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llmart

(16,616 posts)
8. I vividly remember hurricane Hugo.
Sun Oct 6, 2024, 10:21 AM
Oct 2024

I lived in North Carolina at the time but inland near the Charlotte area. There was no internet or cell phones and the technology to predict how a hurricane would move wasn't as sophisticated. The night it hit I watched the 11 o'clock news/weather report and there was no indication that it would affect the Charlotte area outside of high winds and rain. The power went out at 3:30 AM and the horrendous sound of the wind woke me up. The noise was incredible yet it was pitch black because it was nighttime and the power was out all over the city. It wasn't until daylight broke that I could even tell what had been happening outside my door. To say the experience was jolting is an understatement.

We were on the outskirts of the city so we were without power for a little over two weeks. There was no going anywhere because our entire street was blocked with downed power lines, trees, telephone poles. The entire one side of the house was plastered with tiny pieces of tree leaves. I lived in a house on almost an acre wooded lot and we lost about ten trees but fortunately none fell on our house. Down the street from me a baby was killed in her crib when a tree fell on the house and went through the roof into the bedroom where the baby was. It haunts me to this day.

Recommendations

9 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Thank you for this post. yardwork Oct 2024 #1
Yes, the PTSD is horrific for sure. SheltieLover Oct 2024 #2
K&R WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2024 #3
Yes, x 10000 lark Oct 2024 #4
As a retired first responder, I absolutely say those who ignore evacuation orders should be judged harshly RAB910 Oct 2024 #5
I'm not talking about mandatory areas. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #7
There was no evacuation order in the mountains. yardwork Oct 2024 #10
I remember the NHC and/or NOAA warning repeatedly in the days before the storm hit land, that LauraInLA Oct 2024 #46
Severe rain and flash floods aren't that uncommon in WNC. yardwork Oct 2024 #48
The majority of people who "ignore" evacuation orders generally have pretty solid reasons for not evacuating. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2024 #13
Exactly Farmer-Rick Oct 2024 #29
I have never evacuated from a hurricane. I had 3 cats and 7 birds. kerry-is-my-prez Oct 2024 #49
I'm really glad you made it through safely! LauraInLA Oct 2024 #50
You asked for an explanation MyMission Oct 2024 #64
Thanks for the info Farmer-Rick Oct 2024 #66
Amen to that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #16
When 4 hurricanes hit central Florida Keepthesoulalive Oct 2024 #17
The folks who think 21 million people can leave a peninsula within 48-72 hours are shockingly stupid. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #22
You have to live thru Keepthesoulalive Oct 2024 #28
While I can understand your perspective, I see other sides as well. EVACUATE! niyad Oct 2024 #41
Excellent post. Thanks. underpants Oct 2024 #6
I vividly remember hurricane Hugo. llmart Oct 2024 #8
No words Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #18
Another Perspective modrepub Oct 2024 #9
You may not be aware that the worst hit area from Helene was 600 miles away. yardwork Oct 2024 #12
Mountains Are Extremely Flood Prone modrepub Oct 2024 #15
Your take on this is not helpful. yardwork Oct 2024 #23
Respect the floodplain!! MyMission Oct 2024 #54
Good advice soandso Oct 2024 #57
It may have been like a Tsunami DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #30
Your facts are wrong in several places. yardwork Oct 2024 #34
Thank you DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #37
The rest of your post is mostly opinion yardwork Oct 2024 #39
New article from AP DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #51
I didn't see a link in your post. yardwork Oct 2024 #53
Go to DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #55
I know. I'm in Durham, NC and my son lives in Asheville. yardwork Oct 2024 #58
Asheville is the largest city in this region of NC MyMission Oct 2024 #63
A great OP malaise Oct 2024 #11
What about if DownriverDem Oct 2024 #14
Everyone should make decisions based on their own circumstances and needs. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #20
The lies are working - they're turning us against one another. yardwork Oct 2024 #25
True. Every region on earth has its climate hazzards. wnylib Oct 2024 #44
I remember that bomb cyclone blizzard. yardwork Oct 2024 #59
I am near Buffalo, but far enough inland wnylib Oct 2024 #60
where should people move to avoid natural disasters?? cally Oct 2024 #45
Bravo! Life is NOT a movie! Girard442 Oct 2024 #19
KnR. n/t iluvtennis Oct 2024 #21
Thanks for this post, Pacifist Patriot. This is so important for people to understand. BComplex Oct 2024 #24
It's been almost twenty years since I've been on the ground as a relief worker. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #26
My most intense experience in a hurricane was in 1966, the year we lived on Key Biscayne across the causeway from Martin68 Oct 2024 #27
The news never mentions the stench. So many Florida homes have septic tanks, Native Oct 2024 #31
That, rotting garbage, molding plywood, people unable to bathe, decaying flora and fauna..it's bad. Pacifist Patriot Oct 2024 #32
To say nothing of the DENVERPOPS Oct 2024 #38
Alicia taught me some lessons. ananda Oct 2024 #33
I always say that as far as a fun and exciting experience is concerned... Towlie Oct 2024 #35
Living through a hurricane or even a strong tropical storm is no fun LetMyPeopleVote Oct 2024 #36
Thank you Wild blueberry Oct 2024 #40
KNR plus a gazillion. THANK YOU!!! niyad Oct 2024 #42
Thank you. PTSD after a disaster, natural or otherwise, is real. CDC has a national Disaster Distress Helpline, Timeflyer Oct 2024 #43
Wonderful post soandso Oct 2024 #47
Thank you for the very analytical write-up of the impact of a hurricane. Very graphic and informative. SWBTATTReg Oct 2024 #52
During Hurricane Harvey I had a family member say - "just leave now" TBF Oct 2024 #56
Thank you for posting this Lulu KC Oct 2024 #61
This is what we needed to read Mira Oct 2024 #62
That's a great and timely post PP canetoad Oct 2024 #65
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