Hurricane in Photos
These photos do nothing to capture the devastation our little town has encountered. I opted to not go out just after the storm ended–as a safety precaution, and also because I just couldn’t bring myself to look through a camera lens just yet. In retrospect, I wish I’d braved the last bit of the wind to give you some idea of how treacherous this storm was. As you can see from the photos… 4 days in, we are already at work restoring our property and cleaning up the mess.
Normalcy is a long way off still.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Just a little wind indeed! I have to laugh that “they” can claim “sustained hurricane force winds” but can’t call it a hurricane! 130mph will wreck havoc anywhere. I have to say I never expected to survive a hurricane with you, but having gone through it - there is no one I would rather endure such an event with than you.
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I know. I’m fuming. For obvious reasons. TRYING NOT TO RANT. heh. I think considering what we went through, we did ok. I know I’m glad to be back in our own bed! And I’m thinking about all those people still in shelters and hoping they can go home soon. ~W
December 6th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
I think that the term hurricane is used only as a geographic reference…like typhoon. It’s a shame that it seems apparent to me by our mutual destructive evidence that we need our own word. I’m glad you weathered it all in one piece.
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The term has to do with origination of the storm. So, Hurricane for those storms that come out of the Caribbean, Typhoon for those that come out of the Indian Ocean. I would argue, that since this storm is the offspring of a sloppy marriage between two other tropical storms in Hawaii and out of the Pacific, that we should have SOME word to describe it that goes further than “storm.” In truth, Typhoon would be closer, since the originating storms were in fact typhoons.
I rarely misuse words on accident. And I am making a political statement here with the misuse of the word Hurricane. On which, I should probably blog not comment. I have BIG problems with the way this “storm” was “forecasted”, announced, and reported. And language plays such a key role, and most of us are oblivious to that fact. So, yeah, I’m misusing the word. On purpose. Because I’m Southern with a bone to pick.
~W
December 7th, 2007 at 5:43 am
Oh, the cleaning the cleaning the cleaning. AFTER is always so strange… where everyone just kind of walks around and says, “Wow.” And also, the freezer is a mess. We’re so glad to hear you’re (relatively) ok and that the town is already beginning to rebound. Seriously let us know if there is anything we can do from afar. Rylie’s good at throwing toothpaste and socks in a box!
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We were fortunate, in that we have a terribly tiny refrigerator/freezer–so we can’t keep a winter’s worth of food in it. AND the storm hit the day before payday for us–so we were down to just the stuff that can’t parish in our pantry.
I used the opportunity to clean my fridge and toss out all the oldie moldy salad dressings we were accruing. But thank you so much for your offer of help. If you think about it, on Sunday, if Mars Hill could send up a few prayers for Astoria, we’d sure appreciate it! ~W
December 7th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Hey you… I was trying to call you when I first heard that we had local phone service up to see how your family was doing… I’m totally buying you a new land line for Christmas this year!
I’m so glad that everyone was safe, and I’m right with you… I’m so impressed with how this town has come together neighbor to neighbor, coast guard, and outside help to clean this mess up and help each other out.
And I’m so thankful today to have electricity again, this morning I need a cup of coffee the size of my head!!!
Hope to chat with you soon.
~K
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Yeah, our land line stinks. It is hardwired in the basement and you have to shout into it. Our other phones, all run on electricity, so once they lost their charges, we couldn’t get calls on them until the power was restored. Glad to hear you have power and are getting coffee.
~W
December 7th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I’m so glad to hear that you’re all okay (okay being relative). Let us know if there’s anything we can do!
~Angela
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Thank you! I hope you all fared well in your part of this storm! ~W
December 7th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Oh, take care Wende. You are all in my thoughts.
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Thanks, Heather! We’re doing OK. ~W
December 7th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Oh my goodness! I’m glad that y’all are doing ok…wow. I read the candle “storm” post, and didn’t think much more of it… The pictures of the “Thank You” windows are my favorite. For a community to not only rally together, but show appreciation for each other is really beautiful. I’m praying for you and your neighbors!
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Heh, that’s ok. Mark works for IZ and didn’t think anything of his boss missing for 4 days.
I’ve never been delusional about being missed. 
December 7th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
The photos tell the story, Wende. All battered and bruised, we pick ourselves up and jump in with both feet to make sense of it all. Glad to see those out and about today!
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Oh, Renee, I do hope LaDeDog did ok! ~W
December 7th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
My Gosh! I’m so sad that the little piece of Heaven called the Oregon Coast had to get hammered. But, ya know, it really is a place where everyone is neighbors and friends. It’s amazing how everyone comes out to help each other and that warms my heart. I’ll be praying for everyone out there to get through this time of reconstruction and healing.
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I’m sure your prayers are much appreciated in these parts!
~W
December 7th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I’m happy everyone is okay. I was thinking about your family and sending good vibes. You said your roof sustained damage, but … how did the tangy porch fare?
As usual, you took some great photos. Like Marie, my favorite is the “Thank You” in the window. Good people always show up and come through for their neighbors.
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We are ok, as is my tangy porch. However, my roof is another matter. OOF and DAH! ~W
December 7th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
So, life is getting back to normal? I like the Thank You in the window also. I hope this is the only storm of the winter for you!
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You know, that would be lovely. Personally, I think this storm should set us up for 10 years… but uh, that’s kinda wishful thinking, eh? ~W
December 8th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Oh my heavens…the wreckage is awful. I was talking to my mother last night and neither of us were even aware of what was going on in your world…I was telling her about your email…I am so very sorry, and am breathing a sigh of relief…but, My heart goes out to you…I wish I was there to help you clean up…or re-roof…although, I was cleaning up the shop after our lovely rain yesterday…more of my ceiling has fallen in. A small devastation compared to yours indeed.
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You know, any damage to your building suffers is still a loss. It’s never easy to deal with that sort of thing. I’ve heard rumor of your rain–I hope you’re drying out soon! ~W
December 9th, 2007 at 11:31 am
How awful. Thinking of you and your community during this time.
Amanda xoxo
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Thank you, Amanda! ~W
December 10th, 2007 at 7:41 am
I think our Pacific NW storms should be called “Holy Molies” because that’s what I think when that old cedar outside my bedroom window goes all horizontal.
Can you hear the forecasters now? “We’ve got a Holy Moley bearing down on us”
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That would certainly be accurate!
Interesting note: for the first time in history, the National Weather Service used the word “hurricane” to describe a storm in the temperate zone. And while they didn’t call it a “hurricane” they did describe the winds as “hurricane force”–which is a first. Even they were in need of vocabulary. 
~W
December 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Aw man, I am behind in reading my blogs. I’m so sorry you and your town went through this. Dang.
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Thank you.
~W