Communications and power just came back up in our area, but the hurricane lingered far longer than expected and did serious damage to homes and infrastructure. We came through relatively unscathed, with minor damage to our roof (which we were planning to redo anyway) and a small amount of water intrusion as the wind blasted rain right through some window seals.
It was a long night with screaming winds, breaking branches and falling trees, and the whole thing started calming down just after dawn yesterday. As power and communications are gradually restored, we're hearing reports of serious land slides, wind and flood damage and a number of fires. Quite a few roads and bridges were destroyed and reports are coming in of a number of lives lost in one or two areas; the most tragic so far being that of a mother and her two daughters killed when their house was crushed by a landslide.
All in all, we personally count our blessings, and now we need to see how we can contribute to the recovery efforts and assist those who didn't fare so well. It will be a very heavy blow to our tiny economy, but as always - it could have been worse.
Oh yeah - the Cobra came through fine, but the road to our house will need to be repaired before it can go anywhere.
Just another reminder to cheish life and love and family and friends because you just never know...
