Hurricanes:
Being transplants from New Jersey, we thought our experience with Nor-easters and category one storms prepared us for a Florida hurricane. In our minds, we expected the storms to be stronger, but nothing prepared us for what came at us in 2004.
We had purchased our first Florida home in January of that same year. It was a concrete block & stucco (CBS) pool home that had been vacant for a few months. The previous owner had passed on and left behind a well-maintained home. The kitchen was fairly new, and the carpeting was just replaced. The roof was only 7 years old, and although the décor was far from our style, it served us very well. The house itself was in great condition, but the pool area needed some attention, so we focused on remodeling the back patio to make it welcoming sanctuary for the family.
It was September of that same year when Frances hit. The locals in our Port St. Lucie neighborhood were convinced that the storm would bypass us. Something about the area being protected by a reef and the storms always go around.
Trust me, if someone tells you a similar tale, don’t believe it. It's a lie!!!
Frances was a massive storm moving extremely slowly at 5-6 MPH. The eye itself was immense, and by the time this category two monster made it out of Port St. Lucie, more than 26 hours had transpired.
The first of the winds seemed to be nothing, but after 14 hours of nonstop pounding by 55-75 MPH winds a good portion of our roof shingles were torn away, and we were only a little more than halfway through it.
Did I happen to mention that the roof was only 7 years old?
Water slowly began making its way into the house, but fortunately there were only a few drips here and there at first. By the time it was dark, the power was already out, and all you could hear was the winds howling and things thumping against the house.
When the eyewall hit, the racket was just unbelievable. Five of us were huddled in a small hallway questioning if we were going to make it. The noise was unbelievable, and I remember my husband, who is a rock at even at the worst of times, screaming at the roof to stay the #!@*&’% on.
I honestly don’t know how long we cowered there, but suddenly it grew quiet. There was absolutely no sound. The raging monster outside that was assaulting our house had completely vanished. We were in the eye.
All of us were exhausted at this point. We had just spent the last few days gathering supplies, securing the house, covering up all openings, while trying to work full time jobs, and none of us had much sleep. The stress of the storm, coupled with absolute fear left us with nothing better to do than try to get some sleep while it was quiet.
It was about 6 hours that we sat in the eye. Time that we really needed, but as quickly as it stopped, it instantly became a raging monster again.
The winds hit the house so hard, it sounded like a wrecking ball was slamming against the walls, only this time, it was coming from the back of the house. The whirling sound of the wind was incredible, and when we thought we were seeing the worst of it, there was a loud ripping sound, followed by the sound of water rushing over our heads. Water started cascading down the interior walls along the back of the house, and it was all we could do to contain it. The floors were soaked, the ceiling started falling in, and with the raging menace outside, we had nowhere to go.
We kept the kids in the living room where it was the driest, and attempted to move our belongings out of the way as parts of the ceiling were caving in. We kept up this futile act of trying to protect the kids while trying to save what was left until the winds faded enough to realize that the worst of the storm was finally done with us.
We learned so much over those few days and the months that followed. Lessons that taught us key things about shoring up our home, and how to be well prepared for whatever mother nature has to throw our way.
Words cannot express how much I wish we knew then what we know now. Our hope is that our experience and the things we learned can help others avoid the same pitfalls.
Check out this post for some tips about getting ready for Hurricane season, and what to do before, during and after the storm.
Please be on the lookout for an upcoming post about our Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne experiences to learn more about the aftermath, and the things we’ve done ever since to keep our family safe and our home secure.
Dangerous things:
We’ve already established that Florida is a bug friendly zone, most of which are just pain pesky, but there are some downright dangerous critters here that, if encountered, can result in a fatal outcome.
Spiders:
Black Widows
The Black Widow is one of the more famously known poisonous spiders, and a bite from one these jet-black arachnids with a bright red hourglass on its abdomen can make the victim extremely sick, and for some, it can be fatal. Medical attention is highly recommended if bitten by one of these creatures, as the venom can have a different affect depending upon the individual.
Black Widows tend to reside in cooler, darker areas with minimal traffic such as a shed or pile of debris. A tell-tale sign is their messy webs, which look like they were made haphazardly, with no pattern or defined structure. Black Widows don’t go around looking for victims, but they will bite if startled or surprised. They are also more aggressive if they have eggs. In most cases, a Black Widow bite is treatable, and the symptoms will generally subside within 24-48 hours.
Note that Florida also has its share of Brown Widows, which are not as aggressive or as venomous, but can deliver quite a sting. I often find these little buggers underneath my patio furniture and under the frames of the screen enclosure around my pool. The messy webs are a tell-tale sign that something is amiss, but the spiders themselves are brown with an orange hourglass. At first, I thought they were young Black Widows, but after a bunch of research, I discovered they were in fact, Brown Widows. Who knew?
Brown Recluse
Another of the more dangerous and venomous spiders is the Brown Recluse.
Aptly named, yes, they are brown, and yes, they are reclusive. They have what is called a necrotic venom, which, if bitten and not treated, could possibly cause severe damage to the flesh around the bite area. They prefer similar hiding spaces to the Black Widow and are commonly found near structures.
Like the widow, the Brown Recluse isn’t on a quest to bite someone and prefers to be left alone. They are reclusive after all. Bites typically occur when a spider gets trapped between clothing or bedding and the skin.
If living in an area prone to Brown Recluse infestation, it is recommended that any clothing or bedding, especially items that haven’t been used in a while, get inspected prior to use.
Bufo / Cane Toad
The Bufo or Cane Toad is one of the more toxic creatures you’ll come across in Florida.
Mostly found in the southern part of the state, the Bufo Toad’s skin secretions can kill a small pet in a very short amount of time if bitten or licked. I’ve heard too many heartbreaking stories about people losing their pets because of this invasive creature. Something as simple as leaving a water bowl outside and having a pet drink out of it can be an invitation to danger.
In a small animal, the effects are almost immediate, generally causing seizures or convulsions, and can be fatal without immediate veterinary attention. The poison can also affect the heart, causing immediate cardiac arrest. An adult Bufo Toad isn’t easy to miss. They are huge in size, but the babies can be very small, up to a centimeter in size, and although their poison isn’t as dangerous, it should be considered as much of a threat as an adult.
Snakes
Snakes, like bugs are just part of Florida life, and can be found just about everywhere. There are several species of venomous snakes in Florida, with the majority concentrated in the Everglades, but it’s not out of the question to come across rattlesnakes, copperheads, or the cottonmouth from time to time. The Coral Snake: however, can make an appearance in any back yard, and can pack a really nasty punch. If bitten by any of these, it is important to get medical care immediately to ensure the appropriate antivenom is provided.
Fire Ants
Although death from Fire Ant bites is rare, in the most severe cases, their stings can cause the victim to go into shock, and depending upon the victim’s sensitivity, the reaction can be fatal. These little demons of the insect world are quick to anger and will explode in a frenzy of rage against those who dare to tread anywhere near their precious nest.
My first encounter with these evil creatures occurred on our very first move-in day, and because I believe these insects are little spawns of Satan, I have included them in the list of Uglies.
My Hubby’s brother had a home in Boynton Beach, which sat across from a canal. The majority of residents used this area for overflow parking, and it was a great place to park while unloading the moving truck. Unbeknownst to me, the area was full of Fire Ant nests, and wouldn’t you believe I happened to step out of my car right onto an active nest. Within seconds my flip-flopped foot was covered, and it looked like I was wearing a boot. The only thing I could think of was to get into the street and stomp my foot to shake them off.
Fortunately, I only suffered four solid bites, but man oh man do those little buggers sting.
Again, one of those valuable lessons learned, and now we know what to look for to avoid them. For those from the northeast like myself, I’d heard of Fire Ants, but the stories don’t do them justice. Their nests look like a mound of sand or dirt at first, but if disturbed, within seconds the mound erupts with thousands of them looking to confront whatever it is that is threatening their home. Imagine a mini volcano, but the lava is alive, and it will hunt you down.
Most of your home improvement stores are stocked with products specifically designed to destroy and deter Fire Ants from establishing a nest on your property, but it is wise to know what to look for and how to avoid them. It takes a long time to recover from their sting, and believe it or not, I still have a couple of scars on my foot from the first encounter, and that was more than 20 years ago.
All in all, the worst of the worst isn’t all that bad, and the good things beat out the bad hands down. We’ve adapted pretty well to the Florida environment and have learned what to be on the lookout for, and how to be prepared for some of the uglier things that this tropical paradise in the south can throw our way.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit it yet, check out this post to learn about the many benefits of calling this beautiful place home. Of course, with the good, there tends to be a little bad sprinkled in. Check out this post to learn about some of the annoyances of year-round living in paradise.