Battling Hurricane Irma

Not Another One

Hurricanes are terrifying. Despite growing up on a tropical island where hurricanes are common, I never underestimate their power. I've experienced hurricanes both in Puerto Rico and now in Florida. Each one was more terrifying than the previous one.

On Sunday, September 10, 2017, I was residing in Central Florida when Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm, was forecasted to make landfall. The expected time of impact for my area was around 2:00 a.m. In preparation, we stocked up on essentials such as water, non-perishable food to last several days, batteries, and flashlights. Our roof was undergoing repairs, so roofers had placed a tarp over it to prevent further damage. As a precaution, we cleared the patio terrace of all furniture, plants, and wind chimes, anticipating potential projectile hazards. The atmosphere was eerily calm, devoid of any bird activity, signaling the impending storm. It was a clear indication of the impending danger.

Staying Safe

In addition to my immediate family, we were also joined by my mother, a friend, and her 4-year-old child as we hunkered down at our home to ride out the storm. Our household swelled to 8 people, along with two dogs and a cat. The long wait felt interminable. We tried to pass the time by engaging in board games, conversations, and watching TV, although most of the TV time was dedicated to keeping up with the news. During this period, some of us grappled with feelings of anxiety, boredom, and worry.

The rain began around midday with some wind gusts of about 40 miles. It felt like it was going to be a long day. By 11:00 p.m., I was getting ready to head to bed. The winds started picking up as soon as I got into bed, and our dog was trembling with fear. I decided to let him onto our bed instead of his.

Irma's Fury

The sound of the winds made me worry that the shed, outdoor kitchen roof, or fence might be blown off. There was a brief pause before silence took over, and it was just as terrifying as the sound of the wind. Irma was not happy. I tried to sleep, but as I was about to doze off, I heard a text message come in. It was my sister. She was giving me her accounts of the storm. We texted back and forth for a while when I opted to wait it out in the family room. I got up and walked into the family room. The double glass doors vibrated from the wind’s force. I walked towards the other side of the house and knocked on the door to the bedroom where my mother was, but she didn’t respond. I opened it slowly and called out to her a couple of times. She was fast asleep. I wished I had been able to sleep like that while the hurricane stirred outside. I returned to the family room and sat down for a bit with my friend.

My husband, son, and son-in-law all stepped outside the front entrance—crazy guys. Then, the power went out. It was 2:00 a.m. and just as the news anchor predicted; the winds picked up. My sister sent me another text. It was winding down in her area, so she was going to get some sleep. The clanking of flapping roofs and the tossing around of flying debris were dreadful. I could hear the flapping of the tarp on our roof. It sounded as if the roof was about to give in and fly away. By then, I did not know what category the storm was, nor the speed of the wind. And I didn’t care. All I did was pray to God to spare my family, friends, neighbors, and Florida overall from any catastrophe. I headed back to bed, even though it was so hard for me to fall asleep. As the wind continued to pound on our windows like a madman, in this case, a mad woman wanting to come inside, I dozed on and off. Irma grunted, howled, and pushed with all her force and no mercy. She was relentless.

No Sleep

At 3:45 a.m. I still could not sleep. Therefore, I grabbed my tablet, logged onto Facebook, and read how my local family and friend’s status depicted their Irma experience. Like me, many were terrified of what was going on. It was surreal. Between Facebook postings, I communicated via text with my brother and my cousin. By now, my husband was oblivious to what was going on as he slept peacefully with our dog between us, trembling. I got up a few times and peeked out the window towards the pitch-black night torment of Irma. The last time I glanced at the time it was 4:37 a.m. Irma’s fury was still thrashing away at the windows and everything outside. I was so tired, but every time I dozed off, Irma’s winds awakened me.

We Survived Hurricane Irma

It finally started slowing down just enough for me to catch some much-needed sleep. I woke up at 6:08 a.m. still tired, but relieved that the hurricane had moved on. We survived Irma and her fury. It was one of the longest nights of my life. Now here we are, seven years later, anticipating a possible hit from Hurricane Helene. I pray it dissipates into the sea, sparing us all. Be safe, my friends. Hurricanes are no joke.

Originally published on Newsbreak on September 25, 2024.