This is my Milton’s Aftermath story

This piece, Milton’s Aftermath, is going to be displayed on a traffic signal box at the corner of Baker and Wheeler. They think it’s titled After the Storm.

This is my Milton’s Aftermath story…

My kids went with their dad to North Florida with some of his family when we heard Milton was coming through here. I’ve lived through a hurricane, or 10, so I wasn’t stressing. The power went out at about 9 and I tried to stay awake with a candle but I figured it was probably going to get loud so I might as well sleep while I could. At about midnight I woke up. There were weird noises. I stepped out of bed and was standing in water to my mid calf.

Water was definitely not supposed to be on my bedroom floor. I exited my bedroom to find two very stressed out animals and a house full of water. I opened the front door and could see there was water over the tires of my car. I left the door open and prayed for the water to stop rising. Then I began singing praises. I didn’t feel freaked out or anything. I can tell you the water didn’t get any higher. For me. I have friends who lost everything, literally EVERYTHING.

The weird noises I recorded on my phone because I was a little concerned it might be foundational. I later found out it was just the glue from the flooring coming unstuck. We were without power for a few weeks. I was here alone for a big part of that because no one could really get in to the neighborhood by car because of all the downed trees and power lines.

But, the Lord made the ex-husband decide to be the rescue team and he came and did a bunch of work. Remodeled the kitchen. Replaced floors and drywall. A whole lot of work. Even got me a copper sink. The whole time I’m thinking the Lord prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.

Of course, we were cordial with one another and I was almost believing a change had transpired. Give them long enough and they show the true self. But I digress…

This house is now nicer than it ever was. My kitchen is fabulous and the Lord gave us the flooring via a neighbor who didn’t want to throw it away just because a couple pieces of it got wet. He’s a flooring guy.

We had people show up throughout the restoration process handing us money. One lady paid for the entire set of kitchen cabinets, not just the bottoms because she “wouldn’t want mismatch cabinets.” Another covered the stove at a far higher priced version than I would have ever considered.

A couple I knew in college bought me a matching dryer to the new washer covered by FEMA. I have NEVER in my adult life, had a matching set.

Insurance didn’t cover anything because they labeled it a flood even though the flood was due to infrastructure failure on behalf of the city. Which of course was caused by Milton. AND my house was the only one in my neighborhood not in a documented “flood zone” so I didn’t have to carry flood insurance.

That’s a whole rabbit trail if you’re willing to take it. Whoever is insuring you for “flood” is actually just sending the government money because the only entity to offer flood insurance is the government. And now we’re forced to have it. Look it up.

On top of those donations, a friend who works for a builder was able to get new doors for us. I imagine they will write them off. The ex-husband who is actually gifted in the construction arena when he wants to be, installed the doors too.

It’s been a few years and we are still without couches, but the house only got better, even with the damage sustained. It’s funny to me because a friend who helped me pick this house sealed the deal when she said, you’ll retire in this house and have something to leave the kids. Neither of us expected me to retire in ‘22 at the age of 46. But here I am!