Hurricane Sandy

I only started hearing about the hurricane late last week (apparently I have been a bit of a news-a-phobe lately, especially when it comes to the weather). However, when I started reading, watching, and listening to reports of the imminent destruction that Sandy WOULD cause, I couldn't stop reading, watching and listening.

Last year, for Hurricane Irene, we were out of town for the hustling preparations and waiting, and then the aftermath that included a fair amount of destruction, but also relief (as it wasn't as bad as anticipated). So while the storm was supposed to hit our neck of the woods (Baltimore), we should have felt safe (which we did), hundreds of miles away in the Catskills. Of course the irony was that our home in Charm City was fine with no damage and not even a power outage; and the cabin where we were staying way up North flooded and we had to evacuate.

This year, all the radar maps illustrated this mega (and perfect) storm Sandy to be coming straight for us. Then they showed a side by side comparison of Irene and Sandy; Sandy was twice the size. We received automated calls from our electric company telling us that our power WILL most likely disappear. The water aisle at our grocery store was COMPLETELY empty. The ATMs were out of money. The lines for gas were LONG. Work was cancelled (which is very rare for the hubs' co.) Washington DC, Philly, and New York City all shut down their subway systems. All flights were cancelled. The President addressed citizens with the obvious inflection of: this is a HUGE storm and if you don't take it seriously, you will be sorry.

So Saturday and Sunday were spent prepping. We got the flashlights, kept our cell phones (and some old phones) plugged in- (we don't have a land line), got the flashlights out and extra batteries, found our emergency radio contraption (btw thanks Mom and Dad!), found water, turned the fridge up, packed up the patio, filled the bathtub etc. Then I took a hot bath. We waited. Water started coming through our window frames. We got towels; the towels got soaked. Dave weatherstripped the windows. Power was still on. We waited. The winds that were howling through the window panes gave a very seasonal haunt to our house. Every now and then you would feel a draft as if it was coming straight through the glass. Police, fire, and rescue sirens were consistent. Power was still on. We waited. It was a challenge to bring Penny outside to do her doggy thing with the pools of water and 60+ MPH winds. We heard that the high tide mixed with the full moon was the next big question mark. High tide in Baltimore City was 7:45 AM Tuesday. Lying in bed trying to sleep with the howling was not very successful. At least the "wind" noise was calming to the mini Tribes. The power was still on. We were still waiting.

All of a sudden Tuesday arrived and it was over. It was still raining a bit, but the winds virtually gone, and only small branches lay strewn across our lawn.Our car (which has been leaking during rainstorms) had no evidence of water, the power stayed on, and the puddles receded.There was minimal flooding in Baltimore City. The suburbs weren't so lucky, but they were very fortunate compared to other cities on the eastern seaboard.

We were prepared and nothing happened (to us). Thank God and thank those of you who prayed for Sandy to keep her distance from our family. While we were fortunate, I can now understand the fear that one goes through when trying to protect their family and home; many people out there were not so lucky.

Thank goodness the injured/ death toll is not higher, but is there really any number that is OK?
Some photos of the destruction.