News
Hurricane Ike - by Robert Stanton, Chronicle Correspondant
Seabrook resident
Jody Hill has weathered his share of storms in his 16-year career as
sailor and yacht captain. He narrowly escaped an avalanche in the
Italian Alps, he braved 30-foot waves aboard a sinking, wooden boat
across the
In the pre-hurricane hours, Hill said, I weighed out all of the unknowns and the knowns. I knew the storm was big, but I knew that with preparation and experience, I was ready to protect my investment at all costs. Everything in my whole life has led up to this moment, he said. I was ready for this. After battening down the hatches, stocking up on water, food, suppliers and of course, cold beer Hill was ready for Ike.
Ironically,
he slept below the deck as the hurricane made landfall, only awakening
after the eye passed and the dirty side of the storm tossed him from his
bunk onto the floor in 2 inches of water. Even through his
nautical world had been turned upside down, Hill said there wasn't time
to be afraid. My adrenalin level was high, he said. I was
energized and I went into action mode. There was no time for being
afraid. There was no one to be afraid with. There's only you and there's
only a task at hand. That task, he said, was to stay alive, stay
afloat and protect my investment.
After the hurricane passed, Hill was marooned on his boat for five days
because the dock's access ramp had been washed away. He eventually was
rescued by
While many people may question Hill's sanity for staying aboard his yacht, while coping with his disability, he said he would do it all over again. I felt safer on the boat than I did in my car, he said. Besides, where would I go? This is my life. Hill said he could use some volunteer help to continue his boat restoration. Anyone wishing to help may contact him at jodyhill@mac.com, or visit www.jodypositive.com on the Web
