Hello, friends. I’m typing up this post on a Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow, my mom, the cats, and the dogs will be evacuating to Ocala (about 100 miles north of us – smack dab in the middle of Florida) because Hurricane Milton is making its way right to our poor peninsula. (My stepdad is not evacuating with us for reasons I will not get into in this post.) This past week has been one filled with a lot of crying, anxiety, and bad news… and just as the good news started rolling in, the little disturbance that originally formed in the Pacific Ocean became a much more structured tropical storm that will turn into a Cat 3 hurricane by the time it hits our west coast.
I don’t know how to express the level of anxiety I’m experiencing at this moment. I’m terrified. I’m hoping and praying that the storm turns south so we can just deal with tropical storm conditions and not hurricane conditions. We’re still reeling from the damage done by Helene. I have friends who haven’t even been able to meet with insurance adjusters to get their houses assessed to decide what to do—stay and fix, sell and leave? I drive by neighborhoods with furniture and boxes, torn-out flooring, and wall debris lining the streets. Milton coming so soon after Helene feels like a gut punch of the worst sort.
I don’t know what my city will look like after Milton. But I do know that I am blessed to be able to evacuate to a VRBO that will allow four pets in a safer part of the state (considering nearly the entirety of Florida is in the cone of uncertainty, it’s hard to find a place that won’t be affected by Milton, but at least cities more inland won’t experiencing the massive storm surge, wind, and flooding). And this too shall pass. Right?
All I know is that I think I am done living in St. Petersburg after this. I’ll be searching for apartments that are in a non-evacuation zone so at the very least, I can just hunker down at home and not have to worry about evacuating. It’s truly such a stressful thing to go through.
But let’s back up a little and talk about last week. In my last post, Helene had just delivered a powerful, historic storm surge that flooded my car and left me without power. How are things progressing now?
RIP Gladys (11/20/2021 – 9/30/2024)
She was a real one, but unfortunately, insurance totaled the car. I expected it. She was sitting in saltwater and floodwater for hours, and that’s going to ruin any engine. But it was still hard to hear that Gladys, my sweet little Soul, is gone forever. It was a specific sort of loss that I’ve never experienced with a storm. I cried for probably 30 minutes after getting off the phone with the Kia dealership. I was so sad. I loved Gladys and I loved what this car represented for me: She was my first-ever new car and she was the embodiment of all my hard work in order to even be able to afford her.
I was really worried about how much insurance would pay for my car. I still owe $14k on the loan and I wasn’t sure if I had purchased gap insurance to cover the difference if the insurance payout was less than the loan. Thankfully, I did purchase gap insurance (what a relief!) and I found out on Friday that my insurance company is offering me more than the loan. So, once all of this hurricane shit is over with, I will not only be able to buy a new car but I will be able to make a sweet downpayment, too. Will I get another Soul? I’m definitely leaning towards it! She was a great little crossover SUV and really, really affordable when compared to everything else on the market.
135.5 Hours Without Power
My power was out from Thursday night until Wednesday night—135.5 hours total! I checked in on the girls every day and when I was visiting with them on Wednesday, I nearly lost my shit when I heard a loud noise in my apartment and then all of the power clicked back on. I have never been so happy to see a blinking oven light! It was so hard to be without power for so long because I truly didn’t know how long it would be out. The first estimate was that power would be back at midnight on Sunday and then we were told that there was major damage and maybe it would be back on Tuesday but more likely Thursday night. It was hard not knowing when the power would come back and how much longer the cats could handle being in an 87-degree apartment. And it was not fun at all to throw away everything in my fridge and freezer, sigh.
It felt so good to come home after so many days away from my cats, my home, and my routine and just as I was getting settled back in… Milton happens and now my routine is being upended once again. And who knows how long the power will be out this time? Let’s hope that the transformer they had to rebuild at my apartment is super-charged to hold strong through hurricane-force winds.
So that’s where I’m at today. Sad and stressed and nostalgic for my boring life. Tomorrow, my mom and I will head to Ocala where we will stay until Friday afternoon. Hopefully, we will come home to a city that’s not completely destroyed but we don’t really know what’s going to happen yet. That’s the hardest thing about these hurricanes. There is so much uncertainty. It was Saturday morning when we found out that the tropical depression would likely turn into a hurricane and it’s not estimated to hit our area until Wednesday. In that time, the track will shift wildly but we have to prepare as if we’re getting a direct hit. And that means dealing with a significant amount of anxiety over the next few days. How am I going to deal with this anxiety?
- Lots of texts with my book club girls – we’re all going through this together and there is something very comforting about that
- Making my reading as lighthearted as possible. Currently reading Funny Story by Emily Henry and listening to Mrs. Nash’s Ashes on audio. I’m bringing more romances and some thrillers to read in Ocala.
- Staying informed to a point. I have my favorite meteorologist I listen to, and I will look up his updates three times a day (each time a new track comes out), but I will not fall down the rabbit hole of reading scary updates from other people/news sources.
- Figuring out some distraction options: lots of phone games, maybe puzzles/games with my mom, silly TV (just started the most recent season of Love is Blind!), and writing about how I’m feeling (maybe something I’ll share here or keep to myself, not sure yet)
- Checking in with my mom – she’s feeling less anxious than I am (I’ve always had extreme storm anxiety, starting when I had to do tornado drills at school), and it calms me down to know she’s not freaking out at the level I am
If any of you feel like distracting me with cute animal Reels or just check-in texts, please do. I need all of the distractions I can get right now. So much about storms are outside of my control and I have done the things that are in my control (evacuating!). So now… it’s the waiting game. Waiting and praying and hoping Milton continues to turn south.
Oh Stephany, I can’t believe you are going to have to go through this AGAIN. I’m so sorry. I’m glad that you and your mom and your pets have a plan, though, and a way to ride out the storm safely.
I didn’t know about gap insurance, I’m glad you mentioned it. We paid off our cars so long ago that we wouldn’t need it, but at some point we’re going to need a new car, and I am going to make sure that we have that in place too.
Stay safe, and let us know how you’re doing, as you have time. <3
Oh, friend. You’re really in it, aren’t you? (I almost typed “when it rains, it pours, ” but that seemed like bad taste, but now that I’ve typed it, I think the black humor is fine, but if it isn’t fine, just funnel your rage at my comment towards meteorology and not me.)
Stay safe, cuddles those kitties, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Milton stays away from shore!
Stephany, it’s at times like these when I wished we lived closer so that I could give you a physical hug instead of a virtual one. The important thing is that you are safe and that everything else is fixable but still…f*** hurricanes.
Engie, I wish I was close enough to give you a high 5 for “when it rains it pours”…that is a very classy way to say f*** hurricanes.
Ugh, I know exactly how you feel because I live in Tampa. I’m with you about reevaluating where I live, etc. I don’t know if I can keep doing this year after year. Thank you for discussing your car though because it made me check whether I had gap insurance and I did not! That was the best $5 I spent this month. Hope I never have to use it.
Oh Stephany, this is so awful. I am so sorry, my friend. xo
I’m so glad to hear the update, Stephany, even though there is a lot of hard things going on for you.
Sending all the love and good vibes to you, your mom, and all your animals!
How devastating and of course the anxiety you’re feeling must be otherworldly. I do sincerely hope this storm redirects miraculously and people are spared more damage – physical and emotional.
I’m glad you’re able to get away to a safer location and found a spot that will accept pets. Take good care.
Stephany, I have been thinking about you! Was going to text if you didn’t have a post up today. This sucks so much. Evacuating to Ocala is a good call. I’m glad you and your mom will be together! These storms are so unpredictable- it could jog north or south at the last minute, but right now it is headed directly for Tampa and you’re smart to get out. Please keep us posted…. good luck.
Stephany, I am so sorry to hear about the devastation in your area right now. And of course about Gladys. It’s good that they are giving you a surplus to cover the new car.
I don’t have your number so here is a small video that I may put a smile on your face: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1446863542667057/?referral_source=external_deeplink
I understand your sadness about Gladys. I’m driving my first ever new car and I love her I do. I’d be weirdly despondent about her demise, too. Still safety first. Bringing me back to your next hurricane, take care.
Of COURE you feel anxious— this is SO MUCH to deal with. I am so happy to read that you can head to after ground with your mom and all the pets. I am Team Soul and hope you replace Gladys with a sporty little new one. Hang in there.
Oh Stephany – this is so terrible! I am so sorry to hear this! I feel terrible for the cities that are impacted. As if things weren’t bad enough as is, to be in the path of another storm is extra awful. I can see why you would want to move after your lease is up. How far would you need to move to be out of the evacuation zone? Hopefully not far and maybe closer to your mom?
I’ll be thinking of you and checking in!
This is just too much. I’m so so sorry and making a sad face and shaking my head as I write this. I hope you had a safe trip with your mom and all the fur babies today and that this storm heads south and no one gets it bad.
That is such a bummer about Gladys. Thank heavens you had that insurance! Thank you, past Stephany.
Sending you so much love and crossing my fingers for you all!
I am so sorry you are going through all this uncertainty and worry, and of COURSE it is making you anxious, and of COURSE the anxiety just makes it all the harder to deal with. Thinking of you and your family and glad you are seeking shelter away from the scariest areas. <3
Woof, Stephany I am sorry that you are going through all of this. I have been in cities when there are minor hurricanes but not anything major, so really don’t know exactly how you are feeling. However, my family and I have been through several fires, and my parents have even had properties burn down, and I have had mine nearly burnt (entire neighborhood except for like 8 houses, one which was mine), and the worst part is not knowing what is happening. Hopefully the communication is better for you than it was for us though and at the very least you will know what you are going to have to do!!
If I recall, you recently renewed your lease; was it for one year? And where do you think you would go if not St. Pete’s? My cousin is in St. Pete’s and he is still in town, hunkered down with food and water, waiting it out. I don’t know if that is the right answer, but that is what he has decided to do. However, he is definitely NOT a worrier.
I am so, SO sorry you’re going through this! I’m dealing with my own upset from the storms and evacuating, but I have not been anywhere near as close as you are; I can totally understand why you feel you can’t take hurricane living any longer. I’m glad you and your mother and the fur squad are safely inland, which will hopefully be a much better place to rise this damned storm out. Hugs!
Thinking of you and everyone in Florida affected by the hurricane. I’m sick to my stomach every time I think about it and I live quite far. I just can’t imagine the devastation and loss people are feeling. I pray everyone stays safe.
I am just now catching up and I am so sorry about everything happening. I can totally understand the anxiousness. It must be so unsettling not knowing.
By now I know it’s been not as tough as Helene so that is good.