Hurricane Helene was as dangerous as the experts predicted it would be. Some reports say it was worse than forecasted, with storm surges higher than average and reaching people who usually do not have issues with storm surges, just minor flooding.

What made this hurricane stand out was the destruction and chaos that occurred in the Western half of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Northern Georgia, and Eastern Tennessee. Unprecedented rains in a short amount of time caused dams and levees to break which in turn caused devastating flooding, landslides, and mudslides that took out roads, homes, businesses, and whole towns. People are still being accounted for at this time, but the death tolls are projected to be high.

People in Northwest Iowa experienced similar problems when several inches of rain fell in just a couple of hours, breaking dams and levees and causing damaging floods that also destroyed homes and businesses. The situation was completely unexpected and hard to prepare for. Many people were not prepared and hurriedly left their homes and took what they could with them.

This hurricane and its subsequent destruction have left many stranded with little food and gas. Major and minor roads were washed away, and bridges were destroyed or left unsafe to use. Many people could not leave their homes safely or had been left homeless. By the time evacuation orders were given, most roads were already unsafe to use and evacuation was not possible.

This situation and its circumstances already have lessons to teach even the most experienced preppers. For many people, this is the worst-case situation. They have lost everything. However, we can still learn and adjust our preps accordingly.

1. Be prepared for a hurricane. While this will not apply to anyone who lives away from the eastern seaboard or the Gulf Coast, it does apply to them. Quite a few people thought this hurricane wouldn’t be more than a rainstorm. It quickly became a Category 4 hurricane and a monster storm. You should always err on the side of caution and be fully prepared for the hurricane, no matter how it is categorized.
   
   
2. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. If you think there might even be a slight chance of evacuating, be prepared. Have a bag packed for everyone with clothes, medicine, an extra pair of shoes, water, snacks, some hygiene products (soap, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste), identification, important information, and cash. You should have a 72-hour kit ready with more hygiene products, food, snacks, and whatever else you need. Have a bag for your pets with food, dishes, medications, leash, harness, and collar. Have 2-3 packages of bottled water in the vehicle ready to go. Everyone should be able to grab their bag and kit and be packed in the car in less than 15 minutes so you can get to safety. Also, know your back roads and alternate routes. You may need them.
   
   
3. Be prepared to be stranded for an unknown amount of time. You may not be able to leave your home. To survive, you must have 2-3 weeks of food and water on hand. If you have babies or small children, you must have extra diapers, wet wipes, and formula. If you have pets, you must have extra food and water for them. The time to buy these things is not the day before the storm. It’s a week or a month before the crisis. You need to be prepared for the possibility. You need to be proactive, not reactive. If you don’t already have this handled, you should be taking care of it as soon as possible.
   
   
4. Be prepared to have no power for an unknown amount of time. This means stocking up with gas before the event because gas stations will likely not have power or run out of gas quickly. This also means having alternate ways of cooking, lighting, keeping cool, and keeping warm. You will also need another plan for charging cell phones like a power station or portable power packs.
   
   
5. Be prepared for no cell or internet service. Towers will become damaged and unusable in storms like this. You will need to be able to communicate with each other, neighbors, and family when you can not use cell and internet signals. Two-way radios are a good idea to have on hand.
   
   
6. Be prepared to clean up after storm damage. You will need chainsaws to cut up fallen trees. You will need brooms, rakes, and shovels to clean up the yard, driveway, and sidewalks. You may also need pain relievers to help with the sore muscles and aches later.
   
   
7. Be prepared to clean up after flooding. You will need to be able to clean and sanitize so bleach is essential to have on hand. You will need disinfecting wipes and cleaners. You will need brooms, shovels, and heavy-duty trash bags to clean up the mess. You will also need tools to remove drywall, carpeting, flooring, and more to clean up and start replacing those items.
   
   
8. Be prepared to not be able to access essential services like medical care. It will be important to keep a first aid kit and know how to treat people medically. Law enforcement will be very busy so you may also need to be able to defend yourself in some way. Fire departments may not be able to reach you so you will need fire extinguishers, hoses, and access to water to fight your fires.
   
   
9. Be prepared to not be able to use debit and credit cards. Without power, internet, or cell service, these services will not be accessible. Cash will be important so have an emergency stash that you can use for these times.
   
   
10. Be prepared to lose everything. We never want to think about this, but you may be able to get away with only your to-go bags or the clothes you are wearing. You may lose everything—your home, cars, possessions—and you must rebuild from that. We can not be prepared for everything. Flooding, hurricanes, landslides, and tornadoes can take everything from us. You may be able to keep spare clothing, food, cash, and copies of essential documents in a safe place like a storage unit, but it will not replace your home, cars, and possessions. However, life can continue as long as you and your family are safe and unharmed. You can rebuild and move forward again.
    

What have you learned from this natural disaster and the destruction it caused? I have picked up these things from watching all the television and internet news and hearing first-hand accounts from people living there. I am looking at my preps a little differently after seeing this destruction.

Thanks for reading,
Erica

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