* * *
DEEP DIVE’S COMMAND center was the civilian incident hub for the island’s storm response. Working closely with the coast guard and Homeland Security, Daeg had been monitoring the Doppler radar map, tracking the storm’s movement over the ocean. The satellite imagery showed an average-size storm, but the surface winds were strong, and that meant storm surge would be a concern. The anticipation of the storm had them all on edge. They were ready for this fight. Ready to do whatever they could to lessen the hurt and destruction that was surely coming their way.
Brennan was wedded to the frequent weather updates on the coast guard’s emergency channel, but they were mostly for the mainland. Flooding had started there; it would get worse out here on the island. The long-range cameras positioned around the island showed all too clearly that conditions on the ground were getting worse. The island’s main road was already underwater in many places.
Daeg shoved away from the counter and stepped outside on the covered porch. The sky was all storm now. It was almost impossible to see more than a few feet. Rain whipped down vertically, soaking everything. Deep Dive’s backup generator was online, and they had freestanding generators ready to deploy around town after the storm passed. Emergency supplies had been distributed to the shelters, the island’s residents contacted and the list of key personnel and contractors for recovery efforts afterward activated.
From where Daeg stood, he had a ringside view of the unstoppable storm. The waves were a feral roar of sound as they pounded against the beach. He needed to go in, dry off and possibly consider moving to higher ground, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave the siren’s lure of the water.
He couldn’t do anything about the storm tearing up the island—no one could. But he and his buddies were determined to do everything to mitigate the danger, to pit themselves against those waves, see what they could wrestle back from the angry wind and water. That was why he’d probably be re-upping when his R & R was over in a month. Sitting still wasn’t something he did well.
Inside, the phone signaled an incoming call. He took a final glance at the bay. That wind had to be pushing more than fifty knots out there. That there was still any cell phone service was a small miracle.
Brennan beat him to the phone, punching buttons to put the call on speaker and upping the volume to hear it over the wailing storm. “Deep Dive.”
The woman’s voice on the other end was familiar, her greeting muffled. “Cal, it’s Dani.”
Instantly, Daeg’s heart spiked. This wasn’t a social call.
“I’m out near Sweet Moon,” she continued. She was speaking rapidly, barely concealing the obvious panic in her voice. She sounded breathless. Concerned.
“You don’t stay put in a storm like this one,” Brennan bit out. “Not unless you’ve got some solid walls and a room full of supplies. There’s a shelter at the community center. You should be there.”
Daeg had helped Brennan transform the center into an impromptu shelter earlier that afternoon, hauling loads of bottled water and mattresses to the site. The main room had no windows and the construction was comparatively new, which made it a good place for the island’s civvies to hole up safely and wait out the storm.
“I know.” Dani paused, then pushed on. “I brought the guests into town, but then I had to drive back for some meds. I’m just down the road from the cabins, but now I’m not sure I can make it.”
Brennan muttered a curse and launched into an explanation as to exactly why Dani needed to be taking shelter, rather than being out in a car. Too late for words, as far as Daeg could tell, so he got moving, assembling the necessary gear. The only route to Sweet Moon was low coastal road—and the long-range cameras had shown sections under water. The rest would flood soon, if it hadn’t already.
Dani’s next words confirmed that suspicion.
“There’s water all around the car, Cal. I don’t think I should get out.”
Hell. Daeg dialed back his own knee-jerk reaction to Dani being out in this storm. She needed help and she knew it. Tag was coordinating the shelter and Brennan was doubling as an on-call EMT for the town, so he couldn’t leave right now.
Daeg could.
Brennan frowned. “Where exactly are you?”
“Maybe a mile away from the cabins. I’m on Bayside, over by the sea wall.” Daeg packed faster and reached for his wet-weather gear. “The water’s rising and I don’t think I can make it to the cabins on foot.”