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When
people think of Florida, they think of hurricanes.
This isn't
really fair, because I believe the Carolinas get hit by more
storms than we do - we just get the reputation. Some people
swear they would not live in a place that gets hurricanes, but
to me earthquakes and tornadoes are worse. At least with a hurricane
you get plenty of advance warning and can get the heck out
of town!
In the
marsh a hurricane is just pretty much more rain and wind than
normal, and after a storm there is little visible damage. Deadwood
and birds nests are blown from trees, Maple trees are blown
over, ripping their shallow roots off the ground, and the water
level comes up, but the marsh is well designed to handle wind
and rain.
The supple
willow and myrtle trees bend and blow with the wind. Palm trees
have leaves that are designed to hold on in the highest winds,
and a big round rootball that makes the them nearly impossible
to blow over. There are a few huge old oak trees that just stand
there and take it, but take it they do!
The falling
rain raises the water level quickly, which submerges the lower
plants and bushes, protecting them from being stripped of their
leaves in the high wind.
Birds take
to their roosts and to the ground - along with 'gators, rabbits,
deer, raccoon and every other living thing in the wild. Anything
that can be underwater is, and if they can burrow on down into
the mud that's even better.
Once the storm
has blown over the water drains away quickly, leaving the plants
to shake off the water and the animals come out and sun themselves.
The landscape might have changed a little, but life picks up
and goes right along.
<<< SideNote: It
has always been my theory that if you had to be out
in the marsh in a hurricane you could dig in amongst the
willows and just ride it out. So long as a tree doesn't fall
on your head, you don't get struck by lightning, or the water
doesn't rise deep enough to drown you, you should be fine.
This is just a theory, mind you, and I'm not at all anxious
to test it. >>>
Meanwhile,
back in town, it's a different story...
There is a lot to do to
prepare for a major storm heading your way, and civilization
is not quite as flexible as the wilds during violent acts of
nature. Depending on the severity of the storm you can expect
anything from slight flooding and damage from flying debris to
total decimation of your entire town with no utilities, groceries
or water for 2 - 4 weeks - or more. Typically, a day or two after
the hurricane has passed we get a day of incredibly heavy rain
that causes as much, if not more, damage as the storm.
You need to stay informed
as to the progress and direction of the storm, prepare your home,
gather your supplies, and decide whether to stay and ride it
out or to evacuate. Here are a few pages of background information
on hurricanes, local storm history, and checklists I use for
preparing my home and packing my survival kit.
Storm
Information - How are hurricanes named...
what are the different categories... links to storm
tracking maps you can download... links to up to the
minute weather reports and radar images
Storm
History for this area - Is it true we have
supernatural protection against a big storm?
Preparation -
Whether you are riding it out or evacuating you need
to prepare your house, pets, computer, papers, car...
this is what I do to get ready. |
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Hurricane! 
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