Wait and see

As Hurricane Matthew made his way toward Florida, Rob and his 94 year old father Sam made their way to a hotel in Orlando.

A RADAR IMAGE OF MATTHEW....SEE THE SKULL?  CREEPY!

  Rob had arrived just in time to prevent Sam being loaded on a bus and moved as part of a mass evacuation of the barrier islands of Brevard County.  Getting to Sam was our biggest concern and we were very relieved to get him, get the things necessary for his medical needs, and get him to a safe, comfortable place.  Orlando was projected to get Hurricane force winds but they were not expected to get as high and there was no risk of storm surge.

Rob and Sam arrived at their hotel and Rob was able to get a handicap room.  They got settled and Rob found his dad a place to sit outside (pre bad weather) and to read the newspaper.

SAM RIDING IT OUT

Rob had gotten a few non perishable food items and they were pretty much set to just ride it out.

Thursday dawned with millions of residents and well wishers having watched Matthew.  The predictions were filled with dire scenarios of winds and surge. 

 Our home in Cocoa Beach was at risk but nothing could change that.  We would just have to wait and see.  Millions of people were doing the same thing.  We all watched the maps and updates with mixed feelings of complete dread and curiosity.  The storm was expected to reach our home area sometime Thursday night.  

Rob and I communicated a lot.  We were both watching updates and discussing options given the worst or best case scenarios.  As we were watching and chatting via phone or text.  As the 11pm update was posted, the weather folks noted a possible small change in the path of Matthew.

A small path change in a Hurricane can mean a lot.  It can mean landfall or it can mean movement farther away from land.  To the benefit of many in Brevard County, it meant movement away.

Matthew did run up the coastline of Brevard County but the eye wall did not make landfall.  This was really good news.  The winds still got very high but not as was predicted and the duration was not as long.

We have not idea as to the condition of the house but we do know that some have returned to homes with some damage but dry interiors.  Rob hopes to move closer to the area today and assess.  We also do not know what the condition of Sam's assisted living facility so he will be with Rob for now.  

We may have gotten very lucky.

Another great day in this thing we call life.