The Storm, A Nightmare on Grand Isle

The rain began and quickly fell as sheets. The lighting and thunder added to the storm’s din and then the wind blew. It was a wind we had never experienced before as the tree branches seemed to roll in all direction. The windows on the east side of the house began to leak and soon the floor was damp and so we put towels on each sill.

Still the house was sturdy, it had survived through numerous hurricanes, until Renita said she heard a freight train roaring overhead and so we fled into the interior bathroom. The house actually started to shake and roll a bit and the tv swayed back and forth, but that was not surprising as the house is built on posts. We wondered how long would it continue as the lights went out and the island lost all power?

We had left Texas, two days ago and reached my sisters house on Grand Isle, Louisiana. For the first time since covid we were able to hug, although Gary, not surprisingly settled for a firm handshake, (we had all had our vaccinations).

The next day we after breakfast we visited a bit but watched as the storm front approached and decided we should go to the other house. We could see the dark clouds, but little did we realize that it was an approaching Derecho which would turn into a Wake Low.

Now a Derecho is a strong wind front, and the heavy rain and winds were fueled by a depression low, called a wake front. It forms as an atmospheric depression behind the heavy rain amplifying the wind speed. It was later reported that the winds on the island reached at least seventy-five miles per hour, and a ship just offshore later recorded gusts of over one hundred and even two hundred while it was surrounded by waterspouts

After an hour, the rain lessened, and the winds started to ebb. Going outside we could see that the streets were flooded, (six inches of rain in one hour), in both directions and we were trapped where we were.

A police Suburban and truck drove through the water and blocked off the street. Both had their lights flashing. The house next door had lost siding and we had no idea what had happened to the rental house we were in.

For the next two days more fronts rolled in but at least they only added and anther four inches to the rain total. The final straw was when the water supply ran out and now, we wondered how long before things returned to normal. It was another nightmare just like the Texas freeze we had endured.

It was two days later that the storm water receded enough for us to make it to the store. The store had its own power supply, and we were able to buy bottled water and ice. Two days later a convoy of utility trucks arrived and worked to replace downed lines and snapped power poles.

The water came back on the second day, a boil order was ordered and the next day My sister and her husbands lights came on. We did not get power until Saturday night and when we did everyone on the island could probably hear us shout with joy.

We later learned that shrimp boats had overturned while at anchor in their harbor, besides the loss of life on the overturned jack boat.. May their families find their strength and solace.

As for us we now understand what a hurricane is like and we never want to be another one ever!

Now we could concentrate on the Spring Migration, did the birds make it across the Gulf of Mexico, would the birds be here, and did we have a fallout? 

Clear skies