So, when we moved to New Orleans, we knew hurricanes might be a problem. Little did we know a strong category two hurricane would blow through shortly after we arrived…

As first timers, we weren’t sure what to expect. So we prepared and prepared and prepared some more, even though the prediction was only for a category one storm. We bought gallons and gallons of bottled water just in case the water went out. We bought a cooler and filled it full of ice and beverages (yes, wine and beer included) so we didn’t have to open the fridge. We made all the ice cubes we could, stuffed them in Ziploc bags, and filled every square inch of our freezer to ensure it would last a full 48 hours without power. We bought flashlights and spare batteries. We downloaded tv shows and movies onto our tablets. We filled our bathtub and the two buckets in the house with water so we could still flush our toilets if the water went out. We stocked up on non-perishable food. We cooked a Home Run Inn pizza that was in the freezer and a can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls that was in the fridge because losing either of those things would have been a small tragedy. We made sure all of our laundry was washed (including all of our reusable masks). We each packed a go bag just in case. We made sure every one of our electronics was fully charged. We bought a second battery pack so we could continue to charge our phones and our tablets for days. We stacked up all of our patio furniture in a protected corner so it wouldn’t blow away. And, we put together a pile of blankets and pillows in case we had to cower in a corner. About the only thing we didn’t do was buy Cosmic Brownies, a hurricane treat highly recommended on Reddit. (No, Cosmic Brownies are not illegal — they are a Little Debbie product — and yes, we realize Reddit isn’t really a reliable source.) Oh, and somehow we completely “forgot” to buy hurricane mix to mix up some hurricane drinks….Robert says, and I quote “I’m not drinking those things. I had my one hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s years ago and I’m never having another one. They are really f’ing nasty.” (Those of you who know Robert can fill in the word Robert actually used.)

And, then, we anxiously waited. We woke up Wednesday to the news that Zeta had turned into a Category two storm overnight. And, it was headed right towards us. Not good. That afternoon, we read if the winds increased by one mile per hour, it would be a category three. Really not good. But, we turned on Hulu, binge watched tv, and tried not to panic.

Zeta finally hit late Wednesday afternoon. First rain, then wind. And, you know what? Even though it was apparently the strongest hurricane on record to pass directly over New Orleans, it really wasn’t that scary. It blew through very quickly. Our little cottage has taller buildings all around it, so it was somewhat protected (although I did have to stop watching the tree directly behind our cottage as it swayed back and forth and looked like it could fall over at any moment….). The skies didn’t get that dark, they didn’t take on that eerie green color so familiar to those of us from the Midwest, and there was almost no lightening or thunder. We did lose our internet for a bit and lost power for about 28 hours, but we never lost our phone signal or our water. Our neighborhood appears to have escaped relatively unscathed (except for the food truck).

Bottom line is we’ve been in Midwestern thunderstorms that were way scarier than Zeta. Of course, that view is no doubt going to bite us in the ass next time….