The week that was wet and wild, unforgettable and a lesson in preparedness. We were without power for seven days, without the phone for four days and flooded-in for four days. We cooked on the Wagener fireplace, used up plenty of candle gifts and read.
Although wenever opened the freezer, we lost most of its contents, so recycled the meat by chopping it up and salting down for trap bait. Soft fizzy peaches, chillies etc went to the compost.
The wetback on the Wagener provided plenty of hot water, and we think the only tree that gave in to the storm was a lone redwood. Further down the road eucalypts from other properties blocked the road.
Despite the inconvenience of the elements going wild, the servicemen did a great job, fixing phones, power and fallen trees in hostile conditions.
This was one powerful storm, and it won't be the last. We need to see it as a good test for emergency equipment and rations and a reminder to resist testing out stream and river depths.
