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We Are Flying Solo

July 3, 2014

And This Is Why You Don't Build Houses On Islands, Kids

I'm pretty sure the horsies are tucked into their shelter right now...

My friends at WeatherUnderground have great NexRad graphics!
No worries, though, we are far enough inland that we mostly just get spin-off bands from these coast-huggers.  Not nearly as stressful as when I DID live on a barrier island (Galveston Island, TX)!!  O.O

I think we're gonna need a bigger life jacket...
If you do have horses who live in storm paths, however, here are a couple of great resources to make sure your equine partners are safe and ready when the time comes:

The Horse Fund -- complete with downloadable .pdf's
Nobody knows hurricanes like The Florida Horse Council
And here is a fantastic website with in-depth technical information from LA's State Animal Response Team

Finally, please, if you are responsible for animals, remember my personal rule:  When in doubt, GET OUT!

5 comments:

  1. A quick response (while I still have power) ;D

    Your rule sounds good, but the reality here on the Outer Banks is often when you get out, you can't get back in. For weeks sometimes.

    Meanwhile water damage turns into mold, you're too late to salvage anything by the time you are able to return... you get the picture.

    People stay here to protect what little we have, and we are masters at self sufficiency. We don't expect the government to bail us out of our disasters, and believe me, it doesn't. Fema is a joke around here.

    I wish people would wrap their heads around the effects of climate change and what action they could take to mitigate it rather than tell me I shouldn't live where I live... what about tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, landslides...

    (sorry for the soapbox moment - just spent eighteen hours preparing for the safety of me and my critters - I am tired)

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  2. Hey, I hear you 100% about climate change. We all have our soapboxes!! Although extreme weather will always occur, its intensity and frequency, as well as unpredictability, has already increased. It is true there are natural disasters everywhere and sometimes shit happens (hey, I lived in a reject FEMA trailer for a year, it was our 'housing' when I worked on a National Wildlife Refuge, they are not fancy). Some things I will avoid though (like having to buy hurricane insurance, ouch!) and super high risk locations are definitely one of them (As is lots of snow. Never. Again.). I stayed on the island for one hurricane, only a little Cat I, but it scared the crap out of me.

    I chose to evacuate twice, once for just a Tropical Storm; we also risked getting cut off, but I'd rather that than losing the lives of my animals or myself. Several of the guys I work with headed down yesterday to gather up boats and some other things at their homes in Harker's Island and Sea Level and bring it all inland for the weekend.

    Life choices are complex and everyone has their own constraints, though. I hope you and the critters weather the winds safely, are able to get some rest, and Arthur moves out of the way quickly. And hey, if you ever decide enough is enough, I have a great little house for sale just north of Raleigh! ;)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for checking on us - we're fine other than another big-ass mess to clean up.

      Just one more thought about risk, because I don't want anyone to think I would ever risk the safety of my animals.

      Loss of life isn't the issue.

      There are no human losses related to storms on this island that I know of besides over-confident surfers and swimmers in hurricane swell, before they kick visitors out. And there was one guy a few years back who got likkered + pilled up, jumped around on pilings down at the docks on a dare, which resulted in a fatal head injury. Frankly that one was natural selection if you ask me.

      Not saying I wouldn't ever evacuate - a CAT 4 or 5 direct hit, and I'm out of here. Also, I have an offer of a refuge barn near Raleigh for Val should we need it.

      Property damage, extended utility loss and the resulting discomfort and deprivation are what we have to deal with. We put up with it because most of the time, living on this island is like paradise, and it does still outweigh the negatives. I could never live inland again.

      Just taking a break from repairing Val's electric fence - tree branches and receptacles shorting out. Back to clean-up! :D

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  3. I feel like there's a "it's okay, Arthur likes to bounce off B elements, he'll be back out to sea in no time, hardy har har" joke in here somewhere. Lame eventer humor, woo!

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  4. So glad that I live in a part of the world that rarely gets any more serious than a thunderstorm.

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