The Most Important Thing I Learned About Surviving a Natural Disaster
The devastation from Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking. It's horrifying to think that the new normal is wondering which town will be wiped out next. Beautiful places disappear in an instant—consumed by fire or swept away by water. What's left are people trying to keep going, even when it feels like there's nothing left to live for. It’s overwhelming.
As more of these disasters keep happening, it’s clear that we need to think beyond go-bags and insurance. There’s something deeper, something more enduring we can do to get through the moments when our world falls apart. Over the past year, I’ve learned that the best preparation isn’t physical—it’s about connection.
Connect with your neighbors. Be good neighbors. Exchange phone numbers, chat, and stay in touch. When the bigger world crashes down, these people might be your lifeline—or you might be theirs. They could help you find safety, or need help with their animals. These connections, built before disaster strikes, are vital.
Connect with your community. Find ways to engage—volunteer, attend school functions, join local clubs. Being connected to your community means that when things tumble, you have people to lean on, people to help, and a sense of purpose. These bonds are the ropes that will help you hold on.
Connect with your family. Disasters will break you, no matter how strong you are, and it’s even harder when your family is already fractured. Being connected before the storm helps you come back together afterward. Work on strengthening your family bonds daily. Build a strong foundation with your family so that when everything else is pushed to the brink, you have each other to rely on.
In the days and weeks after the fires, it was our neighbors and the community from nearby islands who came to help. The government was slow—slow to react, slow to come up with a plan to get people back to their homes, slow to show us where to find food. Everything about their response was slow. To this day, the only direct monetary help I've received from the government was a $700 emergency grant and the option for an SBA loan—and a loan isn’t aid.
In those early days, it wasn’t officials who showed up. It was regular people. They came by boat, or they braved the treacherous backroads of Maui to reach West Lahaina. These weren’t government workers—they were neighbors, friends, strangers, bringing gas, food, water. I don’t think this is some malicious neglect from the government—it’s just that bureaucracy can’t keep up with the immediacy of disaster. Our taxes fund things we’ll never see. In a natural disaster, you cannot rely on the government. They have too many boxes to check, too much red tape to cut through. We live just a half-hour flight from one of the largest military bases in the U.S., yet no help came when our town was on fire. My house didn’t burn until 10:30 p.m.—there was time for help to arrive, but none did.
The government’s communication was nonexistent. We got sporadic texts. Social media updates were circulating, but we couldn’t access them. My sister in Michigan, and one of Cam’s old teachers in San Diego, had to send us daily updates—where to find food, water, hot meals. A regular guy with a small plane started flying over to show us where to go for supplies. None of this was government-driven; it was private citizens stepping up.
So, my number one tip for preparing for a natural disaster is this: Get connected. Connect with your neighbors, your community, and your family. Because when disaster strikes, the people closest to you will be the ones to help you float until you can find your footing again. The government is too slow. Every piece of help we’ve received so far has come from private individuals, friends, and strangers.
One of the first boats to reach us came from Moloka'i. They gathered gas, food, and supplies and brought them over. Just down the highway, there were people ready to help, but they couldn’t get through because the county had blocked the road. I understand they wanted to keep people away from Lahaina, but it created heartbreak—people weren’t prepared. And our own mayor didn’t even know Lahaina was burning or that people were dying. He went on live TV, stating that roads to West Maui were open, the most ridiculous statement as Lahaina Town burned to the ground.
Government is slow to know and slow to go, it seems.
So yes, get those go-bags ready and important papers gathered, up your insurance, and check your coverage, that is all very important, but most of all, connect with your neighbors and community. They will be your lifelines. And eventually, the shoulders to rest on, to hug, and to walk beside when it’s time to rebuild.
My heart aches for those currently trying to survive after Hurricane Helene. I know these days after a disaster are discombobulating and scary and confusing. Praying they can find their loved ones and find a place to sleep and eat. That's what they need right now. If you're looking to help: this organization helped feed us with the help of local Chefs and restaurants right away: https://wck.org/ and they are in the South now doing the same. Also, airbnb stepped up with vouchers in the very early days and later (even now) to help people find housing with GEM. https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/.../hurricane.../ Otherwise, in my opinion it's best to donate to personal GoFundMe accounts and Venmo accounts - this is the absolute best way to get the people funds to try and start to move forward and figure out food and a roof over their head or having to move far away. Towns are destroyed. They will need money to get to places to ride this out.