We're Okay

The sky at first light, post-hurricane.

I'll do a 'real' hurricane post eventually, but for now I just want to get the word out that we all survived Iselle.

I thought we would lose the screenhouse for sure. Not quite.

We made it through Tropical Storm Iselle, thank goodness, with minimal damage, none to the house, barn, coops, us, or our animals. Our kids, Lori & Dave are fine, too, their home undamaged, though there are many, many more trees down at their place. They brought their freezer goods to put into one of ours for a while since we had a generator.

Mike and I walked up and down our street at first light the morning after to make sure our neighbors were all okay. And so far, no one has been reported as badly hurt. All our friends are okay and their homes undamaged. It's a miracle!

Everyone's been sharing whatever tidbits of news any of us may have gleaned one way or another, and those who can share drinking water, a hot shower, cell phone charging, ice. Donations are starting to come in by the truckload and are being distributed throughout Puna, the district that received the most damage from Iselle. The old stables/Community Center in our neighborhood has become one of the main distribution hubs for ice, water, non-perishable foods, etc, and power for cell phone charging. National Guard trucks rumble by, helicopters circle overhead--all to assess the damage, I guess, though the governor and other officials have been out sight-seeing, too.

Fleets of electric company trucks have been a welcome sight as they work their way through the tangle of downed wires and trees to restore power street by street. Most of the area does not yet have power restored. We are so lucky to live on the same street as our community water system so we got power WAY ahead of most folks. 8000 people are still without electricity and likely will be for quite some time. And we were never without water. Our cable just came back a few minutes ago, so we have internet again, the phone is working, and I suppose the telly works again too, for what that's worth.

It was so weird being so completely out of the loop. Think about it: without power and with all communications down, we had no way of knowing anything we didn't see with our own eyes, or hear with our own ears, or what someone told us face to face. I'm grateful to be able to check emails and get news again. And very thankful for and humbled by all the loving thoughts and prayers from far away.

Our "protein field" looking a bit battered, but it will come back.