I Survived The Storm

Monday, October 7th

It was 7:01am when I looked at my cell phone. I noticed a circular dot, which usually indicates a notification about severe weather. So, I clicked on it and found an article about an upcoming hurricane. While reading, I received a call from my father. I figured it must be a serious call since he lives in the Central Time Zone, meaning it was only 6am for him. His first words were, “Honey, there’s a storm heading your way. You and your sister need to pack your things and get out now.”

I am not one to panic, nor am I hasty in action without knowing all the facts. I told my dad that I would call him back. I turned on the news and pulled up articles from different sources. Apparently, this storm was a Cat 2 off the Gulf of Mexico with a direct hit coming to Tampa as early as Wednesday, October 9th. Within a few hours, the hurricane escalated to a Cat 4, and soon after, a Cat 5. This storm intensified so quickly that within 25 hours, it went from a Cat 2 to a Cat 5 hurricane, about to bring a path of destruction.

I knew that the area I lived in was not prone to flooding or direct hits from hurricanes, so I kept watch.

Tuesday, October 8th

The hurricane remained a Cat 5, but my area was not in an evacuation zone. Luckily, we didn’t need to go out to the stores or get gas for the car. I knew that my sister and I had everything we needed in case of an emergency. I made sure we had flashlights ready, our battery-powered fan in case we lost power, and brought in any loose objects outside to avoid the wind tossing them. Additionally, I printed out all the instructions we’d need in case we had to get to a shelter, hurricane checklist, and other essential information.

While trying to prepare, I found it exhausting being bombarded with calls and text messages non-stop. It’s one thing to express concern; it’s another to project fear onto someone already facing the storm. I found myself wishing people would simply say, 'Stay safe,' instead of recounting horror stories or expressing their fears (I mentioned this to some). As I prepared, I unexpectedly found myself consoling friends and family members who lived far from the danger zone in a completely different state. It felt emotionally draining to constantly reassure others while I was facing a Cat 5 hurricane.

It’s interesting to observe how often people project their fears onto others, especially when they’re not facing imminent danger themselves. I thought, “Here I am, preparing for a Cat 5 hurricane, yet I’m comforting others who don’t even live in the state”. Don’t get me wrong, I know how much family and friends care, and I appreciate that. It just didn’t feel helpful to constantly read texts from people expressing their fears.

I did have family members who prayed for us, and I truly appreciated those prayers! I received those prayers in the name of Christ Jesus. Prayer is a powerful thing. I anointed my entire home while asking God to create His seal of protection as a barrier against this storm. I knew I had nothing to worry about because I know the Power of God and have unwavering faith.

Wednesday, October 9th

The rain began at 6:35am EST. They predicted that the storm would make landfall around 9:00pm EST. We remained home and sheltered in place, as we were still in an area not part of an evacuation zone. I informed my family in other states that I would not be taking their calls past 6:00pm, as I’d need to conserve my battery in the event of a power outage. I let them know I’d text my mother to keep everyone else informed.

Around 8:30pm EST, the rain was pounding against the window, and the wind was howling. The force of the wind was so strong that the window was literally vibrating. I was sitting in my room with my sister, reading my Bible and watching the news. It reminded me of Luke 8:22-25, when there was a massive storm and Christ rebuked that wind and raging water!

Not long after, the newscaster mentioned, “Milton has made landfall, but it shifted. For us here in Tampa, again Milton has taken a turn. We just dodged a bullet.” You could see the relief on his face as he too was in Tampa. He mentioned we’d still get strong winds and floods in Tampa, but that the storm would not be as destructive as they thought. The hurricane made landfall as a Cat 3 instead of Cat 5 in Siesta Key. I started praying even harder for the people of Sarasota and beyond.

Thursday, October 10th

The sun came out; it was so very bright. Two birds started flying in the sky, wings spread so wide, crying out and crisscrossing in each other’s paths. They did this twice in front of my window before?flying off.

We had not lost power and did not have any flooding. There were a few branches down in the backyard. I saw on the news that other areas were not so fortunate. I watched videos of people being rescued. It was infuriating seeing a video of someone recording a house being destroyed by water, commenting how cool it was and that they were happy to capture it. Like seriously, that was someone’s home! ?

As Hurricane Milton passed, I felt grateful for the clarity I found amidst the chaos. It served as a reminder that while storms may come and go, the way we support each other can either build resilience or add to the weight of fear. Let’s choose to uplift and support each other in a time of crisis rather than exacerbate a situation by projecting fears onto others, especially when our loved ones are the ones facing the storm.

This hurricane has left destruction in its path, but it could have been way worse had it made landfall as a Cat 5. My heart goes out to those who have lost so much. I am keeping everyone in my prayers and sending my support!