Page 64 of Eye of the Hurricane
Katherine
Tropical Storm Celinequickly turned into category one Hurricane Celine. The local weather station thought that would be the worst of it. Up until the final twenty-four hours she remained a one, stuck in a pocket of hot water off the coast. Even when Celine strengthened to a two, no one panicked because they seemed sure she would weaken by landfall.
It wasn’t until she sat in that pocket for longer than expected and grew to a category four that people started to panic.
Landfall isn’t projected to hit us head on, but it’s many miles closer than it was supposed to be. Celine inched her way down the coast over the span of a week, putting her within our county limits. Still, it’s better than the alternative—being right on top of us.
I’ve been glued to my TV since the moment the news went out that she had strengthened this much. The scary part is that once we knew there was a reason to evacuate, many people didn’t have time to do it.
It’s now 6:00 A.M. and Celine is set to make landfall sometime after midnight tonight.
I know it seems like the obvious answer is to get in my car and haul ass until I’m inland. But it’s not that simple. Not when thousands of people were just given the same news. Not when the highways are in a standstill.
The odds of getting stuck in her path without gas, food, water, or shelter are higher than it’s worth to try for.
The weather channel feels like a train wreck I can’t tear my eyes from. There’s no comfort in the things they’re saying. Still, I feel like it’s the only way I can be prepared.
They show the flood zones and I’m not in the highest risk but I’m certainly not in the lowest.Shit.
If I had a better mom, I might call her and ask her for advice or comfort. I don’t, though, so I’m on my own for this one. Unless Luna is well versed in hurricanes, she’s lived here a while.
Katherine
Should I be worried about this hurricane?
Luna
Nah. All hype. I evacuated to my parents house a couple hours inland but only because they made me.
Katherine
Do you think I need sandbags?
Luna
You don’t have sandbags?
Katherine
…
Luna
KAT! Did youboard your windows?
Katherine
…
Luna
What the hell? Don’t they have hurricanes in Louisiana?
Katherine
Well, yeah but we lived pretty far from the coast.
Luna
