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Friday, October 7, 2016

Hurricane Matthew and why we can't have nice things




I've spent enough time in Florida that I could vote there. That would be illegal as I'm still a New Hampshire resident. Apparently that's not such a big deal in Florida. People do it all the time.

My lovely wife and I have spent time all over the state. This storm is not just something happening 1500 miles away. We have favorite places and people we know down there.

Someone tried very hard to sell us a condo that is now very close to the predicted landfall area. We did not buy one, but their final offer was tempting -to my wife. I held firm and it didn't hurt to be tight on funds at the time.

We were seriously considering storing our sailboat at one of the boatyards in the path of disaster. Imagine if we'd have hauled the boat out, repainted the bottom, replaced and installed hardware. Then we'd have paid storage for 7 or 8 months. Matthew could have destroyed our boat. Good thing we lost it in a shipwreck back in February. That's right folks, get your disaster over early and avoid the rush.

A free house trailer was offered to us in an area that's at least in the tropical storm band. If the winds don't get it, flooding might.

Once the storm moves on, the damage remains. The bigger the area that's affected, the longer it will take to get things fixed. Take electric power for example. If damage is limited, workers come from outside the affected area and restring the lines. For example, Georgia power workers could come down to help Florida crews. However, if Georgia is also affected they will have nobody to spare.

The storm surge could flood salt water into fresh water supplies. Imagine if a major city lost its water supply. Sewage systems will be overwhelmed: knocked out then raw sewage will pollute the flood waters. Someone will have to clear downed trees, fix roads, check bridges for damage -the list goes on.

On top of that, now imagine if the storm loops around and hits everything all over again. Frankly, if I was in charge of restoring infrastructure, I would not budge until I knew for sure that danger had passed. Why fix something only to lose it a few days later?

There is a lot of potential for civil disturbance. Most people pull together in a disaster, at least in the short term. The longer the disaster lasts, the less good will there is to go around. When supplies get short with no end in sight, it could get ugly.

Here's a thought. I wonder what will happen to all those Zika mosquitoes? At the very least, eradication efforts are on hold.

Pray hard folks.

-Sixbears

19 comments:

  1. As bad as the hurricane will be I fear rioting and looting in the aftermath will be worse. The nation is a powder keg right now any excuse to go off and area's will. Miami, Daytona ,Savannah lookout for the after affect.

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    1. Security will be an issue. No one's talking about that yet.

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  2. Aftermath will be a mess - think Katrina....
    As for the Zika mosquitoes? maybe this is nature's way of spreading the little buggers?
    Sorry for the negative thoughts.

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    1. You come by your negative thoughts honestly.

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  3. I doubt if they ARE out spraying right now! ;-)

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  4. The actual storm is not the worst part, the aftermath always is. That's when you find out what is really important.

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    1. The damage might not be a bad as feared but it is over a long area. Much depends on how long it takes for the power to come back on.

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  5. Mother Nature and Murphy's Law is the true master of what will be will be. The decision can be a matter of Life and Death if you are along the shoreline.

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    1. Personally, I'd have bailed out early and gone far away, but that's how I roll.

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  6. My brother lives in an affected area in FL and emailed me this morning that they made it through with no damage.

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    1. I'm sure that's a relief. So far the people I know in FL are doing well.

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  7. the thing often is lackofmoney. some have difficulty.
    if they have a vehicle and gas money they have to sleep in the car and just fly by the seat of their pants.
    it is rotten to be poor.
    if they have no car and/or no cash, they are bound to ride it out.
    may God protect them and all of us.

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    1. It's tough to be poor -dangerous too.

      I think someone was listening to those prayers as it's not as bad as it could have been.

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. Sorry, Six Bear, but I had to fill out the application the lovely Mrs. Sim was so polite to offer. Me love her long time. Now waiting for that check.....

    As for me and mine, we were passed up by the hurricane the weather people were excitedly anticipating. I swear they get giggly over upcoming destruction as long as they aren't hurt.

    It went easterly, but we will still have a hike in our insurance when the insurance is not in business to actually help any flood victims.

    Yes, you have a friend on the Nature Coast, just ten miles inward from the Gulf in the skinny part. Our gas stations are without gas, since snowbirds and lazy people didn't leave when they should have. The one way out was bumper to bumper. Joe and I always have our bug out bags in the SUV, and medications stored beside the exit for a quick grab.

    Hurricanes don't jump out of nowhere and surprise us like tornadoes. We would leave four days before we had to. I'd rather be in the house than in a car, stuck behind a wreck. But you can't fix stupid.

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    1. I take my eyes off my blog for a few hours and spam rolls in. Sigh. . .

      There was enough warning that someone could have left on a bicycle and left the area in time.

      Why people wait until the last second I'll never understand. That never works out and we know it never it works out.

      Glad you guys are Okay.

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  10. Sorry, Six Bear, but I had to fill out the application the lovely Mrs. Sim was so polite to offer. Me love her long time. Now waiting for that check.....

    As for me and mine, we were passed up by the hurricane the weather people were excitedly anticipating. I swear they get giggly over upcoming destruction as long as they aren't hurt.

    It went easterly, but we will still have a hike in our insurance when the insurance is not in business to actually help any flood victims.

    Yes, you have a friend on the Nature Coast, just ten miles inward from the Gulf in the skinny part. Our gas stations are without gas, since snowbirds and lazy people didn't leave when they should have. The one way out was bumper to bumper. Joe and I always have our bug out bags in the SUV, and medications stored beside the exit for a quick grab.

    Hurricanes don't jump out of nowhere and surprise us like tornadoes. We would leave four days before we had to. I'd rather be in the house than in a car, stuck behind a wreck. But you can't fix stupid.

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  11. The forces of Nature make the forces of man seem puny. Every now and then Mother Nature shows mankind what she can do.

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    1. We got a hard slap in the face waking us to the fact that we are not god.

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