November 2009 Nor'Easter - National Blog Posting Month Day 9

I love living on the East Coast.

I love the water.

I love everything about the coastline and the water.

But .....

I don't love the storms.

They don't frighten me.

They don't even bother me.

I don't like the way the entire area has to practically shut down during a storm.

You see ..... where I live - the east coast of Virginia - you cannot go anywhere without going over or under the water. My area is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, and various rivers. There are bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnels everywhere.

Yesterday a nor'easter arrived in our area. Normally a nor'easter arrives and within a day it's moved right on up the coast to visit others. Unfortunately, this one has stalled over our area. It began yesterday and is supposed to continue through tomorrow evening. It's definitely time for it to move on up the coast and visit others.

One of the main tunnels in the area had to lower its flood doors.

One of the main bridges in the area had to close due to the high winds.

One of the main bridges in the area had to close due to flooding.

Three of the other area bridges had to close due to flooding.

Many of the area roads had to close due to flooding.

Needless to say, it's been a little difficult getting around if you really had to go anywhere. If you didn't have to be anywhere, it was the perfect day to curl up on the couch or in a chair with a good book.

These storms and hurricanes are a way of life around here.

Just like snow is a way of life in the north.

Just like tornadoes are a way of life in the midwest.

Just like earthquakes, mudslides, fires, and volcanoes are ways of life in other parts of the country.

It doesn't matter where you live, there are certain weather conditions you must endure.

I live on one of the many rivers in our area. We had extremely high tides yesterday and today. They will likely be even higher tomorrow. The biggest problem with the tide is the wind - the wind blows so hard and constant with gusts during these storms - the wind doesn't allow the tide to completely recede before it's high tide again. Tonight the river completely surrounded my house - it was as if I lived on an island. It didn't quite make it to the street, but it sure was close. It is still in the yard tonight and will surround the house again by the morning when it's high tide again. Slowly tomorrow the winds will calm and the tide will be able to recede to somewhat normal levels.

That's when all the clean-up begins. The yard is completely coated with debris from the river - wood, trash, marsh reeds. When we are finally able to begin cleaning all the debris from the yard, we will find fish. They swim in with the tide but don't quite make it out with the tide. We'll most likely even find crabs and barnacles.

I love living on the East Coast.

I love the water.

I love everything about the coastline and the water.

But .....

I sure don't like cleaning up the mess after a storm.