Storm Stories in Honor of Hurricane Earl

In honor of Hurricane Earl, who is making its way up the coast right now to whip up some winds, rain, and big surf, I asked our Facebook friends if they had any memories from Hurricane Bob, the last hurricane to hit the coast of Maine, back in 1991.  The answers I received were so interesting and wonderful that I wanted to make sure we shared them. Go to www.facebook.com/downeastmagazine [2] and look at the comments.  The comments are so personal and thoughtful, you won't be sorry.
 

I, myself, remember Bob well.  I was fifteen, visiting Squirrel Island for the month of August with my family, and though they evacuated anyone within a mile of the coast, the stalwart summer residents of the island mostly chose to stay.  So they cut off our electricity and water (there are two water towers for emergency use on the island) and pulled up the docks, and we waited for the storm to overtake us.

I just remember feeling amazed and gleeful at the strength of the storm, the power of nature.  After it hit, a whole group of us took off our shoes, rolled up our jeans, and put on rain coats and then head out into the driving rain.  The ocean was thirty feet higher up the rocks then I'd ever seen it before, sloshing under sidewalks that were usually far removed from the water.  Trees bent almost to touching the ground and lightposts were knocked over everywhere.  Out on the rocks, the rain was blowing so hard it felt like pebbles hitting our faces.  My close friend Carter, who was this vey tall skinny kid, opened up his arms and leaned back into the wind and it held him up.

I hope you stay safe and dry tonight as Earl comes calling, and don't forget to check out our facebook page: www.facebook.com/downeastmagazine [2].

Ari Meil
Managing Editor Books/Online

(The image is an NOAA satelite photo of Hurricane Bob from August of 1991)