Counting the cost

We went back to the lock-up this morning and rescued more stuff that didn't get soaked, a pile of bedding that was soaked (all came up fine in the washing machine) and more of Nicky's wood (currently soaking in fresh water).

The degree to which we had gotten off this very lightly was highlighted by a discussion with the man who has the lock-up next door. He, and our neighbours the other side, both run carpentry workshops. He'd arrived at 11pm on Monday night to find thigh high flood water washing around in his lock-up....all around the masses of expensive woodworking machinery and wood. He is now out of business for the time being. He's seen flood waters 4 times before, but on each previous occasion there was sufficient warning to move stuff and the waters had been nowhere near as high or damaging as this time. The chap on the other side had just been delivered $20,000 of specialist wood and $50,000 of specialist equipment (mostly computer controlled) to complete the contract to make ALL the doors for a new resort. He is also now unable to do the contract and is out of business. Faustino, who has the next lock up runs an import business...the only thing salvageable from his business is the beer: the rice, crackers, mattresses, soft furnishings are done for. Sobering thoughts. Thank heavens our toilets are plastic and mostly immune from damage.

The sun has just come out, it is still very windy and the pressure is still falling, but in the lull between driving rain, Nicky is outside fixing a wooden frame around the patio doors in the two bedrooms so we can screw plywood to them just before Ike pays us a call. The point of the plywood is to prevent objects breaking the glass and allowing the wind into the house. Given what it did in the lock-up, I believe 'nuff respect' for what wind can do in an enclosed space is the phrase we are looking for here.

Searching for references to Hanna on the news media, even the BBC failed to mention that the eye had gone right over the top of us - the Bahamas got a mention but one of the last pink bits on the map didn't merit anything. And another report on the Guardian website about Gustav and how it had failed to deliver the bad news (major hurricane/broken levees) notes that in order to boost the appearance of bad weather, the reporters had their coats open (more flapping) and their hair untied (looks wilder). Clearly, this man has never experienced 80 mph winds and thinks that just because it is not a cat. 5 hurricane it is just a bit blustery. Idiot.