I have been quite pleased with all the comments you have made so far. I am beginning to know how you are thinking. But before we move on to another topic I would like to hear how you managed in any of the last two hurricanes or floods you experienced.
The last Tropical Storm was a bit shocking and challenging because my helper had just left unexpectedly. My baby daughter and my son were in my care. The winds were heavy and when I opened the door branches from trees forced their way in. I managed to close the door but the children howled as loudly as the wind. Even though I tried to calm them, I was not feeling too calm myself. I was terrified because I had no clue this “Tropical Storm” would be so devastating. My neighbour came and despite the fact that the rain and wind had already started. He still found some plywood to batten the windows down. Shortly after the wind got more intense so I was really grateful for his help. These disasters can bring out the best and the worst in us. Did you experience any heroic acts by any of your neighbours? Would any of your neighbour's intervention have helped? Did you experience any of the looting in your area? After the impasse I had to hire people to help me clean up but I was really thankful to the Almighty that my son, my daughter and I had survived. I have now come to realization that because hurricanes are so frequent in our country the need arises for us to be ready at all times as we never know when one will strike.
Hurricane Dean was terrible for me as I was alone with my son. The glass sliding door came apart and the waters came rushing in,I kept trying to pack newspapers to seal the sides. But it was a losing battle. Eventually everything fell apart and I felt helpless. My son tried to be brave and I saw him trying to stay awake to give me old newspapers to block holes where water was coming in. We gave up on that room after a while and huddled together to keep warm. It was many days before life would return to any kind of normalcy. My door was not fixed until three days later. I felt like I was sleeping outside.I don't think I will ever forget when my son looked at the expression on my face and said, " Don't think anything negative. Think positive." I kept hope and I think I felt a special bond with him since that day. He was only six years old.
What are some of the preventative measures you suggest that more of us could take before a hurricane strikes? How were you affected in any of the hurricanes you passed through? I want to hear more about some of your experiences and personal thoughts as you tried to cope in any disaster? Or how you think you could cope if you had to deal with it?
Quite devastating would be an excelent word to describe your experience Ms.Young. I think that with such an experience you would be ready for a hurricane even now, because you would not want to go through such an experience. I went through quite a few hurricane experiences where my family, persons i know and i survived.
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ReplyDeleteI think I will always be prepared in some ways Ackene. But as you might realize I can't always be fully prepared due to economic constraints. Plyboard should be cheaper for so that all of us can prepare effectively. Some of us will never be able to prepare the way we would wish because we have neither cash or manpower to due the battening down of the windows and doors that has to be done.
ReplyDeleteI know this forum is informal but it is a means of helping you to improve your writing. I am just reminding you that common 'i' does not exist by itself in English. I know you were rushing but let good writing be a part of you.
Thanks for your comment. Please share the experience you going to share before you had to rush off to class.
thank god am on now
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note, hello everyone.
ReplyDeleteI honestly cannot remember the names of the the hurricanes or tropical storm and what year or month they came. But I can vividly remember this one hurricane(I think Dean) when two sheets of zincs were blown off the the house top. This was over the bathroom and my room was close to it, water had flooded the floor like a river, outside you could hear the ferocious wind outside engulfing anything that was in its path. I was scared. I never slept the entire night. Morning had come for us to view the damage that was created the night before. I remember that a lot of trees were blown down in the yard. Further up the street a utility had fell.Members of the community walked around with hammers and nails to fix any house they passed which needed repair. I thought this was a great gesture as everyone was looking out for each other.
ReplyDeletei am finally on but i have a test the next couple of minutes
ReplyDeleteMrs. Young your son is a wonderful child.
ReplyDeletejamaican government and citzens are not doing enough to keep the drains clean. They need to keep the drains clean at all times so when there is a hurricane they will not to be running all around trying to clean at the last minite. When drains are not clean for a long period of time then it will take more more money and time. The citizens of this country are very lazy because if they are not getting pay they don't think they could form a group and clean drain. They are the ones that liter the drains and they are the ones that the flooding is going to affect. It is time we all now come together to make our country a better place.
ReplyDeletemic check... 1 2...
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you are all getting though late due to the many challenges we have been facing. Shanine, great that you used some figurative language that made your writing more colourful.That is the kind of heroism that is needed in our country and should be highlighted by the media. That was really positive actions by the citizens.
ReplyDeleteSashia,those are strong words. I wish more Jamaicans would take this attitude.I agree that the country would be a better place if there was more cooperation among citizens.
Sashia, I am
well i strongly believe that we should eat what we grow and grow what we eat because currently, the food we are eating nowadays are causing us to get sick and most of the times when i buy food in the market especially fruits they are forced ripe or preserved with somethings in order for it not to spoil so what i think is that eating what u grow and vice-versa results in a healthier lifestyle and longer lifespan.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Direct.gov. website, the government advises schools to focus on strategies that will help to improve discipline in schools. And that "schools also need sanctions to deter pupils from misbehaving." I am in total agreement with this quote. When schools consistently enforce the laid-out rools,students will think twice before committing a bad act. To ensure good behaviors, schools need to enforce self-discipline and encourage respect for others.
ReplyDeleteConroy,
ReplyDeletePlease let me know how you are thinking.
Thanks everyone for your posts. I will use this medium to connect with you while we are on the break. I will also post additional questions soon. Feel free to contact me on skype if you want a more visual connection. My skype name is delphinewyoung.
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