Coconuts & Wiggle Butts

Tuesday 9/19 – The day began at 6am with last minute hurricane prep before the island wide curfew, which began at 10am. From that moment on, we just sat, watched from our open front door, and waited. High winds and rain began around 1pm. Our power went off at 1:30pm, despite power to the island not being manually shut off until around 4pm. Tropical force winds were predicted to start between 2-4pm. We turned our generator on at 3:30, and that was the last it was safe to venture outside until after 9 or 10am the next morning. From then on, we just sat and talked and drank… and waited.

The worst of the hurricane winds were predicted to be between 11pm and 4am. The eye of the hurricane was passing just south of us at the time. As predicted, right around 11pm the winds were loud and forceful enough to scare us into the closet. We didn’t stay in the lower apartment this time, since it flooded during the last hurricane and we knew this one would be much worse. We chose a tiny interior bedroom closet as our safe spot. We threw a mattress on top as protection in case we lost our roof, and another leaning against the flimsy closet doors. For the next 5 hours the 6 of us (3 adults and 3 dogs) huddled in the tiny, dark, hot closet and barely spoke. We just listened. When people say a hurricane sounds like a locomotive, they are correct. It sounded like a train was coming. For hours. Winds were howling, shutters were banging. We could hear large objects crashing against the house. From the sounds of it, we were certain that when we left the closet, the roof in the main room would be gone, or at least sections of it. Gusts of wind were flowing through the house so strongly that at one point we moved the mattress from the closet doors over the bedroom door to keep that door from blowing open.

As the early hours of Wednesday morning crept by, we kept waiting for the winds to let up. They never did. Around 4am, we were all exhausted. We finally left the closet to sleep in the bed. The winds were still crazy, and the roof still sounded like it was going to blow off, but most of the loud banging had stopped. I woke up every hour between 4-8am, and every time I woke up, I couldn’t believe the winds hadn’t let up yet. When we finally ventured out of the bedroom around 8am, we were surprised that everything was still in tact. The room was flooded, as was part of the bedroom and bathroom. Everything surrounding the house was destroyed.

We didn’t leave the house that day. That night we had another severe storm that lasted throughout the night. More damage and flooding. Thursday morning we ventured out. There was a 24-hour curfew in place that we were not aware of, so we got directed to return home. We’ve been on a strict curfew ever since, only being allowed out on the road between 12-4pm. It feels like prison, but they need the roads clear so rescue crews can do their jobs. When we finally are allowed out, traffic is gridlocked. Lines for gas and food wrap around the block. Everything is cash only. There are no banks open. Most ATMs are not working or are out of money. We waited in line for 2 hours yesterday (Monday, 9/25) to use one of the only working ATMs on the island. Our friend stayed with us until Saturday (9/23), which was the first day we could safely make it to her apartment. There was one convenience store open, thankfully, where we could buy beer and wine and chips to get us through the long nights being on lock down. We have very limited access to cell service and no internet, except a few hotspots that are being set up around town. Slowly things are starting to open. A few restaurants on the boardwalk have power and internet and are up and running.

I have no idea what the news has reported, but the radio station here reported that St. Croix sustained winds of 100-105 mph. The eye of the hurricane, which passed just south of us, and maybe touched the south west tip of the island, had sustained winds of 195 mph. They said that’s the difference between losing roofs and losing entire buildings. We are very lucky the eye didn’t hit us. I also know that a second eye opened up, which is why it lasted as long as it did. Almost every powerline on the island was knocked down. It could be months before the island has power again.

And, of course, the looting has already begun. A number of shops on the boardwalk in Christiansted have been hit, as well as some shops in downtown Frederiksted. Looters are stealing generators from houses and businesses. They even stole the generator from AT&T that was providing the only cell service to the island.

Frederiksted got hit the hardest. It looks like a war zone. It’s the older/poorer part of the island, so buildings have been demolished, homes are destroyed. It’s so sad to look around and see the devastation. And people with damaged homes and roofs are suffering even more damage to their property from the violent storms that keep passing though. We just had another one early Sunday morning. Another thing that makes me sad is seeing the hundreds of people lined up for food, water, and supplies. One of the distribution centers didn’t get their supplies on time, so hundreds of desperate people waited in lines for hours and were turned away empty handed. Lots of people here have little money and are on government assistance. We (Steve and I) are so fortunate to have money saved and to have food, water, and power to help get us through this difficult time. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to go through this horrific event and have nothing or be left with nothing. I’m also grateful for the people who have been checking in on me. It’s comforting to know there are people out there who care.

Before/after photos of the damage to our house. More photos of damage to the island will be posted soon… if I ever get internet.