Because so many are asking:
GOD had a plan to help us through the Ernesto cleanup.
Dave Markle was helping to transport a disaster relief team from San Juan International airport to Vieques (nearby island of PR) on Tuesday before the storm. To get to Vieques, they were going to the ferry. Ferry service ended on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and the team arrived Tuesday at 2 p.m. (Their intention was to come to work with a school in Vieques that requested some help). On Tuesday afternoon before the storm, they checked out the tools, jacked up the minivan so they could do a brake job, and planned what they would need for post-storm work.
The team of 5 very seasoned disaster relief workers overnighted with us through the storm. On Wednesday as the rain was ending, they checked walked through the limbs and leaves and made their plans – used our tools, went to Home Depot twice – through some rough patches of trees on the roads…. SLEPT then helped 4 families in the area on Thursday and then got the ferry to Vieques on Friday morning at 4:30.
HOORAY for having 5 seasoned clean up workers. They commented that most times they arrive a day or two AFTER the storm so it was an experience to be IN the storm and actually know the sounds of wind and rain beating on the windows.
The CSCD campus lost power at 2 a.m. August 14. The tree removal guys have been on our road EVERY DAY since that (it is 5:30 Sunday evening August 18 and the chainsaws just stopped running on the road to the east of us with a fleet of trucks spread down the road – kind of cool to see a quick and busy response). The Tesla batteries are running – praise God for Dave Markle knowing a few more things than I do! He got the batteries to GO somehow and has kept the generator in running order – I turn on the generator at night to provide power from midnight to sunrise (or 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. if I wake up and have to use the bathroom) a few hours is all we need to recharge the battery.
Our Deaf friends have been video-calling to check on us and to let me know they are well. No one had SERIOUS damage – but the continued time without stable electricity wears on everyone.
My mother keeps saying “I wonder when the electricity will be on again.” I know she wants an answer but I can only say, “I wonder too Mom.”
I will let you know when I know!
Thank you for checking in on us –
BETSY for the CSCD Community
