Tidbits I Have Heard About Hurricane Helene

We are all aware of Hurricane Helene, which has been all over the news outlets for days; I understand it’s worse than Hurricane Katrina. You may have read my article about Katrina, where I interviewed a family friend who survived that one.

By now, you know I always advise keeping your gas tank 3/4 full whenever possible. You don’t want to be in line at your local gas station when an approaching hurricane is due to hit your neighborhood. The lines will be long, and those storage tanks could be empty when you reach the gas pumps. PLEASE keep your cell phones charged and have a Power Bank charger.

I think it’s appropriate for all of us to take a few minutes to think about what these people are going through, how we’d respond in a similar situation, and how we can best prepare in case we are faced with similar circumstances.

Tidbits I Have Heard About Hurricane Helene

You may know that with all my posts about emergency preparation and how to plan for disasters, I get invited to several prepper online groups. I often hear more about what’s happening on the ground before I see it on TV. That’s been the case this week, with several readers telling me about their personal experiences as Hurricane Helene passed through their communities. I’ve tried below to outline some of the highlights of what’s been communicated to me and others in the prepper community:

No Power

Even though the hurricane is several days old and has moved on, thousands of homes are still without power throughout the Southeast U.S. We often assume that the coastline cities are most often affected by hurricanes. A lot depends on the size of the hurricane and how much territory it covers in its path. Reports are that Hurricane Helene is over 400 miles wide and that the massive destruction from high winds and floods has affected millions since landfall.

We all rely on power for so many things each day: lights for our homes, cooking meals, heating our showers, doing laundry, and much more. As mentioned, thousands of families are still waiting for power to be restored. Based on the downed power lines and poles from the severe winds and flood waters, it could be weeks or months for some neighborhoods to have power restored.

Asheville, NC, is an especially hard-hit community! Ironically, it is located in Western North Carolina and about 275 miles from the nearest Atlantic coastline. This city has been totally cut off due to all the access roads being washed out.

Those with solar panels and high-capacity battery pack backups are better off than most. That way, you can run various electronics, cooking devices, small cooling equipment, and medical devices.

No Water

Helene’s devastation has left many locations without water service. Without power, the water company pumps can’t operate. Once the power has come on, it takes a long time for the water lines to be brought online and flushed out properly. Most communities have been kept on a “boil the water” directive for the foreseeable future.

Those on higher ground who have well water have faired better, but if the wells are deep, the groundwater may have saturated the areas around the wells and contaminated the water. Local officials advise people to boil or filter the water.

Water May Be Contaminated

Floodwaters not only destroy homes and related property like animal outbuildings, but they penetrate water resources and damage pump stations. The water can be contained by closely located sewage lines and treatment facilities. We have friends in the Tampa, FL, area who still don’t have access to clean or contaminated water. News alerts aren’t providing any timelines for availability in their area.

No Food

With roads washed out in many areas, not only is it challenging to get to a store for provisions, but the same applies to the supply chain trucks we rely on to replenish store inventories. Thousands of people can’t get to shelter locations for safe shelter or needed food. The prepper community is trying to help supply those in need, but many have lost their food storage as the floods destroyed their homes and storage spaces.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which the federal government mandates to jump in and assist when a disaster declaration is announced, has had its efforts delayed or obstructed due to the devastation. In many cases, volunteers have had to take over those efforts as neighbors look out for neighbors. Several other local agencies and commercial enterprises have shown their resilience by providing helicopters to rescue stranded individuals and deliver supplies as best they can.

No Way To Communicate

Many families cannot communicate with the outside world if the power is out. The high winds and floodwaters have knocked out hundreds of cell towers, making cell service spotty. We each rely on our cell phones to stay in touch, but even if you have a way to charge your cell phone with solar power, you’re out of luck.

I’ve told my readers to have a hand crank radio in case the power is out, and their battery-powered radios have run out of juice. At least that way, they can stay informed about what’s happening around them to a certain degree. Consider acquiring a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) capable radio. They are the most reliable at passing on critical information to those affected by a local disaster.

Starlink Internet

I don’t currently use the service, but I’m prompted to consider signing up for Starlink services. If I register with Starlink, I can use my cell phone as well as have internet access.

Headlamps/Flashlights

We’ve all been faced with temporary power outages and had to find our way around the house in the dark. A good prepper has many flashlights and even a few headlamps, so we don’t risk falling down or tripping on obstacles in the dark. We also have many solar flashlights in our windowsills, so they stay charged all the time.

Sanitation Is Rough

Keeping yourself and your household items sanitized is tough if your water is contaminated. Without water, the Hurricane Helene victims struggled to stay clean. With a water filter, you can take a sponge bath. It would be wise to have baby wipes or moist towels for adults so you can at least clean those private parts. If you have toilet paper, you can handle those daily “chores,” but you’ll need heavy-duty trash bags to accumulate things for later disposal.

I have portable toilets in my prepper stash, just in case. I also have a portable temporary laundry unit so I can at least wash my underwear.

Even after the pandemic, we’ve kept plenty of hand sanitizer in our storage inventory. I keep a container in the car, in the kitchen, and by the front door. I strongly advise you to buy or build a portable toilet. I just saw a post on Facebook where they are selling homemade ones to people. I purchased this one because it was inexpensive, and I have put some together with buckets. Emergency Portable Toilet, Odor Control, 10-gallon bags

Hospitals Do Not Have Power

The challenge with this disaster is its effect on accessible healthcare facilities. Many local clinics and hospitals have also been flooded and don’t have access to power or clean water. Many with backup generators don’t have power since the generator rooms are also flooded.

Hopefully, those with critical health conditions were wise enough to plan their evacuations before the storm hit their area. The American Red Cross already provides support and limited healthcare efforts in several locations. They are also requesting donations to help them provide needed support services.

Roads Disrupted

Having some of the mountain backroads washed out during a disaster is one thing. In this case, even major highways like the east/west Highway 40 have been washed out for miles. Repairing heavy-traffic roadways will take weeks or months. That disrupts evacuation efforts and makes delivering supplies to stores and gas stations challenging.

Gasoline Unavailable

With the power out, gas station pumps don’t work. With roads out and refineries shut down, many gas stations aren’t open for service.

Gas Cans Sold Out

As is often the case, emergency supplies disappear from the store shelves first. That’s been the case for people who hoped to use gas cans to fill their cars. Plan and fill a few in case you don’t have access to fuel. Remember to occasionally fill your car with them to rotate the gas and keep it fresh. Additives are fine but can be expensive. Gas Stabilizer

Cut Off From The World

People affected by Hurricane Helene have expressed their frustration, through many sources, with being cut off from the world and not knowing what’s happening and what to expect. Our culture is so used to information overload that having limited or no communication is frustrating and a risk to health and survival.

My best friend in Florida cannot get water or gasoline, and she is in the path of Hurricane Milton. Please pray for all the families and first responders.

Learn Skills To Survive

It’s great to have emergency supplies ready, but many hurricane victims report that they wish they had more and didn’t know how to use all the foodstuffs, water filters, first aid kits, and other supplies. They’ve found that sharing skills in a community can make all the difference.

Knowing how to start a fire is one of them. How To Start A Fire In A FirePit

Thank Goodness For Neighbors

So many people in the path of the hurricane have reported that they wouldn’t have survived without their neighbor’s helping hand, whether with food, some fresh water, warm blankets, buckets to haul water, or so many other things they hadn’t previously thought of.

Do Not Count On Government Agencies

As the slow response to Hurricane Helene has shown, you can’t always count on local or federal government agencies to help. They have limited staff and supply resources to respond effectively to something as far-reaching and devastating as a Hurricane. It’s going to take years to recoup from this most recent storm.

The really scary thing is that Florida and surrounding states are facing Hurricane Milton, which is on their doorstep and due to hit land mid-week. Many areas haven’t recouped from the last storm and are saying, “Here we go again!”

Final World

I know a few families involved in Hurricane Helene. They are okay today, but Hurricane Milton is coming this week; they are bracing for the next storm. One family was evacuated because their home was filled with 2-3 feet of water. They were fortunate to have extended family that lived a few miles away that they could move in with until the damage could be repaired. Let’s all do our best to be prepared and ready to help others who are less fortunate than we are. May God Bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Hurricane Helene New River In Fries VA AdobeStock_1004378866 By Timothy, Hurricane Helene Barn Destroyed AdobeStock_1006674705 By Timothy