The Advent Hurricane
You can call it a storm if you want to; but I lived through it, and it was a hurricane.
I’m here… and we’re alive. We sustained significant damage to our roof… (the photo above is not our house) but we are physically well and in good spirits. Power went out on Sunday and has just been restored—at least temporarily. Quest is up, Charter is not. Phone service has been restored. I am busily answering emails, uploading terrible photos of the devastation, and processing this event. Obviously, I’ve not gotten to comments yet.
It’s been a long 5 days but this community has survived the worst storm in recent memory. And in the process, we have banded together and we have stepped outside our own homes to extend a hand to our neighbors. I am proud to be an Astorian, proud of the way this community handled this crisis, proud to know that even if the world is unaware of our crisis, we are completely aware of our neighbor’s need. If there is anything to be gained–it is this, in the past 5 days we have not only learned to “love our neighbor”, we have embodied that. There is perhaps no better example of love incarnate.
I’ve just begun to go through the emails and comments… but thank you. For your prayers, your concerns, and your love. It means more than you can ever know.
I’m off to hot water and a hair dryer. And maybe a few loads of laundry.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Only someone who has lived through a Hurricane knows the real difference from the wind of a storm and the Destruction and Devastation of a hurricane. Astorians know the difference!!!! Now if only everything stopped when the power did and you could just pick up were the power left you, but laundry has a way of ignoring the fact you can not get to it. Anyway good to know you are all well!! I think I can hear the hot water and hair dryer calling your name, enjoy. Mom
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We are well… a little stir-crazy. And apparently without milk… so I see a trip to the grocery store ASAP.
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I’m glad to read that y’all are OK. Adversity either brings people together or drives them apart; how wonderful that your community experienced the former.
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Exactly. This is the sentiment we’ve heard a great deal in the past few days. And I do think it applies.
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Glad you’re alright, Wende! I’ve been wondering if things are okay. It sounds scary.
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We are, thank you!
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Wow, Wende, that sounds really frightening.
Prayers for all of you.
Heather
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Heather, thank you! It’s good to hear from you. There were moments in the storm where I really thought our roof was coming off. As it stands, it is flaps like bird wings on the South side. Heh. I wish I’d video-taped it when I had the chance, because it’s almost unbelievable. ~W
December 6th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Holy smokes! I had no idea. So glad to hear that you and your family are safe and glad to hear that people are taking care of each other. take care of yourselves!
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We are safe, thank you! And this town is doing what it needs to do. But thank you for your well wishes.
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Yeah, the coasts got hit HARD by this storm. It made us miserable, but bypassed us for the most part. However, if I wanted to come visit you, I would need to make a 7 hour detour through Yakima/Tri-cities because I-5 is closed south of Olympia. I don’t remember that EVER happening. Wende, you weren’t too sure about being an Astorian, but it sounds like this was a bonding through adversity, eye-opening experience. Even though hurricanes are awful, one can never discount the power of people. I think you are now truly tied to your town. Hope you’re enjoying the POWER!!
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Oh, I think we will always be “outside”–but watching this go down has been amazing. IZ and I have always said the winters here make us admire the place, it’s the summers without sunlight or warmth that make us long for more southern climes.
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I am delurking to say I’m glad all are safe. Enjoy your hot shower and hair dryer!
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Thank you, Gail! I appreciate it!
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Glad to know you are okay. Thought of you a lot.
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Thank you! It’s nice to know people knew.
~W
December 6th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I am so sorry Wende. I really can’t imagine what that has been like for you. I’m glad you survived it. We’re supposed to get a lot of rain tonight. Probably part of the same storm.
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Oh, you have a storm of your very own. And we hear it’s going to dump tons of water on your burned out area. Stay safe.
~W
December 7th, 2007 at 5:31 am
You know my dear, I am so out of the loop and well, loopy! I heard of the flooding of ‘major highway between Portland and Seattle’ and the devastation to homes between there when I was on a drive yesterday and I wondered, ‘huh’? Had no idea. So sorry. No clue!
So sorry to see the devastation of the area. Hugs.
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Oh, no problem. Most people had no clue unless they lived in the NW. In part, because Astoria and much of coastal Oregon is so isolated–both in location and in temperment. At one point during the emergency, the local news station that became our source for info said, “Oh, we’re not going to bother breaking into ABC World News—because frankly, who really cares about the world right now?” There was and is a sense, that the world didn’t know what was happening, or frankly, cared. And as a community, you have two choices, you can get angry about it or you can not wait to be rescued. We opted to rescue ourselves.
It’s been amazing to watch.
The other reason people don’t know, is that everyone in the news world insists on calling this a “storm”. And I’m sorry, if I heard there was a big storm headed for some small podunk place in the midwest, I don’t think I notice. If, on the other hand, they called it what it was, “Hurricane” or some other word that should apply—then oh yeah, I’d be watching. I mean, it rains in Oregon, that’s hardly worth noting right?
~W
December 7th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Oh Wende,
I’m so sorry to see these — the pictures say a million words. Please let me know if there’s any way we can help, seriously. xo, a
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Thanks, Alicia! We’ve been better… but in truth, this town is starting to pick up the pieces. We are set for food and fuel and the like, so we’re OK. No worries. ~W
December 7th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Good Grief! here in oz i’m always out of the loop with things like that! I’m soo pleased to hear you and yours are all okay.
Thinking of you!
Carly.
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Thanks Carly. I appreciate your concern. My love to your brood and Para!
~W
December 11th, 2007 at 5:30 am
We kept up about the storm in the news, and saw the photos of the devastation. So glad you and the family are okay.
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Thank you!! ~W
December 14th, 2007 at 7:28 am
O boy did seaside have a hurricane with those 130 mile an hour winds cant believe i survived it.
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Glad to hear you did!
~W