27 August 2011
Hurricane Irene is wrecking havoc in North Carolina and Virginia. The newscasters say she is headed our way. Spent the afternoon moving everybody to shelter. Move the baby goaties into the barn, allowed the Jacobs access to the lean-to. The adult goats are on top of the hill with their heavily constructed goat houses. Moved the churros to higher ground. Brought the horses into the barn away from the trees that could come down. Checked the generator seems to be running fine. Purchased grain this week, so we should have plenty.
Not much else we can do but wait and pray.
28 August 2011
Hurricane Irene made landfall in New York City at 9am this morning. She has been downgraded to a tropical storm and is tracking right over us. We are seeing a lot of rain. We fed the animals, but only a few of the goats would come out of their shelters to eat. Stuffed hay in with them. Dumped about 4-5 inches of water out of the feeders. Those with access to the barn are coming out of the rain most of the time. Silly llamas like to get wet. Can tell how hard it is raining by the number of Jacobs out in it eating the grass. Not getting alot of wind, thank God. Reports of bridges and roads being washed out, including the covered bridge in Quechee, VT (one of our exit routes). Flash flood warining for our area until tommorrow. Rain starting to taper off this evening. Dumped anothe 4-5 inches of water out of the feeders.
29 August 2011
The power went out sometime last night. Called out of my regular job, both bridges are washed out, not willing to chance the dirt road unseen in the dark at 4 am. Waited until we could see to feed the animals. Dumbed another 4 inches of water out of the feeders. Don't need to worry about water, have plenty in the troughs and feeders left outside to water for a few days, if we can't get the generator running.
Fired up the generator and CRASH, CLANK, CLUNK!! it dies. No power for us until the power company fixes it. There are no generators to be had for any price at this time, even if you could get there to pick it up.
Ventured down the dirt road after the sun was fully up. There are a couple of small sections where the side has washed away but it is otherwise passable. It is the only way into town at this point. The road through Quechee is washed out, flooded and missing a bridge. The road to West Hartford is fine until you get to the bridge, it is littered with debris and missing the approach on the village side. In fact, the whole village is destroyed.
The shopping district in West Lebanon, NH where I work off the farm has suffered some major damage. The Kmart plaza is completely under water except for the Chili's restaurant built on a small hill in the parking lot. The Penny's plaza was under water and some of the buildings knocked off their foundations. The grocery store was spared flooding by a mere 2 inches, but lost all their perishable goods when the fire department cut the power and propane for the generator. The Walmart and Price Chopper were also flooded.
4 September 2011
The state reopened the bridge in West Hartford on Thursday. They removed the broken concrete approach and put in a gravel approach for now. Travelled my normal route to work for the first time since Irene on Friday. Could not believe the destruction, the flooding had taken the shoulder off clear to the fog line. Mud had been plowed back like snow, leaving banks of mud on both sides of the road. But the state and towns are working as fast as they can to reopen the roads and get access to people still isolated by the storm.
As I drive the route I am struck by the sheer number of people out and about helping the people who have been flooded out. Total strangers are voluntaring their holiday weekend to help the flood victims clean out their homes. People out shoveling silt and mud off the community playgrounds. The people here can really band together to help each other. The community spirit is absolutely amazing.
