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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsExhausted and apprehensive, but warm, dry, clean and no longer in the dark.
Yesterday we got our power back. The day before we were told we could use the water to bathe and drink. I am no longer camping out in my own home. I have made it back to shore and there is ground under my feet again, but I am facing a pretty big hill to climb.
There had been a mandatory evacuation order for my barrier beach island, just like there had been for Irene, which hadn't even put out our lights. The mister said we'll just stay put.. it'll be alright. The wind rose, the trees began waving around, and the power went out at 7:27 pm.
High tide for us was set for 8:11 pm. There was water in the street, gutter to gutter, but not over the curb. I thought "Well, that's alright then." I kept glancing out the window. Apparently the "surge" and high tide hadn't consulted. Suddenly it seemed a huge river had grown between us and the house across the street.
It was like a black Niagara ... up to the dash of the Taurus and nearly up to the windows of the Quest. It was moving so fast that had I dipped my foot over the edge of our top porch step I would have been pulled in. I could make out the speed of the water by the light of exploding transformers. At the height of this fury the electrical system of our van shorted and the interior lights went on, as if some Fuath had climbed in determined to drive away.
About 8:40 water started coming up through the floorboards It didn't come up very high, and it didn't stay very long, but I threw a drawerful of important papers into a plastic bag and clothes, blankets, flashlights and candles into another and pulled down the attic stairs, just in case. It sank back down into the crawl space in the next couple hours, leaving the floors ruined, furniture wrecked, appliances useless, and the four of us wiped out. I put in a quick call to Mom & my Sis.. (I'm not sure how I managed that . . apparently the cell phone hadn't quite died yet.. It did by morning) and passed out.
It took days before we could communicate with the outside world again by any means. The land line and the old princess phone that I've kept for decades "in case the power goes out" is STILL dead.
We have a lot of fixing to do, all the cars to replace and probably insurance claims to fight for.We are all ok though.
Thank you, all you who "held us in the light"
Sedona
(3,769 posts)Welcome back!
annabanana
(52,791 posts)The Nassau County Board of Elections are a dedicated crowd!
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)I have in-laws and a lifelong friend in Long Island. I've been hearing what doesn't hit the news.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)cyberswede
(26,117 posts)So glad you made it through! Best of luck with the hurdles still to come!
annabanana
(52,791 posts)One foot in front of the other is the order of the day.
Flaxbee
(13,661 posts)What a relief.
I keep thinking of that poor woman who lost her two sons in the water surge - your mention of how fast the water was moving reminded me of her - I can't even imagine how she'll be able to cope.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)LiberalAndProud
(12,799 posts)I'm glad to know you have come through it, annabanana.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)seem to be a complete waste here on our barrier beach. The mister has been ragging on me for decades because I refused to get rid of my old, maiden name landline.. "in case the power goes out".. I may never live it down.
intaglio
(8,170 posts)Welcome back
annabanana
(52,791 posts)Knowing that DU was watching for my return means something.
orleans
(34,051 posts)i'm glad you & your family are okay.
struggle4progress
(118,282 posts)annabanana
(52,791 posts)Good to BE back!
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I'm so sorry you went through that but it's an amazing story! Hugs to you and your family!
annabanana
(52,791 posts)-ish
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)I'm glad everything turned out okay (on balance, meaning you and your family survived). That was one hell of a storm. We didn't lose power here (mostly underground lines), but about 10K people in the immediate region did and 1 million overall in PA. They still haven't restored all of the lines, but you have to hand it to the line workers. They work 24x7 in all kinds of weather and it's one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.
And I've still got a few "trimline" phones in case the power goes out. All of the cordless phones are on UPS units (we've got at least 10 in the house that are active), but even they run out after a while. Days without power has to suck in every way possible.
And yes, fight with the insurance company. Take as many pictures as you can, burn them onto CD's and send them off with the claim. Don't let them fuck you over. If you paid your premiums, they have to pay out.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)All of our damage is flood damage. We have a flood policy (thank you NFIP and FEMA).. I'm hoping that will take care of the big stuff.. You know, like floors. I'm also hoping that since the insurance is managed by FEMA that we won't have a lawyer actively working to KEEP us from getting help.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)DCKit
(18,541 posts)I was wearing my shorts and T-shirt for bed. I'm now adverse to cold of any kind.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)Physically and emotionally.
a kennedy
(29,655 posts)bobthedrummer
(26,083 posts)Bertha Venation
(21,484 posts)I don't know what I could do to help. I live in Maryland, so I can't just come over and help you clean up or something. I hope knowing that you'll be in my thoughts while you deal with this stuff helps a little.