Okay let me just say that last week was one hell of a week.
.
Earthquake:
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit at 1:51
p.m. and the epicenter was northwest of Richmond, Va.
What I learned:
1.
I always thought that I worked well under
pressure. Well now I will say that I
work well under pressure “only if it is NOT an act of God.”
a.
As I was standing outside after my office
building had been evacuated, I was frantically trying to remember all my family
members and friends on the east coast that I needed to check on and make sure
they were okay. Completely forgot about calling daycare to check on my daughter
until some asked me if I had heard from daycare! Oops! LOL! Guess I just knew that she was okay at daycare (which she was).
2.
There are older rocks beneath New Jersey and
they are long and solid. On the West Coast where they are frequent quakes the
underlying rocks are broken. So, due to the rock make up of East Coast vs. the
West Coast it makes the transfer of energy easier and therefore stretched
across several states.
3.
Proper Earthquake protocol: Drop, Cover, and
Hold On.” During earthquakes, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk
or table, and hold on to it firmly.
a.
Well being on the East Coast that didn’t work
out to well for us. As soon as most of us
realized what was going on… we all ran out of the building.
4. The
West Coast got quite the laugh at our reactions to this “minor earthquake.”
a. I
am cool with that. Let’s see how you guys handle snow!!
Hurricane Irene: Was eventually downgraded from a hurricane to
a tropical storm as it made it way through New York City, Connecticut and up
through Massachusetts. Leaving behind, many damaged homes, and
business, and millions without power.
What I learned:
1.
Irene was the first hurricane to hit the United
States since Hurricane Ike struck Texas in September 2008.
2.
Flooding records were broken in 26 rivers - New
Jersey (eight), New York (14) and Vermont (four)
3.
About 3.5 million customers were without power;
that’s about 9 million people.
a.
I was very thankful that I never lost power. I
did however; have enough batteries for any portable toy that my daughter had.
Leapster, portable DVD player, V-Reader. If we did lose power she was NOT going
to drive me crazy being her sole source of entertainment!
4.
Irene was the first storm to threaten the New
York City area since Hurricane Gloria in September 1985.
a.
I was five at the time and all I remember was
mom yelling at me to get away from the window. I thought it was the best thing
ever at that curious age.
b.
26 years later I found myself in the same spot as
my mother. At home, trying to entertain a 4 year old. Funny how life works that
way.
5.
I need to add Hurricane Insurance to my
Homeowners policy
a. I
called my insurance company just to check on coverage and deductible
information, etc, prior to the storm. What I was told that for some “reason” I
didn’t have hurricane coverage, just wind and water damage. At the time there
was a moratorium on all insurance policies, so I couldn’t add or delete any
coverages. I told her “that is fine, and
I understand, not worried about it because I can assure you that there will be
lots of wind and rain so I should be covered just fine.”
b. Will
be adding Hurricane coverage as soon as the moratorium is over. We are coming
up on the height of hurricane season. I was blessed this time around, but there
could always be a next time.
Looking back on last week, when Monday rolled around, I was
actually thankful t to be going to work. My daughter was ready to get out and
run off all her stored up energy from being in the house all weekend and we
both needed a “time out” from each other. Cabin fever on Monday was real!
After seeing the various news reports and recaps of the
storm, it was a reality check in terms of I could have been a lot worse off. I
realized that I was blessed that no large trees in my backyard came down. I was
freaking out about the 110ft pine tree in the back that would take out my house
if it ever came down.
Thankfully just
small branches here and there and no major damage, at my house or in my
immediate neighborhood.
For all those that lost homes, business, and still without
power, I am continuing to keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers!
P.S. – Just heard that Hurricane Katia is forming over the
Gulf. It is too soon to tell if it will threaten landfall. Guess we just have
to wait and see!
