I wrote this post in the middle of October just after Hurricane Matthew. It was to follow my post on the uncertainty of hurricanes. I never finished and time got away from me. Last week it was finally announced that the city of Norfolk would be picking up storm related debris. That announcement certainly got my attention. My life was back to normal and my travels had put the storm in my past. The announcement made me realize is that so many others were still reeling from the aftermath. After rereading, I have decided to post my thoughts even though they are not as timely, October has come and gone.
After many days of uncertainty, Hurricane Matthew moved east. The track for a direct hit took it to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Residents fled the coastal areas. Those further inland considered themselves safe. Those further north including ourselves breathed a sigh of relief.
Then reality set in. This massive storm did not need to be a direct hit to cause epic damage. In fact, I am not certain at this point who faired worse. The ramifications certainly were not over. As I watched the water continue to rise in Virginia and North Carolina and the coastal flooding continue as the high tides of the day occurred, it appeared to me that no one was truly prepared for the wind and the rain that raged for days. After all the hype and warnings how could so many be so unprepared?
I know that here in Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area most were so relieved that the storm would turn east, they failed to prepare for the strong winds and massive rain that would fall upon us. The ‘Ole Buckeye and I were lucky. We hunkered down and although we had short moments of power loss, we did not loose power. We had no damage and within a day returned to relative normalcy.
Many around us were not as fortunate. Our generator was moved to an address that had not had power for 2 days. My son’s generator had traveled to yet another address and he and his family removed tree limbs and debris from a friend’s home. The flood waters, although they receded from some areas, still caused road and business closures in others. Schools were without power and after the three day holiday weekend, students faced missing even more school. Norfolk was declared a disaster area. Further south in North Carolina the images were horrific. And to think one of our considerations if we needed to flee was to go inland possibly to Raleigh or Charlottesville. We were worried about being close to the coast, never thinking about the far reaching flood dangers. I am beginning to realize how naive I am.
Growing up I became well acquainted with tornadoes I remember vividly as a child, the effects of a tornado near my grandparents’ homes. In later years we spent several days attempting to determine if our family survived the 1974 tornado that literally destroyed most of our home town of Xenia, Ohio. I remember how helpless we felt trying to get information. Those were the days without cell phones.
In the years since I have heeded the warning sirens in the midwest and this past spring the sirens here.
One reason for our recent move to coastal Virginia was to remove ourselves from the cold, wind and heavy snow in the Chicagoland area. We wanted coastal living while still experiencing the seasonal changes that fall and spring bring. The ‘Ole Buckeye wanted to sail and I wanted more temperate weather. Since our son and his family were relocated to Norfolk by the Navy, we ventured this direction. Ultimately we moved here a year ago.
I have come to learn that with each region comes the unique experiences of the area. California has their earthquakes and drought, the midwest tornadoes and blizzards, and coastal areas the hurricanes. Nowhere is perfect it seems.
The past year has taught me much about Norfolk and Virginia Beach with the many rivers, streams, lowlands, beaches, and coastlines. Last year just about this time, we watched three weather features come together to set the stage for the worst coastal flooding since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Joaquin, a tropical storm that developed into a hurricane was meet with a cold front that stalled and hovered over our area for days followed by a high pressure system meeting Joaquin causing torrential rain and historic winds.
In summary, the combination of Major Hurricane Joaquin and strong surface high pressure over eastern Canada and New England produced an extended period of strong onshore flow. Water levels were already elevated due to persistent onshore flow and high seas in combination with high astronomical tides. The result was a significant, multi-day coastal flood event.
Source:
I have come to realize that weather systems hovering over the coast can be as or more devastating than a hurricane. I am learning how the relationship between high tides, the phase of the moon and sea level can affect our lives.
That brings us back to now. One year later nearly to the day it was Hurricane Matthew. This year October was different. The headlines read mid October read:
Let’s talk rainfall. So far this month, Norfolk International airport has recorded 9.34″ of rain, that puts us at the 3rd wettest October ever, and we’re only a third of the way through the month! If you remember we just came off the wettest September on record. Adding to this, the rainfall total year to date, so far is 65.25″ that is a whopping 27″ above normal! That number also places 2016 as the 3rd wettest year on record, and it is only October! If we were to make it the second or even the wettest ever on record we would have beat out records that have been in place since the 1800s!
The good news is that we will not be adding to either of those numbers this week, or even next week it looks like. Finally a pattern of dry, uneventful weather has moved in and will stay in place.
That being said, the tremendous amount of rain from Hurricane Matthew is still having an effect on the area, in particular with flooding. Rivers will continue to rise above their banks although not nearly as high as they were, flood warnings remain through today.Most of the children returned to school today on a 2 hour delay.
Source: http://www.13newsnow.com/weather/forecast/hampton-roads-norfolk-virginia-beach-forecast/49763648
After several days the children returned to school. The flooding receded and electricity was restored. That was us.
I think about the Carolinas with over 1000 water rescues, thousands of cars abandoned in high water and homes unlivable. I feel so thankful that I was not facing their heartbreak.
It is hard to comprehend the suffering and hardship as the bright sun shines in the once again fair blue skies. Life continues and lessons are learned. I continue to hold those less fortunate in my thoughts and prayers. They will rebuild, but they will never be the same.
