PUERTO RICO - Vieques - 2015 - House Sitting - Chap 2 - TS Danny May Visit

This may be a little premature, but it sure looks like Tropical Storm Danny with become a hurricane and make a run at or by Puerto Rico.

Projected path of TS Danny as of 19 Aug - 2300 hrs

But before we talk about hurricanes, here's what went on in the past week.

We finally got some long needed rain last weekend so the grass is getting green and the plants are looking healthier.  But along with water, especially in the tropics, the mosquitoes have awaken.  Yep, the mosquito net has been raised above the bed.

One thing about living on an island is you get some beautiful sunrises as well as sunsets.

Sunrise from the house

And of course the coconuts don't get any fresher than when you harvest and open them yourself.

In March of this year, the government opened "Puerto Ferro Lighthouse" to tourists.  It's located on the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge which used to be a US Navy bombing range.  As such, there are still some unexploded ordinances (removal has been ongoing since the 1980's), so KEEP ON THE MARKED ROADS and TRAILS.

 This lighthouse has been abandoned in 1926 and has taken a beating from the tropical weather.  Now an archaeological site, it's all closed up, but it's a cool old building with some awesome views.

Puerto Ferro Lighthouse from the beach

Puerto Ferro Lighthouse

View from a cliff guarded by the lighthouse

Another outcropping with part of the "Vieques National Wildlife Refuge"

 Now, lets talk about hurricane tracking, prep, stay or evacuate, and aftermath.

Growing up in Florida in the 1960's, we didn't have computers, apps, or TV channels that were exclusively weather related.  We had grid maps and we tracked the movement of a storm with longitudes and latitudes.  Now with all the aforementioned electronics, tracking is much easier.

Old school hurricane tracking map

I started watching 'laser 96' (now TS Danny) last Saturday night.  Knowing the probability that it would come this way, I removed palm branches and general stuff around the yard.  Now that the forecast brings it closer, actually right over Vieques, my focus has changed to securing stuff; everything from garbage cans, to lawn furniture, and anything else that grows wings in high winds.

When I arrived here to house sit, one of the first things the homeowners and I talked about were hurricanes.  With their recommendation, if the storm is going to be higher than a category 2, if possible, I'll evacuate to the main island.  In the case of it being a smaller storm or I can't evacuate, a 'safe house' is available at one of the homes I'll be sitting.

As for the aftermath, we'll see what the storm brings first.  One thing for sure, if we get visited by Danny, there will be pix.

until next time,
Mike