A lot of folks learned the hard way in September 2022 that a tropical storm ought not have diminutive adjectives attached. You know the ones: just, only, little. We ignore at our peril tropical storms (or cyclones, to be more scientific) with their 38-74 mph wind speeds, rain and storm surge.
Shrugging our shoulders with a “Meh, it’ll be fine; we need the rain anyway” is a surefire way to spend the next six months in post-storm repairs and renovations.
Hurricane Ian, which headed toward Key West as “just” a tropical storm, escalated in the overnight hours of Sept. 27, 2022. Many had gone to bed comforted by the misplaced belief that tropical storms could pretty much be ignored. After all, the forecast said Ian would pass well to the west of Key West as a tropical storm. We’d be just fine. Maybe a little wet and a few coconuts bouncing around, but nothing to fret about.
By the next morning as Ian bypassed Key West and galloped toward the mainland, it left behind storm surge on the island of about 4.7 feet, with 93 homes flooded, including 38 with major water damage. Peak wind gusts were 75 to 85 mph. Fourteen single-family homes were destroyed; 52 had minor damage. Officials attributed the deaths of seven Cuban migrants found near the Florida Keys to the storm.
In September 2022, in the aftermath of Ian, I wrote:
“Heavy rains coupled with king tides and storm surge had many folks trapped in their homes, water over their knees on the first floor, cars awash, streets raging rivers. There are comparisons with Hurricane Wilma’s storm surge damage in 2005.
“I was raised near North Carolina’s southeastern coast. Hurricanes were part of the summer routine and, even as a kid, I learned never to say ‘It’s just a tropical storm.’ Tropical storms that bring sustained winds of 38-74 mph with gusts in the mid-90s are just a sneeze less than a Category 1 hurricane and the damage, including flooding and storm surge, from ‘just a tropical storm’ can be as devastating.
“If you’ve got two feet of water in your house, do you really want to quibble about whether it was a storm or a hurricane?”
Earlier this week, the National Hurricane Center kept a wary eye on a tropical wave far to our east and south — heck, not even a tropical depression, much less a tropical storm. Hurricane wasn’t a word in use — yet. That kind of system could dissipate into a nothingburger, or it could come roaring through the Keys as a Cat 5 if the weather gods throw a tantrum. So come Saturday morning, when you’ll be reading this, we’ll likely either be fine or not. With rapid intensification, predicting storm potential is kinda fruitless.
There’s the rub. Do we opt for bravado and take a pass on prepping in such sweaty weather? Or do we scurry around like Henny Penny dithering that the sky is falling?
I opt for — to continue the fairytale allusions — the Grasshopper and the Ant. I make sure the last-minute prep work is at the ready and then I can sit back and enjoy a nice island weekend.
Tropical storm prep | Don’t pretend this is “just” nothing
If you didn’t spend June and July doing your annual hurricane prep, you’ve got a lot to do. But if your basics are in place, the go-bag is packed and you’ve had your generator serviced, you can opt for my checklist:
- Find the water jugs. You don’t need to fill them, just have them handy. One or two gallons per day per person for a week is a decent guideline. We opt for the 7.5 gallon jugs that we use for camping at Fort Jefferson.
- Check the gasoline. Fill up the car and have your generator supply in a safe and accessible place. Might as well fire up the generator while you’re at it to be on the safe side — and review the instructions for how to plug it in.
- Locate your solar chargers and their battery packs. Make sure the packs are fully charged. Don’t forget the one in the car for fixing flat tires or the one that keeps the CPAP going when the lights go out.
- Inspect the first aid kit, the chain saw, the rakes, shovels, duct tape and garbage bags.
- Check the shutters and pay particular attention to those washers and screws that hold them in place. They love to rust and wander.
- Get cash. Having a $100 or so in twenties beats no ATMs or credit card machines.
- Download some movies and books and charge the Kindle.
- Double-check the toilet paper and paper towels. Have enough non-perishable food to last you — and the pets — a week.
And, then go enjoy your weekend.
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