Should I Stay or Should I Go?

I noticed about an hour ago that the wind is picking up.  It's breezy and overcast with 1 layer of really high white clouds and a second layer of lower puffy clouds.  We're only supposed to get winds here, no rain.  Our forecast calls for 15-25 mph gusts.

That's pretty much how it's been for the last 13 years.  Hurricanes that hit the outerbanks don't impact us much here.  It's often said that the East side of a hurricane is the most destructive.  We've always been on the West side of these storms and it's true...we can see it (and it's really erie), but it's another world over here.   We'll have the wind but no rain.  Drive an hour east of here and you'll be in the flood plains.  Completely different scenario.

SM and I didn't live here when Hugo hit Charleston and swung up into Charlotte.  When we moved here, Hugo memories were still fresh and we'd often hear the stories of the devastation.  Tales of hunkering down in the hallways of your home listening to the roar of the wind thinking your roof might come off.  No one slept.  Just a constant roar. 

It went through quick.  Within 3 hours the world had changed so when people walked outside all they could see were trees down everywhere.  You couldn't drive so emergency services were down.  A friend spoke of living in the Hospital where she just stayed and worked because staff couldn't rotate in or out. 

Another friend spoke of BBQ's running, almost like a block party.  No power for one week meant that frozen foods needed to be cooked up so the guys would grill up the meat and anyone around got a free meal.  Anyone with a chainsaw got to work trying to clear the roads.  I expect it felt good to help your brother out as much as you could.  Ice and fresh water were at a premium, but people were patient.  I never heard anyone talk of looting or theft though I'm sure it had to have happened.

So many of the blogs I visit are in the path of this storm.  Most are staying put.   I understand that.  I've often asked myself if I were in your shoes "Should I stay or should I go?"  Surviving the storm is one thing.  Surviving the aftermath is another. 

I wish you all the best and I know you're as prepared as you can be.  It's the way you are.  Bless you all and we'll be here when you get back up again.