Hurricane Drill
Though local TV continued to give warnings for Oahu, Hawaii, the 6:00 pm national news told of hurricane Lane’s change to being oval in shape, breaking up, and heading away from Oahu at a snail’s pace. The Big Island and Maui continued to get buried in rain causing severe flooding. We went to bed feeling relieved of the threat of high winds yet concerned about our island neighbors and our predicted rains.
As Oahu eye’s opened this morning, silver sky turned grey with lower level strata-cumulus clouds blanketing the mountains. Intermittent bursts of downpours quickly changed to a light sprinkle before disappearing completely. We are so fortunate. Mother Nature engaged us in a “hurricane drill”.
Had we not been blessed with such an opportunity, we would have been “shaking our heads and winding our watches”, wishing we had the ability to go back in time. The following are reflections on our level of preparedness:
successes:
helped all those near and in need
worked congruently with neighbors to achieve the overall plan of preparedness
got an “oversized” anchor out far enough to hold the boat (off the dock)
added extra lines attached to various anchor points on the boat and on land
secured three different vessels
added extra fenders
replaced older lines
got extra gas, batteries, propane, food, and water
positioned vehicles to ensure two different escape routes from the house
dusted of and brought in a propane stove and hurricane lamp
cooked a roast and stew
will do differently:
prioritize a “to do” list and complete tasks in a sequential manner
secure my boat faster and sooner
add additional protection for lines at chafe points
spend more time removing all things that would have become projectiles
prepare material to board up all the windows quickly
clean trash cans, add a new liners, fill with drinking water, then close
store ice in the washing machine (insulated and drains) for power outage
fill water bottles and freeze (to extend food life in a power outage)
Hurricanes aren’t an individual sport. As a storm’s category increases, so too are the number of people needing to work together to prepare. The more work completed with other people, the more accomplished one feels not just in accomplishing the task, but in being a valuable member of a supportive community. This also describes one of the unique qualities found within the boating community; working together makes people stronger.
