Dear Son,
While I trust you will be absolutely fine in your college dorm room these next few days with a hurricane heading your way, I cannot help but worry. You may be 22 years old but my instinct to protect you and your sister will remain undiminished throughout my life.
Today it is the calm before the storm and we are prepared here at home. Unlike every other storm, this is the first time you have not been with us when the forecast has turned grim. A large swath of the eastern part of the country is in harm’s way and that includes you, dear. So, just in case you have not already thought of these things, please humor me – you are good at it – and keep reading.
Take These 15 Steps Today Before the Hurricane Hits
- Flashlight – see if you can find the one we sent you with freshman year (look in the bin under your bed) and get some fresh batteries.
- Car – fill up your car and try to park it away from trees.
- Cash – don’t run out.
- Phone – Charge your phone and computer and keep them charged.
- Water – pick up a case.
- Food – stock up on comfort food and protein bars that don’t require cooking.
- Change of clothing – pack a small bag and have it ready with basics in case you need to leave quickly.
- Waterproof jacket – try to find it now.
- Emails and texts from school – pay close attention to the communication from your school and, if they say it is time to go to the gym or dining hall for safety, GO!
- Check on any friends whose housing situations might be more vulnerable than yours. It’s at times like this that we need to be there for each other.
- Medicine – pack any of your meds for several days, pick up refills now and take pictures of the medicine bottles.
- Glasses – find your eyeglasses in case your contacts tear or you lose them.
- Stay alert and skip any Hurricane Florence parties, please!
- Add local police, sheriff and other important phone numbers into your phone. Write them down and put the paper in your wallet, too.
- Check for weather updates and stay informed about what’s happening with the storm.
I know you hate me hovering and find it insulting to your maturity/manhood for me to tell you what to do. (I get that and hated my parents fretting about me, too.) Just in case you’re watching sports, and not obsessing about the weather like I am, let me pass on something that I just read about Hurricane Dorian on CNN:
Because it’s four days out, the range of potential landfall spots is vast — from the Florida Keys to southeast Georgia. And the center may pause at sea shortly before landfall — leaving its outer bands to drench much of Florida with lots of rain, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.
“That’s … heavy rain potential,” Myers said. “This will not be a compact storm when it gets there.”
The affected areas in the US will feel tropical-storm force winds — at least 39 mph — as early as Saturday evening.
In addition to your absence from our family’s safe nest, it is the uncertainty of this storm that has me on edge. During all these years of being your mom I have, admittedly, worried too much about silly things, but this is not one of those. Motherhood and worry walk hand in hand like twin sisters and that will never change. Sorry.
Look on the bright side: maybe the storm will be only bad enough for school to be cancelled and you can catch up on your sleep and school work.
Take care (you know I mean it this time!)
Love,
Mom
You Might Also Want to Read:
4 Crucial Additions to the College Dorm List
Thanks to the Children’s Communication Center, Inc. for your input.
Source: https://grownandflown.com/calm-before-the-storm/
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