Whats up, Hex Squad! I needed to achieve out and provide you with all an replace after Hurricane Milton swept by. Your messages on Instagram, Fb, and emails checking in on me actually warmed my coronary heart. Thanks a lot for pondering of me and my household throughout these back-to-back hurricanes.
I’m completely satisfied to report that Dave, the women, and I are doing properly, regardless of each Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton pummeling the Tampa Bay space. It’s been a whirlwind, however we’re secure and sound.
Our Residence: A Protected Haven
After we purchased our house six years in the past, we selected a location 20 miles inland from the Gulf Coast, firmly located in a no-flood, no-evacuation zone throughout the Tampa Bay space. Being risk-averse, I needed a spot that will maintain us protected, even when it restricted our choices on the time.
Across the time of my divorce, I invested in a brand new roof, and later, Dave and I added automated storm shutters for further safety. Remarkably, our house has weathered each main hurricane previously 20 years with out sustaining any injury. The neighborhood lake, which you’ll see within the picture above, absorbed a big quantity of water after the storm, serving to stop flooding in our instant space.
Our Chosen Household
Whereas we had been lucky to be in a secure zone, lots of our buddies and chosen household weren’t as fortunate. We welcomed Mickey and his fiancé Dustin—together with their three cats and cute canine—and our good friend Cary along with his candy pup into our house. In complete, we had 5 people, 4 canine, and three cats underneath one roof for nearly per week!
It was a full home, however I’m extremely grateful we may supply a secure haven for these we love. Sharing our area introduced us all nearer collectively, and the assist we offered one another made the difficult instances extra bearable.
After Hurricane Milton Sources
- Milton Cleanup Hotline – 844-956-1386
- FEMA Registration – 1-800-621-3362
- Florida Emergency Hotline – 1-800-342-3557
- Habitat for Humanity – 813-239-2248
- Catastrophe Misery Helpline – 1-800-985-5990
I needed to share these after hurricane sources in case you wanted them. It’s regular to expertise emotional misery after again to again disasters. Should you need assistance, name the Catastrophe Misery Helpline.
Energy Outages and Flooding
The Larger Tampa Bay space continues to be grappling with widespread flooding and energy outages. Whereas Mickey and Dustin lastly had their energy restored yesterday, many Floridians stay with out electrical energy. Some communities are even dealing with boil-water advisories because of compromised water provides.
Flooding has affected quite a few neighborhoods round us, main to highschool cancellations and unsafe driving situations on many roads. Though our avenue remained dry, seeing the encircling areas wrestle has been heart-wrenching.
My Favourite Half
Amid the chaos and uncertainty, my favourite a part of having everybody at our house was the valuable high quality time we shared collectively. From becoming a member of Dave and me on our morning walks to cooking meals and watching films as an enormous, blended household—it was heartwarming past phrases. The laughter echoing by the home, the impromptu dance events, and the deep conversations late into the evening turned a worrying scenario into an unforgettable bonding expertise. These moments jogged my memory of the significance of neighborhood and the way, even within the hardest instances, we are able to discover pleasure and connection.
The Worst Half
The evening Hurricane Milton made landfall was actually terrifying. Listening to the storm’s relentless winds ripping at our house was probably the most scary expertise I’ve ever endured. The howling gusts felt like they may tear the roof proper off, and the partitions appeared to shudder with every highly effective surge. Sleep was not possible—I lay awake, coronary heart pounding, ready for the winds to die down even a bit of. It was a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable energy, and it left me feeling each humbled and profoundly grateful when the storm lastly handed and we had been all secure.
Remaining Ideas
I’m regularly reminded of the power and resilience of our neighborhood throughout these instances. Thanks once more for all of your love and assist. Please maintain these affected in your ideas, and let’s proceed to look out for each other.