Returning after the storm

Robin and I left from my home in Melbourne at 7:00 a.m. From previous storm experience, I knew we could be facing a "salvage operation" or be back in business in a matter of days. Ironically, during the last week, I realized from our "out-of-towners" how odd it must seem to pray the storm hits somewhere else, anywhere else, except where you happen to be. You don't want people to suffer damage, but you don't want to have a hurricane slam you either.

I contemplated the next few hours on the futility and our beloved habitat's fate. Personally, I cope with these situations better if I have a plan in place. This allows you to use your energy productively instead of hoping for the best and facing the worst. By the time we hit the roadblock, I was ready to go.

We were immediately waved through when I told the highway patrolman I was with NASA on official government business. The last 20 minutes of the trip seemed to take forever. We could see the wind damage and the effects of the water around us being four feet above normal.

As soon as I arrived, I was involved with the rescue of a Labrador who fell into the canal next to the facility. Massive vegetation and trees were taken out around here. Damage was minimal. A decision by Dennis extended the mission one day, and we planned to be back in business Monday. A Category 1 storm can't even get the best of this group. More to come later.