2005-07-07 HurricaneDennis 006 (Small)
Originally uploaded by DocJelly.

I checked my work email tonight and there were a few FW: emails from the NHC (Cayman) that said barring any course changes, they were going to lift the hurricane warnings and announce an all clear at 7am.

This picture was taken across the street from my apartment, it's Northwest Point, and the buildings on the right are what's left of/the in-progress repairs of Oceanside Plantation. Normally there are waves hitting the shore here, but it was flat calm. The other side of West Bay, Cobalt Coast was taking some good waves. Nothing coming over the dock (at 6:30 when I was there) but building.

I fell asleep earlier tonight, a combination of tiredness, some stress, and not getting much or any sleep the last two nights because our A/C was on the fritz. When I woke up this morning, with the windows open and three fans going, the temp in here was 87.3f. Doesnt make for very sound sleep. I think I was out for 45 mins and then awoke again rather abruptly. I think my mind is still in hurricane mode.

I woke up and decided to stay awake for the 10pm (Local) Miami NHC update. Hoo boy, is Cuba ever getting it's lunch eaten. Dennis is now a Cat4 hurricane with 135mph sustained winds and is forecast to get even stronger while the eye remains over open water. Yikes.

Part of the update said that amateur radio reports out of the affected area said there were widespread power outages and structural damage. I thought that was a bit ambiguous... is there widespread structural damage, or widespread power outages, full stop, as well as (some) structural damage? Things like that are how nasty rumors get started.

It's 10:30 right now, and I can see the odd flash of lightning and the distant rumble of thunder every now and then. I can't hear any rain yet and I'm too tired/lazy to get up out of bed and go look out the window. I'd sure hate to be in Cuba right now, I have a pretty good idea of how they're feeling, and surely wouldn't wish it upon anyone. It's not just the terror of watching wind & rain rip off the roof and knock down walls, nor even the sound of smashing glass. It isn't watching the ocean roll up your street, getting deeper and deeper and eventually submerging your car, either. The worst part about taking an almost direct hit from a huge storm like this is the aftermath. We were without power at home for six weeks last year after Ivan, and a good ten days without running water. We made it through with flying colors. We improvised, we adapted, we overcame. We survived it with a little help from our friends, but I sure as hell would never want to go through it again by choice.