Irma is NO Friend of Mine

On the heals of the devastating Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma has proven to be no slouch with the follow up.

A category 5 and as long as the entire state of Florida, Irma has caused many to have fled, many to have remained in fear and trembling, or have had loved ones that are understandably worried and stressed.

We fear the most, what we can't control.  It's a helpless feeling.

Personally, I have felt the fear of my friends that have loved ones in the Caribbean and Florida.  I too have felt that fear as my daughter was in Miami.  Only 1 week into her 2nd contract with Royal Caribbean, evacuation was handled very well and I no longer feel the fear as of Friday around lunch time.  Safely on her previous contract's vessel, she is sailing to safe waters to return when the port of Miami re-opens.

But what of those that chose to stay, who didn't have the means to leave, were forced by employers to stay or lose their jobs, emergency or essential personnel that need to stay to help, people in the hospital or assisted living that cannot leave and their caregivers, etc.?  Many are our family members or friends.

We feel so helpless regarding their safety.

Although Irma has weakened, she's still a devastating storm.  Many evacuated from Florida to seek refuge in much of our state of Georgia.  Up here in the north Georgia mountains, we shouldn't be experiencing a Category 1 Hurricane or a Tropical Storm!  Thankfully, Irma has weakened to where she will be a tropical storm when she brushes over us, yet this can still be very damaging.

What does that mean to us and to evacuees?  It means that even small towns like ours have made provisions to provide shelter for those currently camping close by or those that live in trailers or RV's that are not secured.

For us, we did all that we could.  We love our home in the Chattahoochee Forest but our home is surrounded by extremely large trees.  Trees that have been on this small mountainside forever and I pray they remain standing and stronger after this event.  We secured our heavy patio items to the railings, brought in the remaining items or stored them under the front deck.  The only other things we can do are to prepare for a few days without power which also translates to no water since we are on a well and septic tank.  So we shopped earlier in the week to buy non perishable food items, fresh drinking water, and small amounts of gas for the generator if needed.  We didn't buy all that we could have as gas is in short supply in our small town.  We bottled a lot of filtered water for drinking and made ice bags to stuff the freezer tight.  We've set up the table with our lanterns, all of our electronics are charged, as well as batteries.  Flashlights are on standby as well as a few radios.  I baked cookies for honey and he bought me wine.

our lanterns

self explanatory

did you know stored wine bottles, for a future glass cutting projects, make great drinking water containers?

something pretty to look at to ease the stress (I'm a wreck!)

My prayers are with us all.  As those in the Caribbean clean up, evacuees face the unknown, those in Florida that are currently experiencing Irma's fury, and to those of us on the dirty side of her powerful remnants.

From the great "philosopher" Bret Michaels, "every night has its dawn".  The sun will shine again and the opportunities to love and serve each other will glorify His holy name.