By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD
In Michigan, a hurricane is a remote reality, something distantly removed from our sheltered existence far inland. Aside from safely viewing the devastation and horror via TV, the only other effect is some occasional remnant rain and wind.
Hurricane Ike, was an exception. It began raining Friday afternoon, increasing in intensity throughout that day and keeping up its assault the next day and into Sunday. The projected path was to our south, but with most of the rain occurring to the north, dumping on southern Michigan; the wind was minor. Altogether, we received 9.2 inches of rain. There was some localized flooding and a few roads are impassable.
The report from daughter Laura—in northern Indiana and directly in its path—was little rain, but high winds.
Not only did the amount of rain surprise me, but also the speed at which it arrived in Michigan. It was only about 12 hours after the eye of the storm hit the Texas coast that we began to receive its rain. Its course was also curious, first heading in a westerly direction across the ocean, turning north in Texas, and then veering off in a north-easterly direction.
Now the rain as stopped, the water is quickly flowing away, and excess moisture calmly seeping into the ground. As some people in parts of Texas have nothing left and need to face rebuilding their homes—not to mention their lives—my thoughts of Ike are already fading—and I am left with the trivial contemplation of when it will be dry enough to mow my lawn.