Are You Prepared for the Unexpected?
Reminder to be prepared in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Last Friday morning, as my post about never giving up was going live (I always write them early… duh), Hurricane Helene was making its way through. Outside, winds were howling at over 70 miles per hour, rain was pouring down in sheets, and trees were toppling all around. It was pure chaos.
The irony of talking about perseverance while navigating a stressful, unexpected situation wasn’t lost on me. I'm going to keep this short today because it’s been a pretty crazy week. We were fortunate—our power was out for only 36 hours here in Greenville, South Carolina. But others weren’t as lucky; some are still without power across the Southeast.
The storm caught us all off guard. Being hundreds of miles inland, I never expected a hurricane to knock down dozens of trees in my neighborhood. The closest one fell just five feet from our house. Thankfully, we’re all safe, but I know that others weren’t as fortunate.
Are You Prepared for the Unexpected?
This whole experience got me thinking—are we truly prepared for the unexpected? Do we have backup plans, rainy day funds, or proper insurance in place? It’s important to go through a quick checklist, especially when unforeseen events remind us how vulnerable we can be.
I've read that over 40% of Americans couldn’t handle a $1,000 emergency. How are you saving? It's something we should all reflect on, especially when life throws us a curveball.
Flexibility is Key
Another crucial lesson is the importance of flexibility. Being able to adapt quickly to changing situations is essential. Over the past few days, I've had to stay calm under pressure and focus on controlling what I could. This week hasn’t gone as planned—our kids are out of school all week, which brings its own set of challenges. But staying adaptable helps navigate the chaos.
Support and Connection Matter
One last thing to remember: check on the people you care about when life gets unpredictable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. We’re all stronger when we lean on one another during tough times.
So, while I don’t have any big revelations today, I do encourage you to reflect on how you can be better prepared for the things you can’t plan for. Put a little bit of those plans in place now, so when the unexpected happens, you’re ready.
Take care and keep moving forward.
Some neighborhood pictures of the aftermath and my kids reaction.
Glad you're ok man!