Hello all!
Checking in to let you know we're still alive, if a little battered! Star and I were doing the volunteer stuff we do, in separate towns, this morning when the storm rolled in with truly spectacular thunder-and-lightning effects and a huge downpour, several hours earlier than expected. So the stuff we were doing closed down early, he picked me up and we headed out in search of extra firewood, because I had a really bad feeling about tonight. Of course every woodyard in the hills was picked clean, the more so since most of their suppliers are still flooded in from our last lot of weather.
Finally tracked down some wood, got a bootload and went in search of a shop to stock up on milk etc.. Rolled into the car park a bit before 4pm, just as the next band of storms hit and all the lights and power went out. Still managed to get some UHT milk, and have enough of other provisions to see us through a week or so without refrigeration, before I even have to hit the dried stuff in the pantry, so we are fine for supplies even if we are flooded in, which at present seems quite likely, given that the soil is still saturated from the last lot of storms.
We had a rather alarming drive back, some uneasy moments with flooded roads, but we are safely home and both okay. We have tank water if the mains get too fouled up, and firewood for a couple of weeks.
Power is out for the whole state. News broadcasts say it *should* be back by 3am, but I'm not holding my breath! Mobile towers are apparently also running low on reserve power, so internet may go off completely, letting you know now. We should be fine!
