The Hurricane

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Surviving a natural disaster.
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Before I get into my story I would like to explain to the readers that I am blind and a paraplegic. I became a paraplegic after contracting polio in 1959; even though I had received the polio vaccine. In 1983 my sight had deteriorated to the point where I was legally blind because of retinitis pigmentosis. Unable to continue my studies; I left university; deciding to travel.

1988 found me living in Jamaica; just outside a town called Lucea; on a high hill overlooking the road and the bay. People told me the view was impressive, but the way the location captured the cool breezes, was more important to me. The wooden house I resided in was owned by a Jamaican woman, in her mid forties, named Madalynne Reid and her eighteen year old nephew Merick. There was a row of three ten by ten foot bedrooms running along each side of the house, with a living room-kitchen eighteen feet by ten feet separating the two rows of bedrooms. The house had no electricity, running neither water nor telephone; so the cool breeze was important when the temperature was 30 degrees Celsius, with the humidity hovering around 80 to 90 per cent.

On September 12 I was awakened as always, by the roosters. Rolling over; I reached for the radio; turning it on. I was just in time for the end of the 6 o'clock news. The announcer was telling the listeners to prepare for the coming hurricane. We had been receiving these announcements since yesterday; when the hurricane center in Miami declared that Jamaica was in the path of hurricane Gilbert. I was not worried by the reports; as there was always the hope that Gilbert would veer away from Jamaica. My complacency was reinforced by the fact that I had never experienced a hurricane; so I did not understand the destructive force of a storm of Gilbert's magnitude.

The misgivings I felt upon hearing the storm announcements were quickly dispelled when I smelt breakfast cooking. As I got from the bed to the wheelchair; I thought the storm may not hit Jamaica. Even if it did, I was not worried; as I had been through some very severe thunder storms in my life.

When Madalynne and I finished eating breakfast; Freddie and two of his friends stopped by. Freddie was an expatriate German; living in a shack in the hills near by. His friends were fellow Germans visiting Jamaica.

Upon entering the house Freddie exclaimed, "It is a very windy and cloudy day! Have you heard about the hurricane that is coming here? They are constantly warning people about it on the radio and telling everyone to make sure their house is prepared for the storm. Madalynne, is there anything we must do to make the house safe?"

Madalynne replied, "I have seen storms before and we do not have to worry. We only have to put out pans to catch the water where it leaks through the roof. It might be a good idea to start making food. When it is storming I do not want to light the coal pot because it is difficult for the smoke to escape outside. The fumes smell up the house and make me dizzy.

While Madalynne made spaghetti sauce for later; Freddie, his German friends and I visited. Freddy's German friends wanted to find out about Canada; as they practiced their English. Every now and then; while we talked about Canada and Germany; someone would mention that the wind was becoming louder or the sky was getting darker. Being caught up in our conversation; I completely forgot about time and our surroundings.

Suddenly I could hear rain hitting the metal roof of the house and the crack of thunder. The others noticed the rain at the same time; remarking on how hard it was falling. They all jumped up; rushing to the windows; cracking the wooden louvers open a tiny bit; allowing them to look out at the storm. The palm trees were waving back and forth; as the rain pelted against the house. Leaves, particles of gravel, paper, a plastic dish pan and other things could be seen flying around. The wind was picking up anything light; blowing it helter skelter in the yard. The din caused by the rain drumming on the metal roof made it difficult to hear someone talking; so the watchers had to shout when giving me descriptions of what was happening outside. The intensity of the storm had greatly increased since the arrival of Freddy and his friends.

Through the noise of the rain and the crashing thunder; I could hear Madalynne calling out; telling us that the food was ready to eat. I did not really feel hungry; as it had only been four hours since I had eaten. With the storm getting worse; I judged it would be a good idea to get a hot meal inside me; as I did not know how long the storm would last. I had experienced thunder storms in Jamaica that could last up to eight hours. Little did I realize; how much I would appreciate having had this large hot meal. While the five of us ate there was no conversation; as the racket made by the rain and wind made dialogue impossible. Each of us savored the food; as we contemplated the tumult outside. In the short time it took me to eat; I could hear the pitch of the wind and the sound of the rain increase. When I had finished my spaghetti; I could feel the house start to tremble beneath my wheelchair.

When Madalynne started to gather up the dishes; I heard a loud crack which was immediately followed by the sound of rending wood and metal. My body started to quiver; as adrenaline pumped through my body. I knew something serious had happened, but I did not know what. Suddenly I felt wind whipped rain hitting my face.

I then felt Freddy leaning over me; yelling in my ear, "We have to get to the other side of the house! The wind has ripped the roof off one corner of the house and everything is getting wet! We are moving everything to the rooms on the side of the house over looking the hill!"

Taking hold of the handgrips of the wheelchair; Freddy pushed me into one of the undamaged rooms. Leaving me; he ran to the damaged part of the house; bringing things to where I waited. Above the howling wind and drumming rain; I could faintly make out the sounds of people hurriedly placing things around me; then rushing back for more.

On this side of the house there were three bedrooms in a row; with me in the end room. These rooms extended over the brow of a hill. It was held up by posts embedded in the ground; as there were no walls beneath the rooms; only air. The other part of the house rested on the crest of the hill. Because of the excitement of the moment; no one realized that powerful gusts of wind would be able to get under this part of the house.

Suddenly the floor beneath my wheels began to shake! There was a loud crack; as wood tore free; splintering where the room joined the main part of the house! I felt the floor tilt under me; causing the wheelchair to roll forward! Gathering speed; I no longer felt the floor beneath my wheels; as I sailed out the end of the room. The wall had disappeared; allowing the wheelchair and I to fly through the air. The wind was so powerful that it buoyed me up; allowing me to float. As I cleared the room the ungainly wheelchair began to fall; as I continued to glide on the gale force wind. I had no time to think of anything or plan; I could only react to what was happening. Finally the blast gently deposited me atop what had been the wall of the room. I felt like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz"; except I was still in the middle of a hurricane; not in Oz.

Laying on the remnants of the smashed wall; I was able to gather my wits; while contemplating my predicament. I realized only a few minutes had elapsed since I had entered the room; even though it felt like an eternity. What was I going to do? Were the other people still alive? Could they find me? These were all questions that passed through my mind; as I clung to the remains of the wall.

The wind sounded like a freight train coming straight at me. I could tell the sky had darkened to its evening shade; even though it was early afternoon. Large drops of rain pelted my back and head; quickly soaking me to the skin. How long could I last in this storm, before hypothermia set in? Feeling broken glass and nails sticking from boards all around me; I understood how lucky I was not to have landed on them. How long would it be before the screaming wind blew something onto me; causing me to be gashed or bones to be broken. Being unable to see increased my fear. I could not see an escape route. I did not know what was happening around me nor could I see something coming at me so I could avoid it. Just as I started thinking I would have to try and crawl down the hill to another house; I heard voices calling out. I shouted in reply, but I could not tell if anyone heard me above the roar. The next thing I knew there were people around me. Freddy and Madalynne had found me. Madalynne bent down; giving me an exuberant hug. We would be alright; I hoped.

"You're alive!" Madalynne exclaimed; squeezing me hard.

Bending down; Freddy shouted in my ear, "Are you alright? We saw you fly out of the room! Madalynne started bawling about you being killed."

"I'm alright." I cried in reply. "What are we going to do?"

"We have to get down the hill To Bunga Ray's house. Let Madalynne and I carry you down the hill." Freddy and Madalynne chorused; as they grabbed me under the arms; trying to drag me down the hill.

"This is not going to work!" I shouted. "You can barely stand up; without trying to carry me! We will each have to try to slide down the hill on our own."

In places the path down the hill was so steep steps were cut into the clay to facilitate travel. Under ideal conditions a person had to hold onto trees to help themselves climb up or down the hill. The path was rendered more dangerous because of broken glass and jagged stumps of bamboo. The driving rain had turned the clay of this treacherous path into a water slide.

With Freddy and Madalynne guiding me; we crawled to the opening in the trees where the slippery path began. The path was like a river in flood. To prevent the water from washing me down the hill; I dug my fingers into the slippery clay. I did not want to grab anything along the path for fear of being slashed by broken glass or splintered bamboo. Slowly we made our way down the hill; amidst the howling gale and the pelting rain. If I had been able to see the things such as coconuts, sheets of metal roofing, branches and divers other things flying through the air; my terror would have been greatly increased.

After what seemed an eternity we arrived at the bottom of the hill. It was at this point that I really comprehended how much water was flowing down the hill. The water was so plentiful that a mini waterfall had formed at the junction of our path and the track that would take us to a place of refuge. The track we were now on never held water, but it now contained about two feet of run off from the rain. Some how we would have to make our way through; what was now a river.

To get to the nearby house; my companions grabbed me under the arms and carried me to what we hoped would be our haven in the storm. Seeing us coming; Bunga Ray and His wife Marva threw open the door just as we arrived. Hustling us into the house; Marva brought us towels to dry ourselves; as we found places to sit. What a relief to be out of the slashing rain and gale force winds. We were able to catch our breath and get dried off; as we poured out our story to Bunga Ray, Marva, their son Renee and nephew Miky. Being excited and pumped up on adrenaline; we blurted out our tale; not caring if the other person was speaking nor whether we were being heard. We just had to be talking.

As the excitation of the moment began to wane; I commenced shivering from coolness and the pumping adrenaline. Seeing me shivering; Marva gave me a jacket to help me warm up; while Bunga Ray offered me a cigarette to help me calm down. I gratefully accepted both. When I had put on the coat; Bunga Ray lit the cigarette; as I was still shaking too much to hold anything steady. Just then another furious gust of wind hit the house.

Bunga Ray yelled out, "The roof is lifting! Freddy, help me tie it down! Marva, get everyone into the basement! Freddy and I will try and secure the roof. If we cannot I want everyone in the bottom rooms."

As Freddy and Bunga Ray struggled with the roof; I dragged myself to the trap door leading to the basement. Miky and Renee were the first through the trap door; down the ladder to the lower rooms. Madalynne followed them; so she would be in place to help me down the ladder.

Just as I began to climb down the ladder; I felt the house give a violent shake. Hearing a crash and the splintering of wood; I knew the roof was being ripped from the house. Immediately I felt the wind buffet me; as the rain lashed my head and back. Heedless of splinters; I let myself slide down the ladder. Upon reaching the bottom; Madalynne helped me to the bed; where Miky and Renee huddled; trembling in fear. From my position on the bed; I knew rain was coming through the trap door; as it was hitting me in the face. Above the roar of the storm; I heard Marva scramble down the ladder; followed by Freddy and Bunga Ray. When I heard the bang of the trap door shutting; I hoped we would be safe.

The basement of the house consisted of two rooms dug into the side of the hill on which the main house rested. The rooms were ten feet square; made of cement block; with a cement floor overlaid with tiles. Each room had a window and door to the outside; with a connecting door. The sparsely furnished rooms each contained a mattress on a wooden frame and a wooden chair. Lighting would have been provided by a kerosene lamp or candle, but no one had time to bring either. These Spartan, small, dark quarters would be the home for Marva, Madalynne, Bunga Ray, Freddy, Renee, Miky and I for the remainder of the storm.

Marva, Bunga Ray, Renee and Miky occupied the room with the trap door; while Madalynne, Freddy and I took up residence on the bed in the other room. Sitting on the bed; we quickly found that there was no escape from the water. With the roof ripped off; the house above us was completely exposed to the elements. The wind drove the rain into every crack, joint and splice; causing it to trickle into the lower rooms. Within a short time the mattresses were soaked; while water collected on the floor. Occasionally Freddy would bail the water out the door; as it seemed to be collecting in the room we occupied. There was no way to escape the constant dripping of water. After sometime I tried covering myself with a large sheet of plastic, but this failed; as the high humidity caused water to form on the inside of the plastic. As the water formed it would run onto my face; making me more uncomfortable.

The cement walls and the ground helped to deaden the din from outside; making conversation between the rooms possible. While Bunga and Marva tried to soothe the eight year old Miky; we swapped stories. After the first excited exchanges; we settled down to our private thoughts. This was the first opportunity I had to contemplate what had occurred during the last few hours.

We had started to eat about twelve o'clock. It was now a few minutes before three in the afternoon. I had lost all sense of time. At periods during the day, time flew by; while on other occasions it crawled. It felt reassuring to be surrounded by concrete and earth, but I was constantly on edge. The roof had been torn from above my head twice today. Would it happen again? This was constantly in my mind; as the storm raged outside.

Lying on the sodden mattress; I realized this was the longest respite from the storm so far. I was glad we had eaten before the storm blew me away. Who knew when we would eat again? With these thoughts running through my mind; I relaxed; beginning to drowse; despite the continuous dripping of water.

Suddenly my peace was shattered by a banging at the door. Coming awake; it sounded like the wind was battering something against the door. Was the door going to be smashed? Was the hurricane going to unleash a new horror on us? I then heard a muffled voice; as Bunga Ray sloshed through the water. When he opened the door; allowing the lost soul in; I recognized the voice of Aunt Lou. She was Marva's great aunt. Her small house had stood along the path we used after coming down the hill. Aunt Lou had hobbled along the path; wading knee deep in water; after her house was demolished by the hurricane. When she had settled herself into the chair in the other room; she commenced narrating her tale of terror.

Aunt Lou described how she had been sitting at her table with only a flickering candle to light the room. She was praying for God to spare her life; as things banged against the house roof. Suddenly a powerful gust hit her tiny house; tearing off the roof; causing the walls to collapse. The force of the wind drove Aunt Lou back from the table. This prevented the debris from landing directly on her. However, some of the rubble did land on her leg and foot; causing a sprained ankle, cuts and some bruising. Her house may have been destroyed, but her life had been spared.

When the excitement of Aunt Lou's recitation had waned; we again settled into our private meditations. As I drifted off to sleep; again I was wakened by knocking at our door. This time I did not start in fear. I was becoming accustomed to people rapping on the door. Feeling the bed move; I knew Freddy was getting up to let the caller in. When the visitor entered and spoke; I knew he was Mandoon; Marva's great uncle. Splashing his way to the chair; Mandoon sat down; proceeding to relate his story.

Like Aunt Lou; Mandoon was sitting at his table when the disaster struck. A giant gust of wind lifted the roof off his house. Since Mandoon's house was strongly built and sheltered by a hill the walls did not collapse. This saved him from any injury. Quickly he made his way to the house we had all gathered in. There were now seven adults and 2 children in the two basement rooms.

With the three of us on the bed and Mandoon on the chair; we again withdrew into ourselves. I was again roused, but not by a knocking at the door. It took me a minute to realize why I had awakened. I could no longer hear the rain drumming on the floor upstairs nor the howling wind. Was the storm over? I asked Bunga what time it was. He told me that it was a couple of minutes after eight in the evening. We had been in the basement for about five hours. Just then there was a knocking at the door.

Who was it now? What disaster had befallen someone else? When Freddy answered the door; I knew from the voice it was Speedy, Marva's uncle. His house was below the hill we were situated on. Before anyone could ask what bad news he carried; he told us everything was all right. At times Eiki, his wife and Farina, his daughter were frightened, but everyone was safe. The house still had its roof. Speedy also told us that the storm was not over. This was only the eye of the hurricane. The storm was only half over. He had come up the hill to see how everyone was coping. He told us he could not stay long; as he did not want Eiki and Farina to become frightened. He also wanted to get home before the hurricane slammed into us again. After a few more minutes of conversation Speedy returned to his house.

Knowing we had passed through half the hurricane was a small consolation; knowing we would soon face the full fury of the storm mitigated any enthusiasm I may have felt. At least I did not have to worry about being blown away. The concrete and earth would protect us.

Within a short time of Speedy's departure; the wind commenced howling. This time the storm did not slowly increase in ferocity; it burst upon us like an explosion. With all the noise there was nothing to do except reflect on my predicament; as I listened to the water drip. In the other room I could hear Marva comforting Miky; as the wind and rain raged outside. The only other distraction was Mandoon's occasional trip to the door; so he could bail water from the room. Turning and twisting on the soaked bed; I could not find a position where the water did not hit me. Finally I had to be satisfied with a place where the water did not hit me in the face. With this minor achievement; I settled down to try and get some sleep. It was going to be a long night.

12