Welcome to Hurricane Season
It’s been a while - and I can’t really use the excuse that I haven’t had the time - more that I haven’t been in the right frame of mind.
The last time I blogged all was well and I’d had an amazing few weeks exploring west coast USA. How bizarre then that a mere 2 days later chaos started to unfold. I got back to work to the usual post holiday crisis solving - but in between that my team asked me ‘ what my hurricane plan was’. Assuming there was some sarcasm involved - I didn’t answer especially seriously. Cut to next day - when I find myself trying to book a flight anywhere in the USA because the most severe hurricane in 20 years was scheduled to hit on the weekend. The travel agent at my work company didn’t seem to grasp the concept - his repeated ‘ this is strange all the flights from Miami keep selling out’ started to grate after failing to find anything to 3 cities ( New York, Chicago, Washington). Eventually I get a flight, which was a good decision as the following day my area in Miami is declared a mandatory evacuation zone. The following few days became a bit of a blur -I became an expert in Miami’s disaster planning approach. Not the ideal time to realise in the hurry to move that you don’t have contents insurance.
So after lots of removing pictures off walls, putting towels below windows and doors - and trying to hurricane proof my apartment as much as possible - off to the airport I go. Alas even that wasn’t uneventful - I couldn’t get a direct flight to Washington so I have a route via Atlanta. Our flight is delayed , I have to sprint to the gate - fortunately luck was on my side. I get to Washington , drink lots of gin and I can breathe a sigh of relief. The next few days are pretty intense - I’m gripped to the weather channel, checking on the team at work ( not everyone is evacuated, they prioritise the areas closest to water), and updating the U.K. team on everyone’s safety. I try to sightsee to take my mind off things but can’t concentrate. On the Saturday I see the impact of Irma - where I live is under metres of water - Brickell Avenue looks like a river.
The team though are all safe - damaged trees and gardens but no structural housing damage.
I then have to fly to New York for some work meetings - and get back to Miami on the Weds. Fortunately the apartment is fine - nothing damaged.
Over the following months life gets back to normal, the debris gets cleared from the city. Another hurricane comes devastating Puerto Rico - I was due to be there the weekend the hurricane hits.
Puerto Rico will hopefully rebuild itself.....this is quite the adventure I’m having......
