While the Weather Service has TOR:CON (Tornado Condition Index) for the possibility of a tornado developing, I have devised my own system of measuring my anxiety level that I experienced before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey.

I call my system JUMCON,  Julaine’s Mental Condition Index,  to measure my state of mind with readings from 1 to 5.  

My concern began on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, as I was about to leave Vancouver, B.C. where I had gone to visit my grandson who is studying at the university there.  At that time, the hurricane was said to be headed toward the South Texas Coast where it wouldn’t pose a problem to me, I thought.  My flight home on Friday was to have a short layover in Houston, but that was a long way from Corpus Christi, I reasoned.  My JUMCON registered at its lowest: Level 1 Awareness.

However, it had risen to Level 2 Concern by Thursday night as Harvey creeped up the Texas coast.  “Will my flight be able to land in Houston late Friday,” I worried, “or will it be diverted?”

The next day, the plane took off as scheduled, but my anxiety remained.  “Will I be stranded in Houston?  What if the airport were to close because of the weather?”   

My JUMCON dropped again to Level 1 once I had arrived in New Orleans.  Back in New Iberia on Saturday, I found store shelves being emptied of bread, water, milk, and toilet paper.  I kept a cool head while keeping an eye on The Weather Channel and staying in close contact with my daughter, Claire, who lives near Houston.  Nevertheless, my index meter was rising to Level 2 and then 3 Worry with each report of rising waters.

As Houston got more than 50 inches of rain, major roads were closed and the Cajun Navy from Louisiana left here on Monday to help with Texas rescues.  By Tuesday the expected rain from outer bands finally arrived here with some minor flooding.  My JUMCON reached its highest: Levels 4 Fear and 5 Panic, as rain water creeped nearer to our doors.  (“Wish we had gotten those sandbags…!”)  High winds were the biggest threats to us on Tuesday and Wednesday, but, in the end, we thought, “We’ve got this!” and breathed a sigh of relief. 

 By Thursday the threat to Iberia Parish had lessened, except for the possibility that the meandering eye of Hurricane Harvey might move closer to us, but in the end, that didn’t happen.  Claire kept us informed that her home was not under any threat, so my JUMCON level went back down to near 1.

Except …for seeing the devastation and desperate life saving measures being broadcast continuously on television over the weekend.  Evacuees from Texas began to arrive at local motels.   Learning of their plight and wanting to help, my JUMCON rose to Level 4 again.

Then came the news that Hurricane Irma was heading to Florida, thus keeping my anxiety level up.  I kept my JUMCON awareness meter active and the television on The Weather Channel as I went about my routine for the next week.

It pays to stay vigilant, but the consequence is reflected by my blood pressure and my JUMCOM readings.

JULAINE DEARE SCHEXNAYDERis retired after a varied career in teaching and public relations. Her email address is julaines14@gmail.com.