On Monday, we were told to evacuate our home in Sarasota ahead of Hurricane Milton.
We somberly and quickly gathered our things, packed up our car with our dogs, our children, and what little we could fit, and evacuated to North Carolina to be closer to our son.
Saying Goodbye
Leaving the home we have lived in and cherished for many years was surreal.
I mean, how do you decide what to gather and what to leave behind?
We were saying goodbye to everything we’d collected over a lifetime, not knowing if we would ever see it again.
The memories we have created in that home are near and dear to our hearts.
So, saying goodbye brought some heartache and tears.
Walking away wasn’t easy for any of us because we knew that we might not have a home to return to when the storm died down and it was all over.
But we had to go.
The storm was heading right for us.
Weathering the Storm
The next few days were a blur as we watched the news and what was happening with the hurricane.
We didn’t know what would happen—there could have been so many different scenarios.
If the storm went north of us, it would be a huge storm surge, and our house would have major flooding.
If it went south of us, we would have horrendous winds causing major structural damage to our home and property.
But as Hurricane Milton made landfall, we watched with bated breath as our home was literally in the eye of the storm.
The hurricane came on shore at Siesta Key, which is Sarasota.
For years, people have said this would never happen—that Sarasota was protected.
But it wasn’t. We were right there in the eye of it.
As you can imagine, it was heartbreaking to watch, knowing that everything we owned was being swallowed up by a hurricane.
With us being hundreds of miles away, there wasn’t much we could do but wait until we were allowed to return home and assess the damage.
Our Home is Still Standing
We were elated when we got the news that our house was still standing!
OUR HOUSE WAS STILL STANDING!
That in itself was a huge deal for us.
Once we knew that we had a house to come back to, we started our drive home.
We left Thursday night at 5:00 pm and got into Sarasota at 5:00 am to start the cleanup.
After talking to neighbors who decided to ride out the storm, I learned that being in the eye of the storm is what saved us.
At one point, it was completely calm, from what my neighbors told me.
Because we were in the eye of the storm, we were spared the storm surge of water and the horrendous wind.
Obviously, there was still tons of wind on the backend of the hurricane, so we still have a substantial amount of damage.
But nothing that isn’t fixable.
Yes, cleanup is going to take a while.
A lot of things are going to take a while.
We still don’t have power, so we should probably start there.
But it could have been so much worse.
The Unexpected Outcome
For me, the unexpected outcome of Hurricane Milton is recognizing the power of community.
The past two weeks have been incredibly tough for our little community.
First, we had Hurricane Helene, and then we had Hurricane Milton.
Still, I have seen so many people come together and help to support one another during this time.
Neighbors are helping neighbors, and strangers are becoming friends because of the storms we have weathered together.
But I’m not just talking about the community of Sarasota. I’m talking about my own personal community of people who love me.
I am amazed at the number of people who have reached out to me to check on me and my family.
People who I haven’t spoken to in years and years have reached out to make sure we are okay.
It has shown me how powerful my own community of people truly is.
With how busy life can get, we don’t really think about all the support we actually have on a daily basis.
And sometimes, we may feel that we’re all alone.
But in our time of trial, the prayers, messages, and support have been overwhelming. It is humbling to know that I am loved by so many.
It’s so nice to be in a place where I literally had hundreds of people reach out to check on our family.
It’s such an amazing reminder of the power of community.
What Storms Are You Weathering
Whether you’re weathering an actual hurricane or a different kind of storm in your life, I hope you remember the power of community.
We all have trials that interrupt our lives.
When those literal or figurative storm clouds come, remember to surround yourself with people you love and with people who are watching out for you.
Whether it’s someone to come and help clean up your yard or someone to help you emotionally, make it a point to find your community.
We need each other—much more than we realize.
This storm really was just another reminder of that important truth.
Because no matter who you are, storms are inevitable.
They will come, no matter how much we plan, how strong we are, or how perfectly we try to orchestrate our lives.
There will always be moments when the skies darken, the wind howls, and we find ourselves shaken.
But that is when we can reach out to our community of trusted people and lean on them.
Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is let others hold us up when we feel like we can’t stand on our own.
And sometimes, those people need us just as much as we need them.
Time Marches On
When the storm passes—and it will pass—don’t forget to look around and thank those who weathered it with you.
I’m exhausted mentally and physically.
I have a ton of work to do.
But I feel very fortunate because I have people behind me, beside me, and surrounding me.
And as our community rebuilds, we will be here to help each other.
They said Sarasota was protected from hurricanes, but we weren’t.
Hurricane Milton came, and we are left picking up the literal pieces of our lives.
I have learned to never take anything for granted.
I have also learned to really appreciate the moments that you have because, at any moment, your life may change forever.
Most of all, I have learned to appreciate the people in my community.
Because of your outreach, I have found greater hope.
Thank you for your messages.
Thank you for your love.
Thank you for your unfailing support.
You matter to me.
You have strengthened me.
And now the cleanup begins.
