We were able to get my daughter on the
last Megabus out of D.C. before Hurricane Sandy Struck. Or so we
thought. Hubby and I felt the need to get our daughter out of D.C.
before Hurricane Sandy came roaring in. The big question was how to
do it. Flights were filling up and others were canceling left and right. We also thought
about a rental car or trying to drive my car to D.C. before Hurricane
Sandy could make landfall.
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Enter Megabus! My daughter and I have
used the service several times before and liked it. We hurriedly
booked a seat for the midnight bus out of DC to Knoxville.I can't tell you what a relief it was to have a plan in place. The weight of the world didn't exactly lift from my shoulders but it came close. My daughter would be coming home before Hurricane Sandy could do her worst.
It was time to relax and leave the travel worries to someone else. Or so I thought...
Tweets about updated cancellation lists
began coming in on mid-Saturday afternoon. Bus routes were being
canceled left and right. Her Megabus ride looked stable and while we
continued to monitor, we were really worried.
Things looked shakier on Sunday. Most
of the us Megabus routes in and out of D.C. were canceling because
of Hurricane Sandy. Hubby, my daughter and I worked out a contingency
plan. A meeting meant that I couldn't leave until early Sunday
evening. Hubby had a church event and might not be able to leave at
all.
If the last Megabus out of D.C. seemed
to be in question then I would leave on Sunday evening and head
toward my daughter. If we got confirmation that the bus would run,
then I would stay home or turn around. Otherwise, we would continue
to head north.
A phone call to Megabus confirmed that
all other routes out of D.C. had been canceled. Although her bus was
still scheduled, the operator could not guarantee that conditions
caused by Hurricane Sandy wouldn't force a cancellation. We decided
to activate the contingency plan.
Hubby and I left at 6:30 pm. with the
idea that if our daughter could get out on the bus, we would turn
around at the state line, spend the night at the home of our other
daughter and pick the bus rider up in the morning. If it was
canceled, then we would be part of the way to Washington, D.C. with
more chance of getting out before the storm hit.
Shortly before 9:00 p.m. I phoned
Megabus for the second time. The operator was very nice but told me
that the bus route had in fact been canceled. My daughter was welcome
to call back in and reschedule without paying a booking fee.
Hubby and I sent a text message to our
daughter and continued on our way. As we drove, the perfect sailor's
sky gave way to a light rain. This changed to a rain snow mix after
we crossed into Virginia. A little while later, large soft snowflakes
began falling from the sky in a steady but furious pace.
That's when our cell phone rang.
Our daughter was already Union Station when she finally received our
text that Megabus canceled the route. She decided to go on up to the
deck to get more information about how soon services might resume
after Hurricane Sandy made landfall.
A few minutes later, she called again.
Her route was still on schedule and would depart at 11:00 p.m. from
Union Station. The Megabus operator had us erroneous information! Had
we gotten accurate information, our time on the road would have been
substantially reduced.
As it was, we were able to pick up our
daughter at the Christiansburg, Virginia Megabus stop. She seemed
relieved to be off the bus and in our hands. The staff did tell her
that this was the last Megabus out of D.C. in advance of Hurricane
Sandy and confirmed it again on the bus stop.
It is good to have her at home and out
of harm's way. There are literally millions of people who are not so
fortunate. Property can be replaced but lives can't. Prepare before
Hurricane Sandy makes landfall. Take the storm seriously and listen
to the instructions from local emergency management. My prayers are
with everyone who is in harm's way. Stay safe.
More articles that you may enjoy.
Megabus contact information that may not be online
More articles that you may enjoy.
Megabus contact information that may not be online
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