We were lucky, twice within two weeks. Our home took minor damaged but remained intact. The photograph above represents the scene not only in a neighborhood we knew, but in many places throughout the Tampa Bay area and the Big Bend area of Florida.
Just before our annual month long October RV trip, Helene formed. Our area declared mandatory evacuations later than other areas, and we scrambled to find a hotel room. Helene severely affected the coastal areas but spared those of us even just a few miles inland. It devastated the area we planned to travel, mostly with power outages. We left a few days later than planned, and with changed destinations and unsure of anything beyond two weeks of the planned four week trip.
After a few days of hiking and photography, we became aware of another tropical depression. Everyone we spoke with said it would not be strong, just a rainmaker. It quickly turned into a storm, then hurricane, then a hurricane headed toward our home area as a major hurricane. The next several days passed slowly as we watched reports of its strengthening and its path, realizing that had we known our trip would turn into an evacuation we would have packed much differently. We tried to continue with the plans of our trip, but mentally found it impossible. We saw what happened to houses where Helene hit only a week before on our travel north, and realized we could be homeless in a few days. That weighs heavily. Within a day or two our half empty campground suddenly filled with RVs of all kinds, most with both of their cars along and clearly many of their household belongings.
It struck further south than forecast, and spared our home the worst of it, though our street, not a in flood zone, did flood. As soon as the water receded enough and we confirmed the availability of fuel along our route, we returned from our trip, a week early. We needed to ensure our house did not take in any water, fix a couple of minor screen problems from the hurricane, and check on friends. As we drove to our regular shops and other places, we saw debris, furniture, household furnishings along the sides of the roads. We visited our old neighborhood to see friends, and discovered that our former home of 24 years (we moved further inland only 1.5 years ago), flooded along with those of many of our former neighbors.
We saw a lot in our area, but took only two or three photographs. It just hit too close to home.
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