Thursday, August 25, 2011

Hurricane Irene's track: Pinching Abe says keep on going!

It's been an exciting week here in Virginia!  First, we felt the wonderful jolt of that 5.8-5.9 quake on Tuesday.  I have to admit, it was a bit scary!  Mainly because it started off slow and then grew in intensity.  It lasted for about 30 seconds here, and after the first 20 seconds, I was wondering if it would ever stop.  No real damage, save some cracked concrete (and some cracks that widened and buckled a smidge).  I've been lucky enough to live far enough away that I haven't felt the aftershocks.  Next up:  Hurricane Irene!

Living along the Potomac in the Northern Neck of Virginia, we tend to watch these hurricanes with interest.  Isabel came through our little town in 2003 and wreaked all kinds of havoc.  Businesses rebuilt or moved in the meantime, and when we first arrived, there was still damage to clean up --- even a year and a half later.  The house next to where we rented had the largest tree I'd ever seen still felled to the ground.  I later learned that it had been the oldest tree in town, if not our region.  In the next few years, we began to see less appropriate homes (read: shacks) torn down and in their steads, nice homes appeared.  It was as if Isabel had destroyed what needed to go and encouraged a rebirth.  The town, as a whole, is looking a lot nicer these days and it is for that reason that I hope that Hurricane Irene changes her mind and tracks east and out to sea!

Meanwhile, we'll be keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene's track, securing our outdoor items, and hoping for the best. 

1 comment:

Erin said...

That earth quake was pretty crazy! Like you, I wasn't sure it was ever going to end! And now dealing with the hurricane?!? Geesh!