I have ever never experienced a Hurricane before. I’m from Kentucky, so we are used to tornados, which are equally as terrifying. A tornado happens so quickly, though. The sirens go off and you pretty much run into the basement or some underground shelter and hope for the best. Usually takes about 30 minutes at the most. Hurricanes, on the other hand, are very drawn out, which is great because you can prepare! Prep your home, buy supplies, EVACUATE. But the 3-4 nail biting days leading up to the actual day of the hit is pretty excruciating. The sleepless nights of not knowing whether or not your home and everything in it will be swimming with the fishes- literally, or if your whole community as you know it will be wiped out.
Amelia Island was very very lucky. We did see some very unfortunate damage but nothing like what they predicted. Many people did evacuate, but there were other brave souls who decided to stay, and what heroes they have become because they provided all of us evacuees with valuable information on our homes and businesses. Like up to date videos, pictures, personal house visits to check on places. They were like little hurricane angel fairies flying around the island and monitoring it. The weather channel and local news channels didn’t cover the island as much as other areas, so those people were life savers! *shout out to Chad Bridges*
Experiencing a hurricane or any other kind of natural disaster, in general, is very difficult, but once you throw children into the mix, the stress level goes to STAGE 5. Here is just a little of my input from a mom with children who just experienced a hurricane for the first time.
Evacuating
UGH, what a pain right? Not only are you packing up a bag of clothes you and your family will need for the next few days, you are also stuffing the car with important documents, electronics, your children’s precious EVERYTHING, the animals, your grandmother’s cookbook, the box fan you can’t sleep without that you will definitely need at your shelter/hotel/families house, the baby’s sound machine, WAIT don’t forget the giant change jar that has probably $47.00 in dimes and nickels but you are going to need that. It is tough not only fitting what you can into your car but then driving off from your home not knowing if it will all be swept away. Your comfy new couch with all the cute throw pillows, your grandmother’s very antique furniture, your child’s crib, and all the memories that you made in that home. The important thing is getting your family to safety. All those are material things but are still tough leaving not knowing what will happen. Also trying to evacuate an island on a very busy road with lots of construction while the rest of the east coast starts evacuating as well. Someone pop the wine, we’re gonna need it.
-Fill up gas tanks
-Book hotel, call family/friends, find shelters ASAP
-Stay up to date on evacuation routes
-Use bathroom before leaving (never know how long you will sit in traffic)
-Pack a small cooler of food and drinks for the car
-Bring a pillow and blanket or two for the road (you may have to sleep in your car)
-Bring cell phone chargers. Car and wall plugs. Keep that contact ALIVE.
-Call and check on your home/renters insurance. If you don’t have it, call and GET IT. LIKE NOW.
Time Spent Away, Waiting
Also UGH! nervous breakdown anyone? I swear my eyes were bulging out of my head after days of staring at The Weather Channel watching Hurricane Matthew barrel towards North East Florida. Every hour with the updates of it getting stronger, then weaker, then category 2 then Cat 4, oh wait it could get up to Cat 5 winds, catastrophic damage, the island being wiped out. WHEEEWWWWWW. In tears I watched the reporters and newscasters describe what was happening and thought oh my gosh it is actually going to happen, we are actually going to suffer a major devastating impact of a hurricane. ALSO, note that we live right ACROSS from the ocean–we are talking 100 feet. I was terrified. It went on for days–you watch as it beats down Daytona and St. Augustine, then Jax Beach, then here it comes, Amelia Island you’re up. Thank all the gods for the last shift to the east that it made or the damages to our area could have been much worse.
-Plan on spending at least 2 days away from home
-Get far enough away (if you can) to avoid other storm emergencies (tornados, severe thunderstorms, power outages)
-Try not to stress (yeah right) it only makes things worse, especially with the kids or spouse.
-Stay rested; you will have a lot to do when you return and maybe lots of driving.
-Find a fun activity for your children in the town you are in, nothing worse than you watching the hurricane slowly approach your community but having your family planted in front of the TV also watching it. No Bueno.
-Stay in touch with family, let your loved ones know you are safe.
Returning Home
Well, it can be a bit of an anxious ride because some of us didn’t really know what we were coming home too. Trees on your house, flooding, complete destruction, or just a big huge mess in the yard. Crossing the bridge to Fernandina was like watching your child hit their first home run, or nail their dance recital. It was beautiful and the pride we felt driving over and seeing our law enforcement officers waving us home and yelling “Welcome Home!” brought tears to many people.
-Talk to your employer and school district for updates on your normal schedule.
-Prepare for no electricity for a bit longer. (They are working on it)
-Find a reliable source for updates and follow it. (Social media can be a bit confusing with unreliable information)
-Make sure you are contacting licensed and insured contractors to fix your damages, be cautious and avoid scamming.
-Don’t try to repair electrical lines or dangerous tree removal without help. (you just survived the hurricane, don’t hurt yourself as soon as you return!)
-Dump standing water to avoid mosquitos and the Zika Virus
-Find a really great charity or aid foundation and donate to someone in need with your children.
-Apply for assistance if you are in need. FEMA and Local assistance opportunities will be available.
The day before we were ordered to evacuate my youngest daughter had to be taken to the ER (only because her regular doctor was already closed and we were getting ready to evacuate) she wasn’t acting like herself and daycare said she wasn’t eating. Turns our she was very dehydrated. When we got there, the hospital was shutting down and evacuating as well, but our angel of a nurse took such great care of us in such a stressful time. She was talking with us about her children and what they were saying about the hurricane. She said her daughter asked why is God sending such a terrible hurricane/storm to all of us and she said maybe he is sending us a reason to work together and show each other kindness again. I am not a very religious person and not in the church as much as I would like to be, but that statement hit home with me. Seeing the community come together as it has during Matthew has really been something. So God bless all of you who were affected by Hurricane Matthew. No one wants to experience a natural disaster, and I hope I don’t in the future but when you do it is important to remain calm and stay educated on what is happening around you. Many, MANY thanks to those first responders, police officers, lineman, EMT’s, City Officials, hospitals and everyone else working around the clock to keep everyone safe from Matthew.
About the Author
Ashley Hogan, from Louisville Kentucky, currently lives on Amelia Island with her husband Mark and their two little girls (1 & 5). She loves cooking, the farmers market, setting out on new adventures with her family, food and drink of all kind, and sweet southern style! Read more on Ashley’s blog, My Dear Heart.
