Challenges of post-apocalyptic living

Alice Webb
Outside the DFWQZ
East Texas

So for the first time ever, I'm updating at night. Why? Well, mainly because I can't sleep. We've had storms, zoms, power outages...everything you can imagine has happened the past few weeks. It's been hectic and crazy.

The storms just keep coming. When I wrote last, I figured the worst was over, because this is Texas and we never get rain like this. Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. It's been like the biblical flood. I wish I could send pictures, because this shit is cray cray. (Speaking of crazy, if I don't seem like myself...I've had a few weeks of being pent up. My brain is fried.) Anyway, trying to be productive lately has been a losing battle. The animals have been panicky in the storms, zoms keep prowling around/getting shredded by the storms, and oh yeah, our shelter freaking FLOODED. We had to pump it last week, and then work really hard to make it more water proof, but for a few days we were sloshing around in ankle-deep water. At least the babies had fun.

We're running into difficulties as the weather changes. For one, it's hot. Really really really hot. And I don't know if you've ever slept in a metal-walled bunker room in 100 degree weather with...eleven adults and two children, but it's truly horrible in ways that only sleeping in a hot room with a bunch of other sweaty people can be. It smells. And the beds and cots start to smell. And since we all don't exactly wash like we used to anyway, it smells even worse. Everyone makes noises when they sleep-snoring, mumbling, heavy breathing, the whole shebang. The babies cry every so often. At least we can take naps during the day.

That, however, is why I'm able to write to you at night. We have been attempting to sleep in our own house again. We have doors and windows barred, and we have dogs inside and out, plus we rotate shifts of keeping watch, but...for the first time in months, I have been able to sleep in my own bed. And it was glorious. But I drew a watch in the middle of the night, and after I finished I couldn't fall back asleep.

I do have to say though, that first night was terrible, and this week in general has been difficult. I didn't sleep all that night. I kept waking up at every little sound. And it was hot in the house, though much better than the shelter. Mostly though, I just kept worrying. It was like my brain wouldn't shut off, all these horrible scenarios running through my mind. I know my dad was scared, too. He doesn't feel like the house is safe enough, and honestly, he's probably right-if a big group came through we'd be pretty screwed. But we have to do something.

We did rescue a few of the semis from the city, and we met up with the other survivors last week. They went to a freaking Lowe's. Apparently it's pretty clean in terms of zoms. My dad's hoping he can exchange some of our food for their finds-I think he wants to try and build another safety structure, one that can fit us all better. He keeps talking about a cement block shelter, since we probably can't do another shipping container one. We'll see how it goes.

Going to try and get some shut-eye again. I still need to talk about the storms, but I'll have to do it later. Maybe we'll get some sun tomorrow.

Luck and love, all.

Alice