The Calm Before the Storm: Updated

(The mayor just ordered evacuations.  Now I am worried about my son.  He lives in Zone A, and I haven't been able to reach him.)

As I sit here Sunday morning during the calm before the storm, I realize that I am in a much better place than I was last year during Irene.  I am closer to the ocean, yes, but I am on higher ground so I do not fear a flood. My apartment is also situated in the back of the building, away from all the trees. My windows open to a small courtyard which is completely surrounded by ours and the building next door so the heavy winds should not reach me, although there can be quite a crosswind in the courtyard.  I also feel safer living in a building with a super who treats it like it is his baby.  Not only is this building well taken care of, but I also won't feel so alone.  In my old house, I had no friendly neighbors per se, and the sons upstairs were alcoholics and addicts.  

I went out shopping early yesterday to beat the crowds, and there is plenty of food in the house. I made sure to stock up on items that do not need refrigeration. That is my main 'personal' concern during this storm--losing power. I have candles, batteries, flashlights, and a battery operated radio.  I also made sure my Kindle was fully charged, as well as my phone. My kitty has plenty of food so I feel pretty I am pretty much ready for whatever should happen.  When the storm begins, I will not be on my computer so I am checking in now to let you all know that I am prepared. 

I do worry, however, about those people here in the city who live in low-lying areas.  Yesterday, I watched our mayor's press conference, and he just did not seem to be taking this storm as serious as he should.  He did not handle the big snowstorm of a couple years back very well, and people died as a result. Then, when Irene arrived last year, he went into full disaster mode, and Irene bypassed us.  The naysayers criticized him for his handling of that one, too.  Now, it seems he is handling this one with far less caution and taking it for granted that like Irene and will basically pass us by so there are no evacuation orders.  In fact, schools are still open on Monday, and he is telling us to go to school and work on Monday.  Now, the weather service is calling for life threatening storm surges in New York harbor.  That's well over 350,000 people in harm's way. I pray that he wakes up and does the right thing today or the governor steps in, and it better be soon.  There's a lot of people to evacuate.

So, as I sit here in the quiet of my home, I light a candle and say a prayer for those who find themselves in harm's way.  Won't you join me please?

Grant, O God and Goddess, Thy protection;

And in protection, strength;

And in strength, understanding;

And in understanding, knowledge;

And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;

And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;

And in that love, the love of all existences;

And in the love of all existences, the love of God and the Goddess.

The Gorsedd Prayer

(Once the storm begins, I will probably not be on my computer.  I worry that if the power goes quickly, my computer will crash as my television did several years ago when a manhole blew and electricity went off quickly.  Know that I am safe and will check in as soon as possible.)