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Sunday, July 14, 2013

My Island Life: Hurricane Season


My adventures living on a Caribbean island. Welcome to my monthly, or not so monthly adventures. We try not to commit too soon here on island.

Impression #9

Hurricane Season. Yes, it’s that time of year when all islanders in the Caribbean start watching Noah and The Weather Channel on an hourly basis. Having lived in areas with tornadoes, microbursts, and ice storms, I have discovered I have the right mindset for handling Hurricane Season. Of course, it helps having a retired Fire Chief and Coast Guard auxiliarist living with me :-)

Some people wondered why I moved from sunny, hot Arizona to sunny, warm and moist St. Croix, especially since St. Croix gets hurricanes. Hmmm, well eighty degree temperatures year-round, warm aqua waters a person can stay in all day without getting cold, and lush green vegetation are just a few reasons. Another reason is while the Caribbean has hurricanes which I can prepare for a week in advance, Arizona has microbursts (often called upside down tornadoes) that come up out of nowhere with absolutely no warning and yes, I had the opportunity to experience a couple of those. I’ll take hurricanes over microbursts any day.

I think one key to being ready for a hurricane is coming to terms with the possibility of losing everything I own. When I look at all my “stuff,” I realize that it is only that which has emotional strings that truly has value to me.  So when it comes to preparation, that evaluation makes the process much easier.

Another key to preparation is knowing where we will go in case of strong storm surge, (we literally live on the beach) and deciding what we will bring with us.  Of course, the cat, computers, important papers, and medications will make the exodus. For a more mild event, we prepare with a tune-up of the generator, propane gas for the grill, and easy to make food and snacks (usually and excuse to but all the “bad for us” food :-).

So living in an area that has hurricanes is all about having a plan and being prepared.  Yes, we need to be on watch 5 months out of the year, but it sure is a lot better than freezing for 7 months a year in New Hampshire, or dehydrating from over 110 degree temperatures for 5 months of the year in Arizona, at least in my opinion :-)

Lesson #9
It’s worth a little hurricane preparation and watchfulness to live in paradise!

Stay Warm,
Alexis

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10 comments:

  1. Having lived in "paradise" for four years, one would think I would be used to the hurricane season routine. I know the routine well,however, I am everything BUT calm, when it comes to a named storm heading toward the Virgin Islands.

    Planning and being prepared are the only things we can do, to successfully make it through the 5 months of hurricane season.

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    1. Exactly. It is all a matter of prospective. After having my houseboat totaled by a microburst (while I was on it in the middle of the night), I'll take a weather event I get to prepare for any day. It also makes us think about what is really important before anything happens and I think that is an awesome life lesson. See, I'm such a romantic I even find the silver lining on hurricane prep :-}

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  2. Okay, so I can officially scratch July off my 'plan to visit Alexis' schedule. Stay safe and enjoy your beautiful paradise island weather. I'm so jealous.
    Melting here in Arizona,
    Bev

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    1. Yes, Bev. No need to visit in July. Late November through May are non-hurricane times. I can't wait to see you!

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  3. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  4. Great post. I bought a lot on St. Croix in St. George near the Botanical Garden two months before Hugo. The island changed so much after that. And so did I. Later (in another life) I moved to Key Largo and Big Pine (almost islands with only one road to the mainland). Now I live in Arizona. Life is strange and full of hurricanes and sunshine.

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    1. Wow, Amber, you certainly do live in sunshine and hurricanes! Funny how they seem to go together :-}

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  5. My dream used to be a houseboat. you've changed my mind! I'll take the disaster I can prepare for (physically & mentally) to the surprise disaster anyday!
    Love your attitude! Stay dry!

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    1. Lisa, houseboat living is awesome! I would still recommend it. A houseboat on the Tennessee River would give you your dream with only hurricanes as possible weather issues, so you can still do it!

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