Weathering Hurricane Sandy

Five lessons learned from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

Last week we were hit by Hurricane Sandy. Most people in my area lost power. Some lost their homes. A firefighter in a neighboring town lost his life.  By all accounts my little household was very lucky – no damage to our property and we were safe.

However, we did end up being without power for six days. In the beginning it was an inconvenience but as time wore on and temperatures dropped it became more challenging. We were able to watch some storm coverage online using my husband’s WIFI connection. Using my cell phone I was able to exchange information with friends on Facebook. But for the most part we were isolated from the outside world.

Finally, six days after Sandy hit, several crews started working on our street which had been hit pretty badly. Power lines and even some poles had to be repaired. I’m not sure where they were from but their accents told me that they definitely weren’t local. We were so happy to see them and overjoyed when the power came on late that night.

Weathering Hurricane Sandy taught me many things about myself and others. Lessons I hope to remember long after Sandy is only a memory.

People Pull Together

When disaster strikes people pull together. Workers came from all over the country and beyond to help restore power in my area. My husband talked to guys who spent over two days on the road driving in from Kansas City. One of my friends had a crew from Quebec working on her street.  Without all of their help there’s no telling how long we’d be sitting in the dark.

Think Outside the Box

After five days without power our power company told us not to expect restoration for another four days. Panic set in. After some scrambling, my husband finally located a place an hour away with a few generators in stock. All the obvious places were sold out but he managed to find a generator at a farm equipment supplier.

Teamwork Makes Things Easier

Being together 24/7 wasn’t easy. Just about the only break we got from each other was while we were sleeping. But one of the ways we managed to get through it was working as a team. I tended the fire while my husband went for the take-out. I made phone calls while he looked for information online. While it’s not an experience I’d like to repeat working together made it easier.

Appreciate What You Do Have

After a few days being without power becomes more than an inconvenience. But, as miserable as we were we never forgot how fortunate we were to have a working fireplace and plenty of wood to burn. By keeping a fire going all day we were able to make it thought the cold nights. I don’t know what we would have done without it.

It Probably Could Be Worse

The storm coverage we were able to see made us well aware of how lucky we were. Watching images of homes that had been destroyed was painful. Hearing reports of people, including two young boys, who had lost their lives, was heartbreaking.  Five minutes of storm coverage reminded us that we what we lost was nothing.

If you want to help victim of natural disasters please visit the American Red Cross website and donate today