Silence is so inviting after listening to a generator for 10 hours. In bed last night, I tried to lay as still as possible, changing positions so my head was right against the window screen in hopes that July's sweet, gentle breeze would replace the hum of my airconditioning. The sound of tree frogs- the Island's soundtrack- replaced the generator.

Thankfully, I slept better than I had anticipated. Not like how I slept during Hurricane Fabian in 2003- in and out of sleep, waking up in fits and a sweaty heap from the hot, oppressing September nights. After a week without electricity we quickly bought a generator- prepared for the next one. We were prepared this time for no electricity

My mom woke me up at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday. She'd been up since just after 3 when the electricity went out and her airconditioner stopped (we're clearly very reliant on these cold makers). Her first instinct was to look out the window as the power station, Belco, is right outside her window, across the road. A cloud of smoke covered the early morning sky and sirens started to blare about that point. She never went back to sleep.

When she woke me up I was obviously confused. I had just set my alarm clock the night before, after unplugging it to use it for a shoot at work that day.
"The electricity out Islandwide."
"Belco's on fire," she said.

She'd been waiting all morning to wake me up and drag me out of bed. I'm surprise the gossip queen didn't bound in my room the instant something happened. She was confused too.

Confused, I stumbled to her window thinking I was still in a dream. But there, right outside our house was a huge cloud of black smoke drifting over houses and away from our home. I could still smell the smoke, though, it was stifling and it made me cough. I just hoped no one had been hurt.

Here's what happened- the technical part!

Power made it back on to most of the Island last night and even though we weren't part of the mix (being the next door neighbour of the power company doesn't mean you get your electricity right away) we had our generator and I had the cool breeze and water, which tends to be my biggest concern. I hate when I get hot and sticky from lack of coolness and all I can get is a whore bath- the worst!!!

Unfortunately, the city was hit the worst. Some shops and several companies- those lucky and big enough to have generators- are back on today. But other places, the small shops, that will come out of the end of this disaster hurt the worse haven't faired so well.

This was a freak accident. Something completely unexpected but it is also the beginning of hurricane season and few people were prepared. Many people scrambled to the gas stations where Police had to direct traffic and at the grocery stores others stocked their baskets with water. Maybe this was a little warning to remind residents that they better kick their butts into gear and get themselves together.