We Survived Hurricane Irma and What I’ve Learned

Hurricane Irma, the storm of the century. It was unlike any other storm on record. A Category 5 massive monster of mythical proportions, with an unpredictable trajectory and ready to unleash on our shores and claim its victims. The apocalypse began to slowly play out in front of our eyes. Water, gas and plywood quickly sold out a week before the expected arrival of the storm. People fled North. Flights sold out. Highways became overcrowded. Airports and roads shut down. Schools, businesses and stores closed their doors indefinitely. And so the largest evacuation in Florida began. Life, as I’d grown accustomed to know, quickly flashed before my eyes.

This historic event humbled me greatly and changed my vantage point. I am incredibly lucky and forever grateful to still have my family, my home and to slowly get back into the swing of things. I am still seeking closure from this whole experience and have missed writing. The best way I know how to move on is to focus on helping those who haven’t been as lucky, focus on the good and share the lessons that I’ve learned coming out of this experience.

Lesson 1 – We each make the decisions we think are best. Period.

I’ve come to realize that in life, in general, the decisions we reach with the information available will always be the best decisions at that time. No need to waste energy pondering and wishing for a different outcome. It will always be what it’s meant to be.

Learning about the hurricane heading our way and the potential mass destruction prompted each and every one of us to make some incredibly tough decisions. Whether to stay put, fly out of state, evacuate to shelters, or separate the family by going to different locations, we each made the decision we thought was best for our families, ourselves and our lifestyles. My family decided to stay. Why? For a multitude of reasons. First, the storm’s trajectory was very unpredictable. No one knew with certainty where it would make landfall. Most of the gas statewide was sold out. Highways were a nightmare. Flights were selling quickly for outrages prices (a flight from Miami to NYC was advertised for $10K). Then there was the uncertainty of not knowing when we’d be able to return home. So we boarded up the house the best we could and knew how. We bought bunker food, flash lights, batteries and bleach (which I learned was meant to sanitize the water). We stayed in our home until we couldn’t anymore. On Friday before the storm, police cars patrolled the streets urging people to evacuate. On Saturday, army trucks drove by offering gas and helping people to evacuate. At that point we decided to leave our home and go to a shelter set up at the local hospital. That is where my husband volunteered his services as a physician during the storm and where myself, my son and puppy stayed until Monday, September 11^th.

Lesson 2 – Material possessions don’t mean a thing!

If in the past I sort of entertained that notion and thought it to be true, now I truly and deeply understand it and take it to heart.

It’s sad, really, to admit how attached I had grown to my possessions: my house, mementos of my son growing up, certain clothes, shoes, bags, anything of material substance we attach sentimental or monetary value to. The looming possibility of water surges of over 8 feet and our home being either totally flooded or wiped out by powerful hurricane winds of 145mph, shifted my focus. We moved everything off the floors. We only packed a small bag of comfortable clothes that would allow us to climb to higher ground need be it, and some toiletries. We got our documents ready: IDs, social security cards, birth certificates, passports, mortgage documents. We took with us a handful of family mementos of great sentimental value: a piece of my son’s hair from his baptism, a small icon from my dad, a chain and pendant I had been given the day I was born. Everything else was left behind. The shelter at the hospital required we brought our own food and supplies. So we packed an air mattress, some sheets, toilet paper, flash lights, food that didn’t require refrigeration and wouldn’t produce thirst, and water. We said a prayer and said goodbye to our home. We came to accept that we might never see it ever again.

Lesson 3 – The right attitude, independent of conditions and circumstances, is your greatest advantage.

Viktor Frankl, a Holocust survivor, wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning that the only thing we can control in life is our attitude. I couldn’t agree more. An attitude of optimism and gratitude, despite external circumstances and conditions, will prevail and make any situation more bearable.

We arrived at the hospital shelter on Saturday, September 9^th. The lines to be admitted inside ran long. People were everywhere: in hospital rooms, on hallways and even in closets that had been ingeniously turned into shelter areas. There were also cats, dogs (we brought our little King Charles Cavalier with us as well), birds, iguanas, fish and even chickens. I heard someone call it Noah’s Arc and it truly felt that way. The hospital went on total lockdown from Sunday thru Monday. No one in and no one out. Safety was paramount. Throughout our time at the hospital shelter, I felt immense gratitude to have a roof over my head, a dry place where I can be together with my family (puppy included) and where we’d have communication with the outside world. I slowly began to feel uplifted and gain perspective. We could rebuild our lives and our homes as long as we are healthy, safe and together.

Lesson 4 – Seek the company of positive, like-minded individuals wherever you might find yourself in life.

We live in a universe where everything is energy and the Law of Attraction governs. We can choose our experiences and the people we experience life with. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people. People who are grateful and appreciative. Sometimes it’s best to be alone than in the company of those who bring your energy down.

The support of family, friends, neighbors, people at the hospital shelter and people on Instagram whom I haven’t really met in person, made all the difference going thru this Hurricane Irma experience. It felt comforting and enriching to know that I am cared for, that my family is in their thoughts and prayers. It gave me hope to carry on.

Lesson 5 – Time heals all.

As cliché as it might sound, things always get better with time. We can rebuild our lives. We can rebuild our homes. We can put this Hurricane Irma experience behind us. Start fresh and write a new chapter. Take better care of our planet. Take better care of ourselves and each other. We can hopefully make long lasting changes for the better in all aspects of our lives.

I did not think I’d ever see my home again, the house we became a family in, welcomed our puppy and brought my son from the hospital when he was born. I did not think I’d have a car anymore. Or that I would see my son’s Arts&Crafts projects. I did think I’d have to fight for survival. Climb to higher ground, chaos all around me. Go for days without food or shelter. Risk my life to save my son’s. But by the Grace of God, we were spared. Irma made landfall in Naples and came to Tampa as a category 2 hurricane with minimal storm surges.

I am incredibly humbled by this experience. My heart is filled with immense gratitude but also guilt. Others weren’t as lucky. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been severely affected by Hurricane Irma. I will continue to donate and help the recovery efforts as much as I can. Now it’s all about time. Time will heal all.