]

4. Losing your electricity sucks.

Mine was out for 2 days after Wilma (and my power lines are below ground). Nothing like Florida in the summer without AC!

[FLPanhandle]

6. We were without power for 2-3 weeks after Ivan & Opal

Those destroyed entire substations.

Not much fun.

[malaise]

12. You were lucky - after Gilbert

it was eight plus weeks - I packed up and headed for a conference in Ohio and then spent a few days in Florida - returned and still had no power. I adjusted -we all did - a friend around the corner had a generator and was very good to me.

[n2doc]

14. ...

[QC]

13. Ivan only had us without power for about five days here,

but I know it took much longer other places.

There's a lot I don't like about Gulf Power, but they did a great job after Ivan.

[malaise]

7. The heat and losing water

because of power cuts are the worst of the problems post hurricane

[Laffy Kat]

9. So true.

They were getting worried about the water situation. They had bottled to drink but nothing to bathe in and after working all day cutting up some of the trees, she said they were getting...well, they really needed showers.

[StepnKretchit]

10. I have a sister in Tallahasse, too.

Her power is still off as of 5:40 pm. I told her to send me a text when the power comes back on. I haven't heard anything yet.

[Laffy Kat]

16. One of my sister's friends who lives in Tally is staying with them tonight.

Because she is still w/o power. Seems odd that my sister who lives way out in the country would get power back before others in the more populated areas.

[SCantiGOP]

11. If you live near the coast in the Southeast

An 80 MPH hurricane doesn't get you too worried.

[n2doc]

15. Speak for yourself

I was plenty worried. And several of our neighbors had their houses heavily damaged (trees) by a 'mere' tropical storm in Savannah.

[Igel]

17. When they're more frequent

then the damage is spaced out.

And people are more aware of the dangers to life and property that they should do something about.

In California, in the year or two after an area has brush fires the house owners know to keep the brush down and away from their houses. But if they go for a few years without a fire, they get lax and let combustible stuff build up near their houses.