Just days ago, we were sitting peacefully on this beach enjoying the sun. The little girls loved digging in the sand. They jumped waves, flew a kite, and half-buried Big Sister in the sand. We visited Brookgreen Gardens (a national historic landmark) that sits just across the ocean highway. We had seafood dinners at local restaurants at outside tables more than once.
And tonight, we are sitting at home watching the TV news talking about coastal evacuation that is scheduled to begin tomorrow. How quickly life can change. Hurricane Matthew is aimed at our coastline. We are far enough inland that the impact for us will be secondary. Local school buses have been sent to the lower part of the state to assist in the evacuation, so bus riders here who can't find another way to school will be excused for the next few days. Anyone with family on the coast will likely have house guests for a few days. The big convention center miles from us will be turned into a shelter for hundreds, if needed.
We will continue to watch the news and offer prayers for those who are in the direct line of the storm. And prayers for those in the Caribbean who have already suffered the impact of Hurricane Matthew.
Thanks for sharing this information. I have been hearing about the hurricane, but so far north, we don't get all the details you would. Wishing the best for everyone in the path. It's already been bad.
ReplyDeleteA hurricane offers time to prepare...but they can change direction on a dime, so it can be frustrating to take these huge important steps to prepare, and then watch the storm head out to sea.
DeleteOur state has done a beautiful job of preparation for a large scale evacuation. But if SC gets no weather impact, some will be really irritated at all the disruption to their lives. BUT if the storm does wreak havoc here, they will be thankful.
We rode in the direction of the coast today to attend a funeral. We saw the police cars lined up and ready to reverse traffic. And DOT workers on standby with truck loads of cones to block on-ramps for the sections that are now reversed.
For all that I have heard on the news, I don't think I realized how many people are required to make this happen safely.
The traffic coming home (heading inland) was bumper to bumper all the way. It took us an hour longer to get home that it did to get to the cemetery. People are taking this seriously. Now, it's just wait and see.