Tag Archive | hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Irma

Sep6

All I can say is what a mess the next hurricane could create, and praying everyone in the path stays safe.

In the meantime, I need to restock on food and I hope that the grocery stores are back to normal. The gas stations have had a lot of covers over the pump. No gas.

The USS Kearsarge and USS Oak Hill, which were headed to provide relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, are staying off the east coast of southern Florida for the next few days — out of the path of Irma — awaiting a decision as to whether they will they proceed to Texas or be ready to help with Irma, according to a military official.Ryder also told CNN that Air Force search and rescue teams that were assisting in Texas have “returned to their home stations to recover and prepare for a potential response to Hurricane Irma.” http://www.cnn.com/…/key-west-navy-evacuation-hu…/index.html

Prayers go out to all that face the wrath of Hurricane Irma.

US Navy to evacuate 5,000 ahead of Hurricane Irma
The US military has ordered the evacuation of over five thousand personnel from a Naval Air Station in Florida in preparation for Hurricane Irma.
cnn.com

Realty to Fantasy

Sep3

I create stories, some based on some realty, and some made up. My world is as real as can be, just add some wolf shifters, jaguar shifters, bear shifters, or cougar shifters in and you’ve got a fantastical world.

But oftentimes those worlds are based on true happenings, lots of research and sometimes just a kernel of an idea from something on the news or in real life.

In Howling for a Highland Wolf, I really was in the Cayman Islands, and really did see all the banks with doors and that was all, the man wearing the dark suit standing in the lobby, a briefcase chained to his wrist.

In another Highland wolf story, I was at the castle ruins that is the heroine’s.

So when I went to drop off dog treats, toys, leashes, flea medicine, and towels at a neighbor’s house so he and his wife could deliver them where they were working at an animal shelter due to Hurricane Harvey, I had the perfect image. Setup: Wife is on the driveway talking on her phone. Cell phones don’t work in the houses very well, so a lot of folks have to go outside to talk on their cell phones. Something in the roofs that protect from the heat of the sun. See? More little tidbits for a story.

I drive up, and she’s looking at me like who are you. And I ask if they’re the ones collecting stuff for the shelter.

“Yes! I’ll get my husband.”

I wasn’t sure why she needed to get her husband. There were two large bags of supplies, and I carried one and then the other to their car. Out comes the husband. In boxer shorts.

Sculpted chest, tall, shoeless, great legs, and a big smile. I mean, I’m a romance author, right? So immediately, I’m thinking of a wolf story.  Boxers and a smile. I told my acquisitions editor. She told me if I think of the story, she’ll publish it. lol

Okay, so it’s been bad in the Houston and surrounding areas. Along our main road, the cleanup continues. All of the businesses on one side of the road are on lower ground and were flooded. On the opposite side, higher ground, so their runoff added to their across-the-road neighbors’ flooding issues. The road was under water also.

Here is what happened to one man when he returned to his flooded home:

Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman’s Office responded to an intruder call at a residence near Lake Houston. Upon arrival, deputies were met by a large alligator who made his way into this flooded home. Constables will soon be delivering the alligator back into his natural habitat.

Image may contain: people sitting

The alligator was returned to his home, and now the poor house owner has to start his cleanup.

We were very fortunate. No flooding, except for areas of the yard, and no alligators. That we’ve seen. Yet.

Hope your day goes well.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Blue Skies After Hurricane Harvey

Aug30

The devastation and the cleanup will be a nightmare for so many areas of Houston and the surrounding cities. We’re still under 13 flood warnings, but the water is receding from creeks and rivers and roadways.

We are expected to have another bout of rain on Monday and Tuesday, but hopefully with some dry days in between, the water levels will have a chance to go down.

Gloomy skies were returning and we have dark clouds this morning, even though we only have a chance of 20%. After all the rain, they’re not welcome.

Now the cleanup begins. It’s back to the 90s tomorrow and the next few days–I’m afraid mosquitoes will be out in force too.

Hope the areas where the storm has moved off to remain safe.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Rain and More Rain…from the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey

Aug29

Usually, I look for more rain in the forecast. Now I look to see when it is going away.

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day.

Which is so true. The land is drowned in water like this, then it will clear up and we’ll be wishing we had some rain. Not south of us though. I feel for those that have lost their cars and homes to flood waters and storm damage. And for those who have died in this storm.

When the rain goes away, the nightmare is only really beginning.

The birds and squirrels are looking for shelter under my patio cover, which has also helped to keep the accumulating rain away from the house, as well as the gutters. Even in my neighborhood, some are having trouble with flooding, asking about French drains, when this isn’t really the time to be asking!

I didn’t see alligators in the pond, just a couple of turtles, who love this weather. Their pond is now even bigger.

We’ve had 27 1/2 inches of rain, and it’s raining this morning. I walked to the ponds yesterday to see if they were still contained. They are, though some trees are now in the water. They appear to have been built deep enough and large enough, that they’re rising, but still contained. Another pond a little farther away is too shallow and spilling into the road. There are several others that I didn’t check out. We had 0% chance of rain for like half hour, and twenty minutes later, the winds were gusting and the rain was starting up again, so I headed home.

They’re asking for boats and trucks that can navigate high waters. The grocery stores are running out of a lot of things–some made it to the stores, but they’re closing early. We’re still getting sheriff’s warnings to stay at home because people are getting caught up in the flood waters, stalling out their cars, and becoming more of the problem.

If you have to get out, take a stroll in the rain! Just watch for alligators and snakes.

Prayers for all those who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. We have 100% chance of rain today, 90% tomorrow, and 50% the next day, so it will continue to drop from there.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Hurricane Harvey: A Historical Event

Aug28

We’re fine, high enough that our rainwater is running off and not getting into the homes. 25 inches of rain so far.

We have 4 more days of rain, then the chance drops off to 40% for a couple of days. And then 80% again. I didn’t think I’d ever be glad NOT to have rain. It’s windy today, and the rain is light and that’s finally allowing for some of the water to seep in, but areas are still being evacuated before more flooding can occur with the new rainfall.

This is one of the sheriff’s alerts:

“Riley Fuzzel Rd under SH 99 is closed to through traffic due to Spring Creek over flow. Vehicles can still get onto SH 99 main lanes but not on Riley Fuzzel Rd east or west bound under SH 99. Please avoid that area and monitor local news & emergency service channels for updates.”

Tons of road closures all over. But people are feeling housebound and just have to get out. I took a walk this morning while it was not raining for once, and took pictures of the ponds. They’re elevated, but so deep, except for some trees in standing water, they’re not reaching the roadways.

Schools are closed through Sept 5 now.

Off to write. Our electricity went out for a blip, so I’m hoping that was the only time we’d lose it.

More later…

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Hurricane Harvey Storm Stalled

Aug27

A 4:15 am alert woke made me get out of bed to check and make sure we weren’t under a tornado warning. We’re under a tornado watch until 1 pm, and 83 flood alerts. The lightning storm was last night and seemed to last forever. I finally stopped editing and took a few videos of it. Through the window though, which can be dangerous enough.

hurricane Harvey weather map Sunday 5

It’s pouring out now. So far we’re good. Yesterday morning, we’d had 9 inches of rain. I’ll update once it’s light enough to check. I took a flashlight out when I took the puppies out again and it’s at 15 inches of rain now. Still pouring out.

If you’re in the affected area, stay safe.

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Storms Moving In

Aug26

Hurricane Harvey was upgraded to a Category 4 Hurricane.

Friday night sky, Hurricane Harvey 900

This was the night sky before I went to bed. The forecast shows squalls starting at 1 am and running through Sunday and beyond.

I wanted to post this before that happens in case we lose our electricity.

Have a safe one!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears

Preparing for Hurricane Harvey

Aug25

My SIL is at home doing his work from home. My daughter is at my place with baby, doing her work from her phone. So far we have a light rain is all.

The grocery store and walmart were packed, water gone, flashlights, bigger batteries, all gone. Traffic jams and accidents for those evacuating.

When I went to the grocery store, I saw a rainbow cutting across the the clouds.

So far, we’ve just had a bit of rain, but we have storm warnings all over the place. We took the baby for a stroller power walk before it started to pour.

Just put my recycle bin out to catch rainwater in case I need it. Filled the bathtub with water, and all the containers I could..just in case. Candles, matches, lighter, flashlights, lantern. Froze water bottles and have put ice cubes into the freezer.

Off to do some more stuff.

Stay safe!!

S

 

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears