Sent a text for an update on someone down there. Hope I get a reply.

That is good to hear. ^^ means my contact should we well too. Hopefully Maria replies when able as well.

How the hell do you know of Melbourne? Only us locals know it lol. I grew up near Melbourne but on the barrier island next to it and now teach just north of melbourne but in the same county lol

We lost power and literally just got it back.

Out back yard is flooded but luckily we have a big backyard and the flooded portion is the back half of it and it didn't get to the house. Lost a tree...it's completely sideways. And lost a piece of trim but the power was the main issue. We are lucky to be in a newer home with shutters. I have many friends and coworkers who did not fair so well.

My grandma survived. Phew

Maria, I am so happy to hear that Grandma survived!
How did her trailer fare the storm?

Haha Maria... because my partner lived in south of it for a time. Melbourne is the airport I landed in. I've been there twice, and I'll probably be there sometime next year to pick up her cat too, as I'm having her fostered by a local.
Your local birds scare me... I had a sandhill crane stalk me for 3 days the last time I was there.

I think it's the powers of Menewsha. Longcat's house went right through the center of the hurricane I remember and came out in good shape.

I've seen some potential revivals of sideways trees if the roots are sideways with the tree as well. Trimming the tree eventually pops the tree back upright.

Glad to hear about your grandma. Did her trailer survive?
Honestly thought you were closer to miami based on how you described it.

Also a question:
Did melbourne/brevard fare well? What of Cocoa?

Not kidding... I have photo evidence

THose birds are no joke LOL Between those and the great blue herons who have the most obnoxious sounding call....LOL WHen I was growing up, we had a pool in a screened in patio. The birds would sit on the top of the screened patio and SCREAM....literally SCREAM all day. They would poop all over the screen and tear it up with their talons....my dad started taking a giant water gun and squirting them anytime they did that LOL they didn't like that much.

Cocoa area did not fare too well. Lots of people there still don't have power and Cocoa and the surrounding cities that use the cocoa water supply still don't have water. There were multiple water main breaks unfortunately and they patch them up only to discover there must be another place broken...

We are doing what we can though. The number of people opening their doors to friends and even strangers to get them bathed, fed, etc is incredibly.

My school flooded...not sure if the inside did. But we are an outdoor school...each wing is surrounded by a grassy area with oak trees...all the grassy/tree areas flooded like crazy. They had sandbags in front of the doors so I'm hoping all the instruments in my classroom are okay. I'm not allowed on campus until Monday....we start school again monday and I can't even go in to check the state of my room or instruments...or set it back up. The kids will be playing music bingo while I try to fix up the room on Monday....

We had a lot of tornados touch down during the storm as well...trying to clean up that damage.

But people are resilient. It was like this and worse in 2004...we had 4 hurricanes come through in 2 months that year. We rebuilt from there and learned from it.

A lot of homes are now made of solid concrete here...so the homes usually still stand after the storm...just the roofs/etc don't.

And Governor Scott, as much as I can't stand him, did a WONDERFUL job leading the state prior to the storm and after. He forced all school districts to close Friday before the storm and Monday after...because many school districts were refusing the close. He has stated that Thursday,Friday, Monday will NOT be made up as hurricane make up days despite being closed. Can't say for Tuesday-Friday (We are closed the rest of the week too due to this hurricane) but...still. THat's wonderful to have 3 less days to make up.

Also the fact her urged evacuation many days prior, suspended tolls, created a hot line for anyone to call for help no matter what the issue...can't find gas? Call the hotline. Need rescuing in the storm because your house collapsed? Call the hotline.

:)

We will make it out of this and hope Jose stays away :P

Seriously...those birds are no joke :P

---------- Post added 09-14-2017 at 01:52 PM ----------

P.S. - Poet - let me know when you come this way next....we should get together!

Oh wow, a squirt gun that's hilarious XD

Oh dear do you remember if you put the instruments up?

That is a lot of damage though. I really hope she sends me a text soon... getting really worried. I don't know much of how prepared they were able to get.

Sure ^^
Hey do you know how to teach a violin by chance? [lol]

OMG...
That is hilarious [rofl]

I hear the Vice President has also been actively trying to help disaster relief as well, so someone high up is trying to make a difference.

Uh oh. The instruments must have gotten wet.

Pretty sure I said that out loud when i saw the photo for it XD

So update. Person is fine, minor damage to their home. They didn't have power for a few days then was house hopping to have a place to live until they could go home.

They are having the cat stay back at the house now so no flooding happened. Very greatful. That kitty is my partners baby.

Hoping to pick her up in January