The cataclysmic devastation and losses caused by Hurricane Helene are shocking and overwhelming. We pray and support all those working to recover from this unprecedented disaster. Our 20-year memories of Hurricanes France and Jeanne help us relate!
Hurricane Frances—a Category 4 with winds from 131-155 mph—was forecast to hit Stuart, Florida in October 2004. We sheltered at home with five guests. In preparation for losing power, we had extra food, water, batteries, gas for the grill, and cash. We ran water in the tub and had the pool as a reservoir for flushing toilets and taking birdbaths in the sink. We did our part to prepare and trusted in God’s mercy, compassion, and faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23.)
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Stuart took a direct hit from Hurricane Frances—our unwelcome guest for almost two days. We listened to the weather reports huddled around a battery powered television. Exhaustion kept us from following meteorologist recommendations to take the dog for a walk during the four-hour eye of the storm at 1:00 a.m. Sleeping was a better option—besides, we don’t have a dog.
We thanked God for bringing us safely through the storm and especially for weakening Frances to Category 2 winds from 96-110 miles per hour. We only had minor soffit damage and some downed trees, while older homes had major roof damage, as well as blown-out walls and windows. Trees and branches littered most streets and yards, and a daylight curfew was in effect. We couldn’t get to work, had no phone service for five days, and no power or running water for a week. Without air conditioning, we dripped perspiration and sleep was scarce.
To our shock, Hurricane Frances was a dress rehearsal for Hurricane Jeanne two weeks later. Jeanne was another direct hit and a Category 3 hurricane with winds from 111-130 miles per hour.The fierce winds slamming into the house were louder than Frances and caused the six sheltering with us to pause frequently to watch the sliding glass doors wave along their tracks. We had serious doubts about whether the house would hold up. But we trusted God as our refuge and fortress. (Psalm 91:2.)
In contrast to Hurricane Frances, our household was wide-awake during Hurricane Jeanne’s eye. We all went outside to view the damage and wonder at the contrasting calm. Robert and two guests swam in the pool to cool off. We praised God when we came through unscathed and the roof and porch screen remained intact. We lost soffit, trees, and the water softener lid. A neighbor found a stray lid in his yard and Robert was happy when it fit our tank. We were among the 97% of county residents who lost power and, once again, we went several days without phone service, or running water.
The 14 billion dollars in property damages caused by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne are light compared to Helene’s estimate of 30 plus billion dollars. And we were blessed that most lives were spared. Let’s pray that Helene is not followed by Hurricane Milton brewing in the Gulf of Mexico!
Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/key-west-florida-hurricane-dennis-86025/
This post is a condensed excerpt from the third book in my dwarfism memoir—ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE: Champions of Change for People with Dwarfism and Disabilities, Chapter 5, Destructive Forces and Direct Hits, https://angelamuirvanetten.com/always-an-advocate/.
You may also want to read:
- “20 Year Anniversary of the 2004 Hurricane Season.” https://www.weather.gov/tbw/hurricanes2004.
- “The 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season: A Look Back from Above.” September 10, 2019. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/the-2004-atlantic-hurricane-season-look-back-above
- Dinah Voyles Pulver and Eduardo Cuevas. “Helene costs may top $30 billion; death toll increases again.” October 5, 2024. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/05/hurricane-helene-deaths-damage-updates-saturday/75530030007/
3 replies on “Helene Revives 20-Year Old Hurricane Memories”
You, Robert and your friends were blessed to get through the2004 season in spite of the fierce storms. I followed the news in your county after Helene and was relieved for you while being saddened at the lose of life in other parts of the US. Is Milton headed for Florida? I really wish you guys would think about living somewhere else, Love Sue
Ps Looking at the news I see Milton is definitely going to go through F!orida, I just hope you are evacuating.
Martin county is not being evacuated, and some of the people from the west coast will evacuate to our location which is under a Tropical Storm watch and doesn’t even call for shutters. Unusual that we also have a Hurricane Warning but shutters are still not necessary.
I read an article recently about people moving to safe places to live e.g. to Asheville, North Carolina which was one of the hardest areas hit by Hurricane Helene. Not so easy to find a place in a hazard free location.
Thanks for your concern for us and all the Floridians threatened by Hurricane Milton.