Shay Dawn Burgess is a homeowner who lives high on a hill in St George’s.
She is a veteran storm-weatherer, and the winds on that high hill have been quite violent over the years.
Her roof has been removed by hurricane force winds more than once, but there was one experience that she recalls most vividly.
“There have been a couple of times storms have taken my roof off. More recently, it was Hurricane Humberto – which happened in September 2019. This was a frightening hurricane to say the least. It was a category 3 storm, which I will always remember,” Mrs Burgess said.
“While I felt there was some movement on the roof of my house during the storm, it wasn’t until after the storm had ceased that I saw that the roof of the house had erupted and broke open like a volcano.
“I do remember trying to get the lawn lights out of the path of the storm. I fell down on the back porch and split open my lip. Fortunately, my teeth were intact. Suffice to say cocoa butter was best friend for the next couple of months.”
Howling winds
The physical toll of a strong hurricane hitting our homes can be devastating, but the lingering trauma and emotional effects can be even more difficult to deal with.
Mrs Burgess was fearful during the storm, but also remarkably brave in the face of nature’s fury.
“I did think it was curtains for me,” she said.
“Prayer was ever present on my mind: I thought I was going to meet my maker. But God had other plans for me at that time.
“Having no lights and no phone service was of no comfort – at least with lights you don’t feel so isolated. All I had were the howling winds to keep me company. I was by myself. During Humberto, two police officers did come by to ask if I wanted to relocate to lower ground. My answer was no – if ‘All-Shays’ went down, I was going down with her!
“While that was a valiant thought, that really wasn’t too smart in retrospect. I think it was more of a romantic idea, if anything.”
Prepare to survive
Protecting our families and homes are the only priorities during a hurricane, and preparation is key. Although there’s not much you can do to prepare for a storm strong enough to rip the stone-slate roof off your home, being prepared to survive inside remains of paramount importance.
During Humberto, Mrs Burgess was determined to see ‘All-Shays’ – which is the name of her home – through, so her preparation had to be on point.
“As with all hurricanes, I made sure I had at least three or four flashlights in working order. My bathtub was filled with water. The tea kettle had been boiled. I also had enough water to drink on hand. I do have an electric stove, so I had to keep foods that do not need to be heated up. I had fruits and canned goods on hand, like sardines and tuna fish, which usually does the job.
“We have such an excellent prediction system of when the hurricane is going to hit that one should take advantage and take care of your business, which does not mean go grocery shopping, because we know that electricity may not be on, and then you would have wasted your money.”
Get insured
While having your roof stolen by a storm is stressful and scary, the aftermath does not always have to be overly traumatic. Depending on who you deal with, getting back to baseline could be quite smooth, even for a single lady homeowner.
“After the storm, I assessed the property and went about getting someone to fix it up. Most contractors I asked were accommodating, and gave me a quote, which I passed onto my insurance company.
“The insurance company came out and assessed the property. Some of the structure was covered, other parts were not covered. I would strongly recommend getting a detailed, itemised list of what is covered and not covered – it does become frustrating when you think you’re fully covered only to find out that certain items are not. That is stressful to the 10th degree.
“Most contractors are sympathetic to your needs. But in some instances, I have met a few that were not sympathetic to my situation. Fortunately, I got rid of them and turned to someone who is willing to help a ‘sister’ out. If you are not familiar with the language pertaining to building structures, get familiar. Ask questions.”
Power of prayer
Some years later, ‘All-Shays’ is still standing tall on that hill in St George’s. Bermudian homes are built to last – and withstanding the wrath of a particularly strong storm is what lasting is all about!
Yes, we lose a roof from time-to-time, but more often than not, we get through. Mrs Burgess closes with the blueprint to getting through.
“My house is an old house. While it has been renovated, there is always cause for concern. My advice to homeowners is to get fixed what you can today – procrastination is not the name of the game!
“With our weather patterns being so unpredictable, it really is to your benefit to do what you can today to prevent any damage to your house or land.
“Prayer is a powerful tool that has served me through all the hurricanes I have experienced on the hill. Get in touch with your Supreme Being – it is helpful and reassuring to know that while you may be physically alone, The Almighty is with you in Spirit.
“Capitalise on that and the dependence factor will be a little easier. If you are with someone, appreciate them and form meaningful memories together, while always remembering to keep God first.”
