Most of you know I live in Tampa, Florida, site a big hurricane situation for the last… oh, WEEK or so.
Last night Irma rolled through.
Bottom line, we’re fine.
Lots of wind and not too much rain, zero flooding at our house. (My fireplace dripped for a few hours, but what are you gonna do – technically it’s a hole in the roof, isn’t it?)
We have several tree limbs down in the yards and no electrical power yet – that cut out at about 8pm last night – but the phone lines and cell towers never stopped working, so we were able to stay current on important updates on Facebook. (Gotta have a cat meme fix on occasion, you know?)
Today we’ll fire up the generator and cook some stuff from our fridge outside on our gas grill and watch DVDs while we await the return of general electricity, while using the batteries and chargers we charged.
Savvy’s been playing Minecraft since 6am, after falling asleep on the couch watching Guardians of the Galaxy on a laptop between her loving parents, safe and sound, knowing everything was going to be okay.
That’s how you know you did it right.
We were lucky, and we were prepared.
And we thank all of you who sent your thoughts and prayers.
That’s the weather radar, and that scary red dot was Irma – now just a storm.
International bestselling author Dan Alatorre has 17 titles published in over a dozen languages.
From Romance in Poggibonsi to action and adventure in the sci-fi thriller The Navigators, to comedies like Night Of The Colonoscopy: A Horror Story (Sort Of) and the heartwarming and humorous anecdotes about parenting in the popular Savvy Stories series, his knack for surprising audiences and making you laugh or cry - or hang onto the edge of your seat - has been enjoyed by audiences around the world.
And you are guaranteed to get a page turner every time.
“That’s my style,” Dan says. “Grab you on page one and then send you on a roller coaster ride, regardless of the story or genre.”
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He will make you chuckle or shed tears, sometimes on the same page. His novels always contain twists and turns, and his nonfiction will stay in your heart forever.
Dan resides in the Tampa area with his wife and daughter. You can find him blogging away almost every day on www.DanAlatorre or watch his hilarious YouTube show every week Writers Off Task With Friends.
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62 thoughts on “Hurricane update: we’re fine ”
Glad you and your family are okay, Dan! Scary stuff–we’ve all been following it on the news.
Yep! We haven’t needed to use it in more than 10 years, but we have one – and we are using it today. We plugged in a window air-conditioner in our master bedroom, we are charging our cell phones, plug in the refrigerator in the kitchen, and will be watching DVDs later today in cool, air-conditioned comfort.
Likely the power will be turned on in the next 24 hours or so.
Very relieved to hear you’re all safe, Dan! Here’s to Minecraft (my kids would want me to say that) and Terraria and LEGOs and . . . Yay for the generator, too! We’ve got one, but just like the snow blower, have not had to use it. The snow blower’s kind of surprising, but better safe than without electricity/food/water via the generator. Stay well!
I think there is no school tomorrow, but probably Wednesday everyone will be back up and running, and then we just need power. But I can go to the library to get done what I need to get done during the day, so…
By the way, we don’t have Internet yet because we don’t have power, so I’m doing all this by way of cell phone because the cell towers didn’t go down.
No big deal but that’s why no additional editing will be getting done today. probably!
I opened all the emails and all the attachments and if I decide to power up my computer (using a battery), I can finish editing the story, but I’m gonna take care of other things today like getting a nap and maybe drinking some beers because we didn’t get a lot of sleep last night!
That’s right. There are lots of people who got it much worse than us, and Jacksonville of all places apparently had a big storm surge. So we are completely grateful.
Lol. But seriously. yes, some people can get very ill from heat exhaustion, so it’s a toss up. But we have the warm gear here for protection. You can’t take off your skin when it’s too hot. LOL
Good to know you and yours are all okay Dan and not too much damage by the sounds of it … must admit I feared a lot worse for you guys from the UK news last night … holding a beer right now – cheers. Eric
It sounds cliché but I know what it’s like to watch the news when you are in the center of what they are reporting on. They need a story and saying everything is fine doesn’t get eyeballs on to their station so they have to look for the sensational angle. Especially in the UK. Having traveled abroad, I can tell you, what you guys see about our country and what our country is really like, almost not even close.
But that’s the media.
As far as my friends go, I try to keep everybody informed and we got through pretty good and I appreciate all the support!
Thank God, you’re all safe. You know, reading your post above, it reminded me of Angel on Her Shoulder when the hurricane was about to hit. Spooky – little bit. Anyway, the fact that you’re all okay is the best news in the world. 🙂
I was telling my dad that. He doesn’t read online so I have to send him the paperback of Angel, so he just got it and started reading it, and of course he’s in Ohio so he’s 1000 miles away from the hurricane so he asked me to call him every day at 7 PM to let him know we were OK.
So I called him this morning because it seemed more appropriate to call him in the morning today after the hurricane passed through, and I said the same thing, that the story he’s reading, the backstory is taking place against a hurricane and they debate about whether to stay or leave, etc. It causes a lot of anxiety and now that I’ve gone through it again, I can’t think of a way to capture it properly on the page, but it is unnerving.
If only I could think of a marketing angle for that, it launch it to number one I’m sure!
Glad you and your family are okay, Dan! Scary stuff–we’ve all been following it on the news.
Thanks, Colleen!
WooHoo! So glad you are all safe. I really enjoyed your weather reports on Facebook, too.
Even the one(s) with messy hair?
The ‘hurricane hair’ ones were my favourite! Also, it must be said – great forearms, my friend.
That’s what got us through. Forearms.
Quite right too.
Glad to hear you are okay. Thanks for the update.
Thank you. We were well prepared and this house is built to withstand a hurricane so I wasn’t really worried. But still, you never know!
Whew! I was nervous for you guys. Thanks for the update!
Nah. No worries. We appreciate everybody’s thoughts and prayers. No doubt about that.
Thank you for the update. Right now, all my friends and relatives in Florida are alright.
Good! That’s the best news.
I was wondering (actually my husband was) whether you had a generator. 😳
Yep! We haven’t needed to use it in more than 10 years, but we have one – and we are using it today. We plugged in a window air-conditioner in our master bedroom, we are charging our cell phones, plug in the refrigerator in the kitchen, and will be watching DVDs later today in cool, air-conditioned comfort.
Likely the power will be turned on in the next 24 hours or so.
Very relieved to hear you’re all safe, Dan! Here’s to Minecraft (my kids would want me to say that) and Terraria and LEGOs and . . . Yay for the generator, too! We’ve got one, but just like the snow blower, have not had to use it. The snow blower’s kind of surprising, but better safe than without electricity/food/water via the generator. Stay well!
Thank you!
Yay! Time to get back to normal!
Soon. Very soon.
I think there is no school tomorrow, but probably Wednesday everyone will be back up and running, and then we just need power. But I can go to the library to get done what I need to get done during the day, so…
i’m glad you’re all alright. stay safe.
Thank you!
Thnx to God.!!!! .you all are safe..
We sure are! Dodged a bullet this time.
Wonderful news, Dan! Actually, I haven’t heard from a couple of my people yet, but I’m expecting the same good news soon!!
That’s the key, everybody safe. We did all right!
By the way, we don’t have Internet yet because we don’t have power, so I’m doing all this by way of cell phone because the cell towers didn’t go down.
No big deal but that’s why no additional editing will be getting done today. probably!
I opened all the emails and all the attachments and if I decide to power up my computer (using a battery), I can finish editing the story, but I’m gonna take care of other things today like getting a nap and maybe drinking some beers because we didn’t get a lot of sleep last night!
Of course! First things first, Dan! It all could have been much worse!! Best to you and all your fam!
That’s right. There are lots of people who got it much worse than us, and Jacksonville of all places apparently had a big storm surge. So we are completely grateful.
Great news! And as always, you never fail to impress me-blogging via cell phone. Not sure I could manage it.
I’m not entirely sure I did, but I’m sure people are giving me a Mulligan this week
I tried to write/blog using my cell phone from France, but couldn’t manage. You’re my hero.
I’m everybody’s hero. Occasionally, even my wife’s. After clearing that ten tons of debris out of our yard yesterday, maybe even hers!
So glad you and yours are safe. Admire your preparation, organisation and durability.
Well done you.
Thank you, thank you. Of course, that hurricane not actually coming to Tampa, that played a big role, too.
Close enough though-
Power of Nature- man nothing we’ve got can top it.
So many Florida friends here. Glad you’re all safe Dan! 🙂
Thank you, Debby. You don’t have those issues out there, do you!
No Dan, we get blizzards, lol. 🙂
That may be worse. Very few people heat to death here.
Lol. But seriously. yes, some people can get very ill from heat exhaustion, so it’s a toss up. But we have the warm gear here for protection. You can’t take off your skin when it’s too hot. LOL
I am glad you’re okay my fellow Floridian.
Glad we all are. Now we can go back to everybody being jealous of us for living in paradise.
Good to know you and yours are all okay Dan and not too much damage by the sounds of it … must admit I feared a lot worse for you guys from the UK news last night … holding a beer right now – cheers. Eric
It sounds cliché but I know what it’s like to watch the news when you are in the center of what they are reporting on. They need a story and saying everything is fine doesn’t get eyeballs on to their station so they have to look for the sensational angle. Especially in the UK. Having traveled abroad, I can tell you, what you guys see about our country and what our country is really like, almost not even close.
But that’s the media.
As far as my friends go, I try to keep everybody informed and we got through pretty good and I appreciate all the support!
So glad you are safe!!
Thank you!
Thank God, you’re all safe. You know, reading your post above, it reminded me of Angel on Her Shoulder when the hurricane was about to hit. Spooky – little bit. Anyway, the fact that you’re all okay is the best news in the world. 🙂
I was telling my dad that. He doesn’t read online so I have to send him the paperback of Angel, so he just got it and started reading it, and of course he’s in Ohio so he’s 1000 miles away from the hurricane so he asked me to call him every day at 7 PM to let him know we were OK.
So I called him this morning because it seemed more appropriate to call him in the morning today after the hurricane passed through, and I said the same thing, that the story he’s reading, the backstory is taking place against a hurricane and they debate about whether to stay or leave, etc. It causes a lot of anxiety and now that I’ve gone through it again, I can’t think of a way to capture it properly on the page, but it is unnerving.
If only I could think of a marketing angle for that, it launch it to number one I’m sure!
You’ll come up with something, I know you will. 🙂
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
Thank you for the reblog
Your post did read a bit like Angel, spooky that. Glad you are all safe!
Thank you. Now we just need the power to come back on so I could have Internet access. Doing everything through my phone is getting old.
Glad to hear that you are all safe and well. That Irma was pretty terrifying from the weather reports I have seen.
Yep, they don’t report on boring stuff, do they?
Truth is, it was pretty boring except for a few hours last night. And that was kind of terrifying. But otherwise, big yawn.
Not because it was boring, because we didn’t sleep!
That’s true, the pictures we saw over here were very dramatic, and frightening! I hope you have seen the last of Irma now and can get some sleep!! 🙂
I’m all over that.
Glad you’re fine!
Thank you!
Wonderful news, Dan. Wonderful news.
Thank you!
Good to hear this news! 🙂
Good to be telling it!