There is a storm onits way - The weather girl says

There is a storm on its way

19 September 2018

09:57

The weather girl said there is a storm on its way with gale force winds and very heavy rain.

Winds to exceed 100 miles per hour with up to four inches of rain

We to be prepared

 

Chop down the thick branches from the top of the fence; thick climbing plants which have finished flowering; they will regrow next year

Take all the plant pot off the walls and table place the close to the western fence

Place tables and chairs in sheltered spots, tables upturned

 

Inside: Collect candles and torches, thermos flasks at the ready, two water bottles to fill

Gas cylinder and two ring burner at the ready

Sort some warmer clothes and those individual 'snuggies'

It the power goes off we have no lights or heating - Oh and no TV

Winds are getting stronger close the curtains and blinds to conserve heat

Charge the Tab and laptops, Also phones (son could get called in to help out in traffic)

Radio batteries

 

At first sight of flashing electrics boil the kettle, fill the thermos's

Make a warm drink fill the water containers

All is prepared 

Get on with normal life

Until -----------

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

strong closing says i! sometimes no matter the preparations ... we are still surprised and caught off guard when a storm hits ... and what hits me in reading is how flimsy those preparations are by your speaker ... close the drapes to keep the heat in ... sorry! not when the wind blows out the windows ;) here in the USA this is super relevant given our recent hurricanes hitting ... so much water and devastation ... :(((((((((((
E.

[Wild Rose]

We are in stone built houses > We did loose part of the roof and Yes have seen windows blown in We close the inner and outer blinds when it gets real strong
Our wind is either off the Irish Sea or above Ireland off the Atlantcic . nothing between us and USA in that direction wort wind we have known here was a cross sea ferry blown onto a sand bank and the anemometer on the lighthouse jammed at 150mph
As for floods to reach us it would have to be 125 m
we are 1m above the road outside & falls away to the coast from here

[Wild Rose]

Before we moved here we had a house with 2ft thick solid stone walls and stone roof tiles 2 inch thick > still blew off

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! those are storms of legends ...what fantastic solid stone homes you have lived in Wild Rose ... and the Irish always touch me ol' heart ... my ancestors are from County Donegal and Galway ;) Top o' the mahrnin to ya lass!

[Wild Rose]

We live in the north of England > Now on the coast at 125m alt (400+ ft)
We used to live on the Pennine mountains at 600ft All the houses we built with local stone

[ScaredSilent]

Maybe a more substantial title but overall I really like this piece. It reminds me that none of us are invincible no matter how hard we try.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you - It was one of those news flashes (dont know why it was so urgent - the day after tomorrow the news flash said)
I was sitting on here just made it up "Live"

We have routine of things to do - developed over time of living 'out in the sticks'

Thanks again for commenting

[Flowers of Eternity]

"Until...." Until what?
You really got me there wild rose!
I enjoy reading your work!
And I really love the ending!
truly brilliant!

[Wild Rose]

Thank you We are all ready and life goes on as normal - until > the lights go out; the winds can blow the rains come down; we are high (125m Alt) above any flood: Windows are of stronger Glass (By law because of the wind strengths we get (on the coast overlooking the Irish Sea)
Until whatever is sent

[Verse]

... until the moment of impact. :)

Your ability to turn a storm warning into a travelogue is really quite remarkable!

We had three tornadoes blow through recently, and several people lost homes, roofs flew off buildings, and in one case a church was flattened. Miraculously, no one died, although a number of people were injured.

Those storm warnings can actually be useful! :)

Hugely enjoyed.

[Wild Rose]

Yes even though our houses are built of stone roofs or part of can blow of > Roof tiles spin across the roads & trees come down

[Ken Simm.]

So used to those days and nights up here in the Highlands. Sometimes I have to return to pen and paper. My Mother used to blame it all on little green men. Always better when you are prepared and it sounds as if you are. Hope it went ok.

[Wild Rose]

Ah yes I know the Highlands > We used to live on the Pennines between Yorkshire an Lancashire at 500ft & often were snowed in - Now live overlooking the Irish Sea
Little Green Men for sure _ always say 'good Morning' to them or they get you back for sure

[Samuel Dickens]

As much as we may prepare, there's no telling what nature may bring. These words are surely from someone who has ridden out a storm or two. In the navy, we had to lash everything down and stow away all "missile hazards". Hopefully, your dwelling is sturdy and leak proof.

[Wild Rose]

We have always lived on a hill with open countryside around; also ex racing cyclists and mountain wanderers > 55 years married

[Neville]

Blimey, sounds like you are preparing to sit out the Blitz..... by the way, you probably wont believe this but am having to re-write these few words because we have just had a power cut here..... and a great big branch just missed hitting me bloomin alfa in the drive......... no catching you off guard my friend.... Neville

[Wild Rose]

We used to live on the Pennines _ one winter we were snowed in for three weeks _ She lived in that village as a girl
We keep about four weeks stock of food all the time > When we go camping we load enough food for most of the time >> Six weeks in Iceland touring - moving on every day so stocked some dehydrated mountaineering meals

Our internet was off yesterday while the repaired the system from last weeks gales

[Neville]

Go well and stay warm...

[sette]

and my country is too used to this kind of phenomenon we regard it as both blessing and curse but then who wants to live under the equator where it is prone to this kind of calamity.. but then resilient as we are.. despite the destruction, standing tall as if it had just passed...

[Wild Rose]

Thanks for reading and comment
Here (in the house) we just had wind and rain
Then yesterdays news Trees down; caravans & trucks blown over' rail way stopped overhead line down & about 3000 homes with no electric Oh and ferries to Ireland stopped
Spring and Autumn the winds come along
Yes sis used to live on the Equator HOT they sat in the shade too hot to move then it rained buckets full in seconds
They moved to NZ one of the girls was driving through a city - stopped at lights - an earth tremor/quake - all the building in front collapsed onto the road

[silentwriter180]

Well described. Been through many such storms.

[Wild Rose]

There is nothing we can do just keep warm dry and safe
Son is on holiday but expected to be called in (Council Traffic dept.) They were all called in during the worst part (over 100mph)

[Delmar Cooper]

thinking of Robert Burns' "To a Mouse"

So there, hermetically sealed in the storm shelter surrounded by thick concrete walls and tinned food and canned drink someone asked if there was a can opener.

"gang aft agley"

[Wild Rose]

Yes heard that before - have ripped a can open using a pair of pliers and some tin cutters

[barleygirl]

I know you wrote this in all seriousness & you lay out a thorough & convincing "to-do" list here . . . but I'm laughing at you becuz you are SOOOOO prepared! I'm just the opposite. I take life as it comes. I don't need no damn weather report to freak me out & leave me in a state of hyper anticipation for hours or days. You could hustle up your supplies in the dark too . . . that's a fun alternative! *smile* Thanks for being so uninhibited & showing us your OCD tendencies without any reserve! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Its not me > Its her likes things to be "controlled" - Go and ---- do as you are told
it comes round Spring and Autumn (Fall)

We used to live in a more remote area - no one to give help - been snowed in there for three weeks until the council got round to clearing the roads