What was the major lesson from Floyd for me? Well, it wasn't the fact that there were long lines of people at the gas stations, filling up their tanks. Nor the empty bread, milk and ice shelves. It wasn't the fact that there were no batteries to be found anywhere, either. And it wasn't the increased number of automobile accidents due to people being more intent on supplies than driving. Oh, I'll admit to being surprised by the antsy feeling I got because I didn't need to rush out and buy supplies, as I have every storm warning since I arrived in this country--you know that feeling; it's the one that makes you think you forgot to turn off the iron or something. But I don't think that could be counted as learning. Besides, it was soon replaced by a feeling of security that no matter what happened, we could get through it in relativel comfort, t6hanks to our emergency supplies.

No, it was none of the things we've discussed and role-played for so long. The major lesson for me is that so many people on this forum posted good wishes for the health and welfare of all of us threatened by Floyd. Why? Because it is proof positive that the troll stereotype of a "doomer" as totally selfish and uncaring exists only in a small (very small) fraction of posters on this forum and (mostly) in a troll's imagination.

A heartfelt thank-you to you all for sharing your concern, strength and good wishes. It helped more than you know.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 17, 1999

Answers

Old Git, meet the choir, Choir, meet Old Git. Now play nice.

-- I'm ----> (sick@of "Floyd".com), September 17, 1999.

If your 'sick of Floyd' (and the name is evocative), why look at the thread? Do you harbor some compulsion to look at every thread? As for M. Git, we are united in our delight that you withstood the tempest. The order for mass-evacuation was somewhat new, and (in retrospect) an over-reaction. Barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas need to be evacuated, clearly, but if you're ten mile (or even one, in most cases) sitting in a typical Florida cinder-block construction house, it is highly unlikely you'll be killed in a 'cane. Having said that, I acknowledge that approx. 1.2 million were evacuated for Andrew (NY Times headline), and that 70,000 houses, mainly in Homestead, got trashed. The events remain vivid because my wife was giving birth to our first child in Sarasota when Andrew hit. Some newborn scrapbook she's got: she still calls Andrew 'my hurricane.' But the imagery of all those care backed-up on I-10 coming out of Jax was astounding, and possibly a flash-forward to some future Hazmat problem. The fact that some (never all) stores get cleared of batteries and such never fails to amaze.

-- Spidey (in@jam.deluge), September 17, 1999.

Delighted you came through the experience so well, Old Git! Now... where's Critt?

Diane

(And pay no attention to that small sick troll under it's cracked bridge)

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 17, 1999.

Old Git;

I am happy you came through unscathed, I pray that the rest of us will be prepared and have the same sense of security you expressed if our time to be in harms way comes to pass.

God Speed recovery to all of you in Floyds path!

-- Helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), September 17, 1999.

Diane, last I heard Critt was taking his family from Wilmington to his brother's house in Henderson. He was going to leave around 0600 on Wednesday--hope he did and got a little ahead of the exodus.

A neighbor with a beach house and cottage told me that she was told the only way back to that part of the coast is from Henderson--you can't get there from here--so looks as if Critt will be able to find his way back.

The person who gave my neighbor the routing information said it took him and his family 17 hours to get to Henderson from the Wilmington area--they had to sleep part of the way on the roadside with two German shepherds, a cat and a parrot! I think that's almost four times as long as it usually takes.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 17, 1999.

Hey O.G.!

Sounds like what we missed, you got! Glad you're OK. Our sympathies and best wishes for those folks who got drenched (and worse) to the north.

Hoping all is well,

Spindoc'

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), September 17, 1999.