What a difference a day makes.
So much for Hubby staying home until the storm passed.
He got called out around 6:00 last night. He took a couple of crews with him to Natchez to cut trees off the highway so emergency personnel could get through. Then he and his crews cut a path to the state line in Woodville and cleared trees all the way back home. He estimated that at least 50,000 people are without power.
Before he left for work, he told me to stay inside and do NOT attempt to go anywhere. He didn't want to have to track me down if the cell towers fell and he couldn't get a call through. He made it out to his truck and called me on the cell. He told me to gather up some clothes and food and grab my son and get in his truck. The weather had ramped up considerably and he was not leaving us there by ourselves. The wind was unbelievably scary.
He dropped Son and me off at my parent's house. They had electricity and still do although it threatens to go off frequently. Dad was upset that the cable is out. He had a handheld scanner in one hand and a radio in the other. I tried listening with him, but it was too crazy. I couldn't concentrate anyway. I was worried about Hubby being out in the storm.
I know things have to be done, but when trees fall into power lines in the complete darkness of night, it just ain't safe.
Sometime during the night, my parent's roof started to leak. Around 4:30 this morning a ceiling tile hit the floor causing much squealing and bladder problems on my part. It hit about 2 feet from my head. I was napping on the sofa recliner. Son freaked out and thought Grammy's house was falling down. I got him settled back down and cleaned up the mess. I put a small garbage can under the leak. Drip...drip...drip. That right there will drive anyone crazy. I don't know how the rest of 'em slept through all my banging around. I couldn't sleep at all after that. I'd doze off and then wake right up and stare at the ceiling to see if any more of those rain-soaked tiles were about to decapitate me.
Hubby finally got home this morning around 6 a.m. and took a quick shower (brrrr! no hot water) and changed into dry clothes. He had to be back to work at 9 a.m. He called me at 6:30 to see if I was awake. Yep. Couldn't sleep for nothing what with the wind howling and the drips dripping. He said our power was off and he sure would love a cuppa coffee. I told him to head my way. He thought it was too early but I told him I couldn't sleep anyway. My mom woke up and I told her hubby was coming over for coffee. She insisted that we cook a big breakfast before their power went off. By the time he got there, the coffee was ready and the biscuits were almost ready.
I showed Mom and Hubby the leak in the roof and she got Dad up to look at it. There's nothing you can do in the rain and wind about it except what I'd already done. Hubby said if he gets off early enough and if the wind dies down some, he'll climb on the roof and see if he can tarp it until the insurance company can get there.
The power to our home in town was restored right after noon today. WOW!!!! I checked the fridge and freezers and they are fine...nothing lost. Great news there. I was dreading having to clean those out.
The house in the country is still without power. I imagine I'll be cleaning the freezer out tonite or early in the morning. There was not much in it anyway. A few bags of ice, some frozen french fries and a few packs of hot dogs and some buns. Maybe a couple of popsicles. It won't take long.
The shop is still without power. So far at least 9 customers have called me jokingly to ask if I can still do their hair. I told them that by the time their hair gets dry on its own, another hurricane squall would be through to wet it down again. They're so funny.
Miz Pete called and told me to call the power company and tell them that I have a bunch of little old ladies standing out in the rain at the shop because they're crazy. And unless they want the crazy old ladies with pneumonia getting struck down by lightning on their conscience, they better be getting our power back on. She's a nut.
I don't know how much rain we've had so far. It doesn't seem like much because the wind has blown continuously. I'm guessing at 2 or 3 inches with more to come.
We're under tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings right now. The warning sirens have gone off constantly today. You get kinda numb to it after awhile. It's like your body knows what to do before it registers with your mind.
Grab son, flashlight, bottled water and cell phone. Get in hallway. Block yourself with extra mattress. Kiss your son and tell him everything is going to be fine. Pray to God silently that it will be. Rinse and repeat.
Right now, there is a tornado on the ground in Kentwood, Louisiana. That's about 18 miles south of me. Hopefully it will miss us.
We are still fine. It could have been much worse. We are very thankful it wasn't.
Cheater glasses - November 20, 2008 Don't mess with my iced tea - November 18, 2008 Happy Birthday Danny DeVito - November 17, 2008 Mrs. Beasley - November 13, 2008 foot ailment - November 12, 2008
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