Hurricane Preparedness – A Must On The Island
Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well and surviving this dreadful south Texas heat the past few weeks. I think the older I get, the less tolerable I become with the heat.
The local Poco Bueno fishing tournament was a huge success again this year. I have no desire to be directly involved in it, or to become entangled in the multitude of people that flock to POC, but I know it brings a positive financial lift to the local businesses, so that’s a very good thing. I do enjoy seeing the beautiful fishing boats that dock in town during the week, and I often wonder what one of those vessels must cost.
Well, we are beginning the prime time of hurricane season for the summer. And right on cue, Tropical Storm Ernesto formed last week and began its trek through the Carribean, with an initial forecast path bullseye on Matagorda Bay. However, as of writing this Monday morning, landfall appears to be further south into Mexico.
From years of closely monitoring these storms, I know that the first forecast path given rarely, if ever, becomes the final landfall location. But when The Weather Channel shows the center of that path cone directly on or near us, I can’t help but begin mental preparations for the worst. Of course, if The Weather Channel and some of these other news stations, including one that predicted Ernesto could reach Category 5 status, would forego the drama for their ratings, then our tension levels would lessen considerably. Simply keep us honestly informed and don’t mislead us so that we will “stay tuned” to your station.
Living on a barrier island, basically the first line of defense for the mainland coast during a storm, is challenging for being prepared. First and foremost is BEING PREPARED and having beforehand what you will need to secure your house. Windows and doors are your weakest and most vulnerable points of entry into the house, and once breached, it’s like inviting hell’s fury to come on in. Pre-cut sections of at least half inch plywood, labeled for specific doors and windows, should be completed and stacked in waiting to be used if necessary. Good luck trying to find plywood the day before a hurricane is making landfall where you are.
Having a downstairs living area, I also have to move everything upstairs when a landfall is expected near me. Yes, it’s a lot of work and something that takes time and sweat and usually blood loss from scrapes and cuts, but it has to be done. Living along the coast is a choice that all of us make, and being prepared for tropical storms is just part of that choice. Pre-cut sections of plywood for each door and window should either already be completed or at the top of the list come tomorrow morning.
Well, the chickens are in full laying mode now, pushing out an average of 32 eggs a day, and I’m not certain that all of the forty five hens are laying yet. Either way, that’s a lot of eggs and people are happy to take every one of them, plus I love using them as a bartering tool.
The watermelon and cantaloupes are doing very well, having been kick started by five inches of rain a few weeks ago. Before next spring I’ll write an article for the Dolphin Talk giving some hints and a how-to on growing melons for beginners. I’m not an expert, but I know what has worked for me and I’ll share that info. I’m hoping Bobby, working behind the meat counter at Speedy Stop, will read it and other gardening articles, instead of picking my brain with questions. Just give me my pound of spiced luncheon meat and let me get back to the island.
Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great day.
