Nicknamed "NOR-IDA" - Almost Over...

But the clean-up will have to wait until the flood waters recede. I am fine, but the entire area is not. Won't be for a while, either. (Click the image to embiggen.) We're still under a State of Emergency.

Many towns were evacuated and remained so at 9 am. There are downed trees and limbs scattered about. A few houses were lost to the ocean, more than a few lost to the bay, and abandoned cars on flooded roadways. The roadways were ordered closed, but you know the stoopid takes the low road (no pun intended) and a few numbnuts choose to go where they clearly shouldn't - they did - almost.

The restaurant was full of evacuees Thursday night for dinner and yesterday for lunch. The 60+ mph wind gusts couldn't keep them away. They shared stories, consoling one another, sipping coffee or margaritas and grateful to be around other folks. Some people weren't ordered to leave until the water was already knee-high; that's when panic set in. Only those with high-riding SUVs could get out. And they took others with them. I am sure there will be more stories like these as time passes.

BTW, this was not merely the remnants of Ida, but a one-two punch. Ida dropped lots of water and moderate winds - and moved north overnight Wednesday. What we were dealing with the last 2 days was a dangerous Nor'easter coming in off the ocean. No breathing space...That is what created such pandemonium. The winds howled and grew increasingly stronger. Friday was a struggle against sustained winds of 37 mph, gusting to 60+ mph. Today I learned that the combined storms have been given a nickname = NORIDA! It certainly fits.

No after shift cocktail yesterday, just anxious to get to the apartment, if possible. I almost didn't make it to due to the overflow from the marshes through a low spot in the road making its way to a pond on the other side. And it wasn't high tide yet. It was 4:15 pm, high tide was at 5:50 pm. I drove very slowly and prayed a lot that I wouldn't get stuck. I didn't. Exhausted and tired of being wet and tired. Hung the work drag in the tub to dry, threw on sweats, made a desperately needed cocktail, didn't bother to consider cooking supper until after a second cocktail.

The final dangerous high tide - 4 ft. above normal, according to NOAA - is receding (water was high onto the back yard lawn) and the debris is thick. It will have to dry before being removed.

Winds have calmed down, as a light rain continues to fall. I am staying put today. It will take at least 24 hours for my bones, and clothes, to dry.

More photos here. The most recent are displayed first. Click through to view older shots. Above is the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel on Thursday before the full impact of the nor'easter hit a day later. Our recently replenished beach is all but gone.

It's going to be a long winter. Is it 5 o'clock yet?

More later.
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Update: More than 50 roads in Kent and Sussex counties are closed or have high water from coastal flooding this morning, the Delaware Department of Transportation reports. Story and list of roads HERE.

h/t Redwaterlily