10/09/2026
⚠️ HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS — JUST A LITTLE ADVICE FROM EXPERIENCE
This post isn’t meant to scare anybody or cause panic. It’s simply to share some real-world experience and get people thinking about WHAT IF…
What if this hurricane hits our area hard? What if tornadoes come through and cause widespread damage? What if we lose power, communication, and access to basic necessities for several days?
As that insurance company slogan goes, “We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” Well, we’ve seen a few things ourselves working in disaster-stricken areas, and I can tell you firsthand that there are things people don’t think about until it’s too late.
Here are a few things we’ve experienced, especially in Valdosta and Douglas, Georgia, following major storm damage.
📱 COMMUNICATION CAN BE GONE. Cell towers go down, internet goes out, and your phone may become completely useless. You can’t call your family, check on loved ones, or even find out what’s happening around you. Have a designated meeting place for your family in case you get separated and can’t communicate. Make that plan NOW, not after the storm.
💵 CASH IS KING! I can’t stress this enough. When power and internet go down, credit card machines and ATMs may not work. You can have all the money in the bank, but that doesn’t mean you can access it. Keep some cash on hand, preferably smaller bills. We experienced this firsthand in Georgia.
⛽ FUEL UP BEFOREHAND. Gas stations may be closed, out of fuel, or unable to pump gas without electricity. Keep your vehicles fueled up. You may have to travel a considerable distance just to find an operating gas station.
🥤 HAVE PLENTY OF SUPPLIES. Water, food, medications, batteries, flashlights, hygiene products, and other essentials. Don’t assume you’ll be able to run to the store afterward. Stores may be closed, roads blocked, and supplies unavailable.
🚗 BE PREPARED TO BE CUT OFF. In some of the areas we worked, you had to drive nearly an hour just to get cell service, find somewhere to eat, or purchase basic necessities. Imagine having to do that when roads are covered in trees and power lines.
🔋 PLAN FOR NO ELECTRICITY. Have flashlights, battery packs, and a way to charge essential devices. If you have a generator, make sure it’s working and you have fuel. NEVER operate a generator inside your home or garage.
❤️ CHECK ON YOUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS. Especially elderly family members and those who depend on electricity for medical equipment. Make arrangements before the storm, because afterward you may not be able to reach them.
The biggest thing I want people to understand is that it’s not always the storm itself that creates the biggest challenges. It’s what happens AFTER the storm.
We’ve been in communities where everything we take for granted was suddenly unavailable. No phones, no electricity, no gas, no restaurants, no stores, and sometimes no easy way in or out.
I’m not saying any of this WILL happen here. I sincerely hope it doesn’t. But I would much rather see everybody prepare for something that never happens than be caught off guard when it does.
Don’t panic. Don’t wait until the last minute. Just be prepared, have a plan, and look out for one another.
And above all, take official warnings seriously. No amount of supplies is worth risking your life when evacuation or shelter is necessary.
Prayers for everyone who may be in the path of this storm. Stay safe!
If there is an emergency, call our after hours service at 334-714-0203 or message us on Facebook. We have radios that we can communicate to our crews once power goes down.
