Headed for a quick visit down Siesta Key to watch Talkin Tipsy run at Gulfstream Park, instead I waltzed right into

Hurricane Helene! 

I headed down on 21-September with no hint of any weather in the Gulf or Carribean.  But once I arrived, that all changed as a gathering storm appeared off the western Cuban coast and quickly was forecast to be a Hurricane barelling north just off Florida's West Coast!  Great! 

Named Helene, she was gathering strength and by the 24th of September, Sarasota County had issued an evacuation order for Siesta Key - right where I was.   

Evacuation Order?  How bad could it get?  And remember, I am a Hurricane veteran having weathered Hurricane Agnes back in 1972.  A storm that had flattened the Beach House our family was staying at the night of our arrival.

So I decided to stay and ride it out.  I had plenty of drinking water & food in the house and rounded out my preparations with the purchase of a flashlight.   This boy was ready.

Well, the morning of the 25th the County shut off all the water to the entire Island, rendering the buildings AC inoperable, with nothing to flush the toilets with.   I didn't come back on for 3 days!  However, didn't lose power or internet service - which is pretty surprising. 

As Helene passed, she was 125 miles to the West of us.  Though the waves of the Gulf were pretty big, (Peanut Butter style according to sister Jean,) surprisingly, there was comparatively little rain.

 Click here for Video of the Island a Day After The Hurricane

But then came the Storm Surge - in lockstep with High Tide.   All the roads were flooding and I was watching our car to see if the water got higher than the Passenger Compartment. (It didn't -Phew!)  

Our Condo is on the 7th floor so I wasn't worried about that - but I went downstairs to see if the Lobby had flooded.  Again we caught a break as it was lapping up to the front door - but went no further.  

I still planned to drive down to Miami on the 27th for Tipsy's race - but the bridges on/off the island were still closed - so I had to watch her run on TV!  Damnitt!  She ran a FIne Second.   I'm fairly confident - had I been there - she would have WON!

I provided updates of my saga as it unfloded on Facebook that you see on the 3 video's to the top right of the page.  Though I tried to be humorous about my events - this Storm was deadly business up the South Eastern Coast Florida, Georgia and the Carolina's.  

Well, it wasn't the trip I had planned - but what an adventure!

Please Pray for all the people hurt by this storm 

Thanks be to God for keeping me safe

Please donate to Lutheran World Relief - Hurricane Helene

 

Visit www.rickyjohn.com for more about our family!