Monday, February 7, 2011

Back home safe and sound

Hi

Wow, what an insane week it has been.

We arrived home last night after having been away for five nights thanks to Cyclone Yasi.

Early last week things were looking pretty grim here


this screen dump was from early on Tuesday morning I think. By later on Tuesday Cyclone Yasi was upgraded to a catagory 5 and was tracking a little further south.

We live just a little south of cairns and by lunch time it seemed we were in the direct path of this massive system so we decided to evacuate while we could. The word from authorities was either leave now or not at all. Having been through this experience with Cyclone Bobby in  Western Australia in 1995 during which my first husband died, I just did not feel up to bunkering down and hoping for the best..



We stayed in Townsville on Tuesday night and then decided to push on a little further south the next morning as they were predicting that the cyclone would now cross somewhere around Cardwell and that areas between Cairns and Townsville would be hit hard.

Accommodation was proving hard to find by this stage as lots of people had chosen to  head south and also emergency services personel were moving in to the area. We ended up having to travel to Rockhampton (just south of Yeppoon) to stay for the night (some 1000km from home).

My husband and I felt physically ill on Wednesday night as we watch the news for any and all information. We had no idea what the morning would bring. We worried for our friends and our home.

As it turns out the area in which we live was spared with only minor damage. The areas of Tully and Cardwell ( a little further south) were not so fortunate. I am sure by now you have all seen the pictures on the news of the devastation to these towns.

We had to wait a few days before we were able to travel home as the roads were cut due to flooding and debree.

I feel extremely grateful to have been spared and my heart goes out to all the families and businesses that have suffered terrible losses. The worry of course is that our cyclone season does not end until April so there is still the very real risk of further cyclones.

We are still cleaning up our yard and unpacking all the things we had stashed away in water proof boxes and cupboards etc last week so it will be a while before I am back online proper and can update my blog and choose the featured blogger for Make It Monday etc.

Thank you to all of you who sent emails and left messages while we were away.

Michelle :-)







19 comments:

heidy said...

Oh Michelle,I'm so glad your home safely.
XXX Heidy

Lisa Jane said...

HI Michelle ... what a relief to have you back.. thanks for keeping in touch. Hope life settles down soon
Lisa ;)

Shirley-Anne said...

So happy to see you home safe and sound , Michelle . Love and hugs....

Lorrinda said...

So good to hear that you are home safe and sound! Hope things settle down for you now!

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

So pleased you are home safely. Hugs, Sylvia x

Lauren Colless said...

Hi Michelle, glad to hear you are safe and sound - had worried about you!

Cheryl Valadez said...

Oh, Michelle! So happy you are back home safe and sound. What a relief it must be for you and your family. Get some well deserved rest, my friend. You have certainly earned it :) Big hugz to you across the miles! Cheryl

debby4000 said...

Glad to hear you and your family were safe and you're now back home.
luv
Debby

Annette Bowes said...

Hi Michelle, so glad you made it back home! Have thought of you and your family often. Fingers crossed no more cyclones for sometime! Try and take sometime out if that is possible! Take careX:)

Mo said...

Thanks God that you are safe!
Big Hugs,
Mo

Holly Young said...

So glad you and your home are okay Michelle!

Bella´s Bastelecke said...

Hi Michelle, glad to hear you are safe and sound - had worried about you...............


Hugs
Judith

Monica said...

Hi Michelle,

I have been getting your updates from your loving Mum...

This is the first time I did not enjoy reading your post - made me so sad and helpless to see that Australia is going through so much.

I am SO relieved that you and family are safe and back to your wonderful home. Thank God that you were spared from damage this time.

I have not been able to visit you regularly as my husband had to rush to Singapore for a sudden surgery. He was very uncomfortable before that. We went to Singapore to visit him and cheer him up. In fact we just got back last night.

I will keep you in my thoughts and cross my fingers atleast until April.

Hugs,

Monica

Alizabethy said...

Gosh what a difficult time for you all, I hope this will be the last time you have to evacuate this year.

mamia (me and mine in Alabama) said...

Michelle, I am so glad you are home safe. That had to have been so scary. I wondered if something was wrong but had no idea it was a cyclone. Blessings,

Sandy

Helen said...

Hi Michelle,
I am so glad that you, your family, and your home are safe.

Hugs,
Helen

Marlene said...

I am so glad you're home safe and sound, and that you were spared serious damage. I was thinking about you all last week. HUGSSSSS!!!!

Vanessa (aka V'ness, Nessa, oldschool) said...

SO relieved for you!!!

Jennifer said...

Hi Michelle. What an awful thing to have to go through, especially as it's not for the first time. So glad you're safe and well and back home now. ((hugs))xx

My hubby has Aunties, Uncles & cousins who live in Australia. He's never met them, (it was his Grandad who emegrated with some of his children, before hubby was born) and we're not in touch or anything, but we do think about them when we see things on the news. Take care..xx Jenny xx