We finally got our power back on late yesterday afternoon. It's not a picnic like Clem was joking about, and compensated the neighbors very well, even though they didn't want to take it. The worst was hot nights, 87 degrees in the house and hearing generators until about 11:00 PM and then people turned them off out of courtesy. I am fortunate the flood receded before it hit the front of the house, the back was okay as last year I added some inclines and pavers around the foundation of the house. It was reported in our city 16.1" of steady rain. My house is an older 1958 ranch built on a flat lot. We were not in a flood zone but were always concerned because of the older neighborhood and lack of drains on the street. Fortunately, we are okay, and I believe it it withstood that, it will withstand the next one, if not too soon.
The 500-year event...the world is changing, and will be again. This hurricane wasn't scary wind-wise where we were, but the floods are devastating, rivers are still rising and have not crested. Most are flooded in or out of flood zones, so I am not sure how that will change the maps.
In defense of those in Ft Meyers, Sarasota, and Naples not evacuating, they were not in the cone at all for the majority of the prediction. It was Tampa and north by the big bend area. By the time they were in the danger zone, it was too late. They only have 2 ways out. North 75, bumper to bumper heading towards Tampa where projected, or through Naples and Alligator Alley (Everglades) which is low and flat. They had nowhere to go timely and you don't want to be trapped in your car in traffic. All their ways out were in the cone.
You will always have those who do not leave or feel they can ride it out. They have pets, and their belongings, they feel they are high and dry, hunker down...and many do go to shelters as well. Thankfully more and more shelters are accepting pets now. I don't think that will change much, as the same thing every hurricane event. I am probably one of those people, but I don't live on the coast either.
Florida will survive, people will build to better codes, we should see more houses built on pilings perhaps in those areas...
Shout out to the Indiana crew team who fixed our power lines. People from all over the USA are here in droves, good and bad ones...scrupulous roofers in particular.
I think work may pick up due to the construction loans, Fed real loans, and FEMA perhaps. I can't remember how this works, but sort of makes sense possibly. |
