It’s been ten years since Hurricane Ivan made landfall. I had just bought my house that year and didn’t feel comfortable leaving my new home unprotected. So, this is the only hurricane I rode out completely alone, huddled in bed with Julian and Sasha, my battery operated weather radio, and a flashlight. Aaaand a good deal of Jack Daniels. The following days I would continue painting rooms in my house, using my generator to power the important things: a fan to keep me cool, my coffee pot in the mornings, and a little TV and DVD player so I could continue watching Sex and the City.
While Nashville in September is balmy and comfortable, September in Fort Walton Beach is sweltering with 200% humidity, especially after a hurricane. Even with the windows open and the fan on, working around the house was uncomfortable. However, at least my house survived intact. I only lost the gate to my fence and some roof shingles. My friends, on the other hand, lived on Okaloosa Island and could not even return to their homes. So I took in a couple of people at different times during the storm recovery.
Sometimes during the day I would go to my momma’s house because she has a whole house generator. Nothing like the feeling of gas-powered air conditioning when it is 90 degrees with lots of humidity plus hot food. I was lucky to have my generator so I didn’t lose all the food in my refrigerator and even luckier to have really kind neighbors who assisted with keeping the generator filled and running smooth but even luckier to have hot meals available only a couple miles away.
The strongest memories of Ivan I have are of the fear I felt that night awaiting the storm and concerned what could possibly go wrong and the relief I felt the next day when I woke up, I was safe, and the world was generally the same, though a bit soggy and beaten. Yes, Ivan was a strong storm but you have to remember, living in Fort Walton Beach, you become a bit immune to hurricanes. Preparation becomes rote skill and then you just hold on and wait for it to be over.
I’ll say this, I’ve been through far worse in the last ten years than a bit of a storm.