Marybird, have you got things back to normal at your house?
Posted by Juanita on 10/15/2022, 2:38 pm
I just hope and pray that everyone who didn't completely lose their home has been able to move back in. And, I pray that those who lost their homes have been able to find a new place to live. I saw on the news here that a lot of those living in apartments in Orlando had too much damage to move back in. At least the agencies that help in such disasters have been helping them relocate. I pray we do not have any more storms to deal with this year.
Wishing the very best for everyone who had damage.
Re: Marybird, have you got things back to normal at your house?
First time I've checked out the board here since I posted just after the hurricane, our internet is spotty, in and out, though we are using a mobile hotspot lent to us by a friend, as well as hotspots tethered to our cell phones ( thank you to the friend and AT&T).
It'll be a while till things are back to normal here and in our neck of the woods, but we are trying, with a lot of help from the community, and from utility providers, and others from all over the country- and they've been doing a yeoman's job, for which we are so grateful. We will get there.
Looks like the strongest winds of Ian went right over us- with winds they estimated sustained at 155 MPH ( 140 MPH on the other side after the eye went over us). This lasted, we estimate, for about 8-10 hrs. While we had some roof damage ( limited to shingles off the roof, down to the wood in some places, and we had a number of soffits torn off. This allowed the water from the hurricane ( driven at approx. 140 MPH we estimate) to leak through the ceiling in many places, so for the second half of the hurricane we were running all over the great room, and our master bedroom trying to catch leaks, and the ceiling was ruined. We also lost our water treatment system ( well water), which fell over and most of the components broke. And, we lost our boat, which slid off the lift, and flipped over upside down into the canal ( we watched it go- we could see it all from the hurricane impact windows ( which did a great job of protecting us during the hurricane). It's still there, waiting for SeaTow to take it away.... We also lost 6 large oak trees, uprooted by the storm, and a number of palm trees.
Though we were told we might be threatened by storm surge during the hurricane ( we are located on a tidal canal off a tributary of the Peace River, about 12-15 miles north of the Charlotte Harbor), we watched the water in the canal actually blown downriver, with water levels in the canal as low as I have ever seen), but the threat of flooding actually came about two days after the hurricane, as the already flood levels of the Peace (around Arcadia) and Myakka Rivers were joined by the massive amount of rains dropped by Ian as it went northeast ( towards you guys!) and the water flooded down river. The canal rose higher than we had ever seen it, and we didn't know if it would stop before it reached the house. Fortunately it did ( I'm told the Peace River crested at 23 feet, flood stage being at 12 feet) and we were not flooded. Parts of our property lower than the level of the house were, though, we had a picnic table and benches down by the canal that were completely covered by water!
All that said, though, we are extremely lucky things aren't much worse. The house held up well structurally, we got electric back about 8 days after the hurricane ( those guys from all over the country were working feverishly 2/7 to get power back to as many people as possible and there aren't enough kudos in the world to give them what they deserve.) We checked everything out electrically , and all seemed to work fine, including the AC, when the power came back on. My husband and a friend jerryrigged the storage tank from our water system directly to the well pump ( submersible) so we get water into the house ( smells like sulfur, till we get the treatment system replaced, but it's water! We're cleaning up, got the trees cut up and dragged to the curb, and are decluttering the house so it doesn't look like hurricane central. And we're eternally grateful to be home in relative comfort, and working as we can to get things done. In time ( these things don't go fast under circumstances like these, we will get our roof replaced ( hoping the tarp job will keep us dry till then), soffits replaced as well as the great room ceiling, insulation and whatever drywall might need it replaced. Hope the insurance company comes through to help us replace or fix what needs it, we will see.
We have some wonderful friends here, most of us are in the same boat, and it's a great source of support and help in getting through those sometimes discouraging days. There are so many people who lost everything, there are lives lost. From what I have heard, in Ft. Myers, many in Arcadia, there was much structural damage, with some people's entire houses destroyed, from either wind damage and/or flooding. We were thankfully spared that this time around ( our house was destroyed in Andrew in 1992), considering the magnitude of the wind and potential for flooding it could have been much worse for us.
I have to look at the positive side of things, it's how I'm wired, though I will indulge in a second or two complaint. It's been a rough summer for me, and my family by association. Earlier this summer I received a diagnosis of colon cancer- out of the blue, I'd had a colonoscopy 4 yrs ago that was clear, no one was expecting this. I'm still recovering from colon resection surgery, doing well but my energy levels are still rather low, so have to pace myself with the recovery efforts. Even still, the good news is that apparently the colon removal ( I now have a semicolon, I guess) got it all and no evidence of residual cancer. So no chemo, just surveillance. My minor complaint was to ask the Good Lord if He didn't think a diagnosis of colon cancer was enough for me to handle this summer, I needed a major hurricane too?????? I guess we know the answer to that one!
About the birdies. Our little cockatiel, Coconut, died several years ago at age 30. We miss him still but there are so many memories we have of our life with him. He died in my husband's hands, and I swear Coconut gave him a little I love you nibble on his finger just before he died. I was sorely tempted to bring home another sweet cockatiel ( he was a black and white mutation, beautiful) in a pet store about a year ago- this little guy was tame and talked to me as I played with him. He was about 7 months old, and considering our ages ( mid-70's), and how long Coconut lived, I thought it unwise to bring home such a young bird who would most likely outlive us. We still have our beautiful little lavender 8 yr old parakeet, Hinki, that we adopted from her original owner ( who got Alzheimer's disease and had to go into a nursing home) when Hinki was a year old. She's sweet and loving as can be, and talks a blue streak, I swear in context. She's had a splay leg since we got her, and may have some neurological issues there as well, but she's always gotten around very well and of course we spoil her rotten. I hope she's around for a while, but think at our ages she may be our last bird. At that point I will go volunteer at our local Parrot Rescue organization as I'm able and get my bird fix there.
I guess that's about it. And I so appreciate your asking about how things are with us. You stay well and keep up the faith too. I understand all too well you have some cleanup from Ian there in Orlando, too. Marybird.
How thankful to know things are getting back to almost normal!
When the winds were screaming and battering my windows, I was praying so hard for everyone who was in the eye of that beast for their safety and their homes. When you are in the middle of such a storm, I always pray for everyone that is in it also. You know, that all of them are being battered also. And no sane person would ever want anyone's home destroyed. I was alone when it hit my house and the noise was fierce. I was praying hard the windows would not go! I kept talking to my babies and trying to reassure them . Love their hearts they never freaked out. I guess we comforted each other i think the screaming of the wind and hearing it slam against the windows is the worst. I just hope we have no more this season. I am so thankful your home withstood the winds. I know you are like me and just really grieve for all those who lost their homes.
The water here is still draining into the rivers and a couple are still at flood stage. One city about ten miles from where I live has had lots of holes open up in peoples yards. No one seems to know what is causing it.
I am so very thankful you and your husband are both OK and as you said, hopefully your insurance will reimburse you for the things you lost. I think this storm will go down in the record books for all the strange things that happened during it!
So glad to hear your story of survival and to have you back with us.
Re: How thankful to know things are getting back to almost normal!
I know all too well how mind-numbingly frightening those hurricane winds can be as you listen to the howling, roaring (sounds a bit like a train passing through your living room to me, your windows rattling, things hitting the sides of the house, and you just hope everything doesn't come apart and leave you exposed directly to the elements. For me, though, it would be worse to have to face that alone, I'm not sure I could do it, so I can only imagine how frightening that was for you!
I know that leaving and not being able to take your birdies with you would not be an option, so you had to stay, even alone and I would have too, under the circumstances. Thank goodness your babies didn't freak out during the storm, and your presence to them and theirs to you were sources of comfort to all of you. We've been through a number of hurricanes over the years ( with Andrew and Ian being the worst) with our birds, and they never seemed to be fazed during the howling winds. I recall Coconut during Andrew seemed to be almost mesmerized by the whistling and screaming noises, when the noise would stop for a bit we could hear him chattering away, looking in his mirror, his crest standing at attention. With the birds and these storms it's always been business as usual, but I think their human flock member(s) being right there and making sure everything is ok makes them feel safe.
Just curious, though.I know central Florida gets its share of hurricane force winds and driving rain, do people generally put shutters or plywood over their windows there when such a storm is approaching? It's a hassle to do that, I know, but I think having them makes for a bit more peace of mind and its less frightening if you're a bit more reassured that things won't hit the windows or break them, letting the winds and rain into the house.
Re: Marybird, have you got things back to normal at your house?
Wow, you have been through a lot. I hope things settle down soon. I know what you mean about resisting getting more birds that could outlive us. We’re at the point where we have to think about that, too.
Re: Marybird, have you got things back to normal at your house?
I love parakeets, tell Hinki hello from me! I'm glad they got the colon cancer! I have to go for another colonoscopy soon... They find polyps and I have scar tissue snd stuff they look at. I'm sorry about Coconut.
I know I won't get anotehr tiel after these, because of my age and their life-spans. WellI might, if it's a tiel over 20 a rescue, or something. But, not a young one.
Take care of yoruself, and rest when you can. I hope your community gets fixed, and services back real soon, and that we have no more hurricanes this year, and none next year!
Re: Marybird, have you got things back to normal at your house?
I cannot imagine that kind of wind. I'm astounded that you didn't get leveled or totally flooded out, being by a canal. I'm thankful you and your family are able to recover from the damage that you did sustain.
I'm sorry about your colon cancer. The same thing happened to my brother in 1985. He had to have a colon resection but didn't need chemo, just surveillance. He has to have annual colonoscopies because he produces multiple polyps.
I know that a lot of us are in the same boat with getting young birds and our ages. Getting used to Shiloh being gone has not been easy for me. She had so much personality and was so sweet and loving that I can't bring myself to entertain the idea of another tiel even it's an elder or rescue. I haven't done anything with her cage at all. Millet is still in there, her seed admix, etc. It's going take a while to move on.
Cathy
Re: Marybird, have you got things back to normal at your house?
Cathy, its hard to describe those kind of winds, and the wind-driven blinding rain, or to imagine the kind of damage inflicted by the winds and wind-driven debris. We were extremely lucky not to have sustained more serious damage to the house, or been flooded, many people were not so lucky. I'm seeing or hearing reports of people's houses destroyed by winds/flying debris, or by flooding.
Glad to hear your brother's colon cancer was "cured" by the colon resection, fingers crossed all his future colonoscopies continue to be benign.
How about I give Hinki a big smooch and scritch for you? She will smooch right back, and maybe say "I love you", or "Hello Baby", she is such a sweetheart. I love parakeets too, though I don't think I ever met a bird I didn't love!
After my recent experience I guess I could be the Poster Old Lady for not putting off colonoscopies! I had had a colonoscopy 4 yrs ago that was clear, so no one was thinking I might have it. Had a few nonspecific symptoms, but the main thing was a big drop in hemoglobin over about 6 months. Fortunately that led to further testing and detection of the cancer in its relatively early stages. So don't postpone your colonoscopies!
Another Little Story I Need to Share, Hurricane Related
This one is about our local critter residents. We have a little hummingbird that sometimes visits the flowers on the firebushes and random milkweed plants ( for the monarch butterflies) planted outside our screen enclosure. The bushes are pretty thick and we frequently have birds, squirrels and rabbits that play, chase each other, or hide under those bushes. Well, the day that hurricane Ian went through, before the wind got as bad as it would later, we were watching out the windows ( hurricane impact glass) and saw the hummingbird land in the bushes, we think looking for a place to be safe from the storm. We didn't see him fly away from there, but weren't sure he stayed either, we couldn't see him in the bushes. We just hoped for the best for this little guy, that he found safety and made it through the storm.
Later on, as the winds raged on, and shingles and soffits began popping and sailing off the roof, landing everywhere, we saw a rabbit take off from the direction of the firebushes like a bat out of you-know-where. We figure it's likely that a shingle or two, maybe a soffit ( we found both under those bushes after the storm) fell nearby where this rabbit could have taken refuge under those bushes, and it scared him so he ran off. I hope the little guy found safety somewhere.
We think wherever the hummingbird spent the storm, he made it through. We saw him several days after the storm, visiting his firebush flowers a number of times, and he has made several return trips there. We were so happy to see him.
Marybird
Re: Another Little Story I Need to Share, Hurricane Related
Oh, I am so glad you saw the little one back at his bush. I always worry about the animals and birds during those storms. Like you, I watched after the storm passed to see if any of the birds returned. I was so happy when they came back to eat on my patio 😊
Re: Another Little Story I Need to Share, Hurricane Related
So glad you're okay, and that the hummingbird made it through the storm! Whew!
How long before repairs and all are made, and services return, do they say? I know, roof repairs here after Sally hit in like, 2020 took a long time, I guess because of COVID. She was bad, but not like Ian, for sure. You guys got hit hard!
Re: Another Little Story I Need to Share, Hurricane Related