Tropical Cyclone Incoming

[msconduct]

The severe storm currently barrelling across the Pacific at us has just been upgraded to a tropical cyclone. Which at least makes me feel we weren't wasting our time today putting away outdoor furniture and clearing a couple of gutters, things I've learned the hard way are much easier to achieve before heavy rain and gale force winds are lashing the property.

Last year I reluctantly had three very large Leylandii cypresses cut down, precisely for this kind of situation. I was worried we'd have fewer birds in the garden, and we do. And we miss the shade on the deck, which we've had to partially replace with a Temu shade sail, which isn't as good. But they were partially dead and only going to get deader, and I was terrified that a strong wind would bring them down on the house, or worse, on a neighbour's house. I loved the trees and I miss them, but I don't miss that terror. And when the forecast turns bad I'm aways relieved that the trees won't be an issue.

Now all I have to do is worry about two friends who both have houses on sloping sections being flooded out. One of them had to have all her carpet replaced last time there was a similar storm.

Comments

[vysila]

I am wishing you strength and good luck in the approaching cyclone. I know it must be very worrying to be in the path of such violent weather. Cutting down the trees was a smart move, hard though it was. I did the same several years ago, cutting down five potentially dangerous trees close to my home and am very glad I did.

[echomyst]

At first I thought wow, Temu is named after a plant?! But then my eyes caught the next words and was disappointed lol

Does your city give out free sandbags? Ours does when there are flood warnings. Hopefully your friends can divert the flood from their homes.

Stay safe!

[meowmensteen]

Yikes!

Perhaps you should plant a new tree for the birds.

[msconduct]

I have lots of other trees, and it's not like we have *no* birds now, but the Leylandii were really popular with the birds because of their height and the way the partially dead bare branches gave them lots of perching room. The height seemed to make them a landmark for birds flying by and needing a rest. Sadly I don't want any more 100 foot trees in the garden for the same reasons as I cut down these ones. It was a dumb idea planting them in the first place, but at least I enjoyed them while I had them.

[msconduct]

THanks! I'm at the top of a rise and don't need to worry much about flooding at least (something that never crossed my mind when I bought the house but has become a real problem now in NZ because of changing weather). Yep, we can get free sandbags, although they involve digging up the sand yourself whoch I'm not crazy about:). BTW I discovered just the other day that Temu is in fact named after Team Up Prices Down, referring to their model where there are no intermediate distributors. Who knew? Not me:).

[msconduct]

Thank you! These storms have become far more frequent now so I'm sort of used to it, and where I'm situated there isn't a lot of flooding danger, so unless my roof gets ripped off I should be fine. I'm a lot more worried about my friends.

[kaishin108]

That is so good you are prepared and it was the right decision with those cypress. Such a lovely cypress those are too. I can see why you were reluctant.

Hope all gets through it well.

[msconduct]

Thank you, it's starting to get wild out there, but I should be fine unless my roof gets ripped off (unlikely).

[echomyst]

Yeah, if/when we're to move again, there is a whole lot more we're going to have to consider, climate risk being one.

Who knew? Not me:).

Lol ... Obviously not me either!

[kaishin108]

Keep us posted!