The late Jimmy Buffett long ago came up with the perfect song title for summers in Florida: “Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season.” As a transplanted Florida resident, it’s taken me a while to assimilate tropical storms and hurricanes, and I’m not sure I’m ever going to get a good handle on them. Over the past couple of months, though, I’ve had plenty of opportunities.
In my case, Hurricane Helene basically swapped paint with my location as it stored up energy and moisture to dump elsewhere, like on and around Asheville, N.C., one of my favorite destinations. My thoughts go out to all in the area who have been and will continue to be impacted by Helene.
Hurricane Milton was different in many ways, coming as it did from over the Gulf of Mexico, and heading east instead of north or west. I drove to Georgia to sit it out. It brought severe damage to nearby communities, including mine. When I returned, my power was out and the driveway was an obstacle course of downed trees and limbs, which are now stacked at the curb awaiting FEMA’s trucks. I won’t be able to get the Debonair out until it’s all removed, or turned into firewood.
While I was anxious about the home, I was equally anxious about the airplane. For a variety of reasons, I left it behind when I bugged out. Thankfully, it was unharmed. My AME’s hangared 182 wasn’t as lucky, but it probably will fly again. Let all this be a reminder that insurance often will reimburse owners who temporarily relocate their aircraft out of harm’s way. Before the hurricane arrives is a good time to check your policy.
And if you need some firewood, I can hook you up.
