RoxAnna Blackwell of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, (pictured center) is an educator and mother of one son. Blackwell, 46, enjoys spending time with family and friends, good food and traveling. She originally shared her experience with Hurricane Helene in Pathlight, PHA’s quarterly member magazine. The most recent issue addressed PH and the environment. To receive the magazine, join or renew your membership.
Hurricane Helene didn’t come on suddenly, so I had time to prepare.
I teach, so I watch the Weather Channel daily during the school year. When I see questionable weather, I increase my monitoring to multiple times a day, to help guide me in lesson preparation.
Although I knew bad weather was coming, I didn’t know how bad it was going to be in my area. I was resting (in and out of sleep) when the worst came through my area. I really didn’t know the damage and devastation that was happening.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to evacuate. My home wasn’t damaged. We had a generator, and we were well stocked with supplies.
Be prepared
I don’t have a formal emergency plan. I was simply raised to stockpile necessities, store water, etc. Basically, I learned to always be prepared for situations when you might not be able to leave home for a while.
I lost power for five days. Thankfully, I had a generator and was one of the first ones in my area to get power restored. But I had issues getting fuel/refueling the generator and was worried about safety.
I used the generator 24 hours a day because I have to have a continuous flow of oxygen. Running the generator for this long was a safety issue. When we unplugged the cords, they were warm and soft.
The emergency made me even more aware of how much PH controls my life. If I didn’t have the generator, I would have had to go to the hospital for oxygen. Currently, I am saving money to purchase a home standby generator to be safer for future power outages. In addition to helping me manage better, I wouldn’t have to refuel the portable generator. While this will be an improvement to my home, it is a major expense.
Oxygen issues
For several weeks after the storm, my oxygen supply company limited me from refilling more than three tanks at a time. Because I am on a continuous ]flow of oxygen, three tanks wouldn’t last two days, unless I stayed home the majority of time. Typically, that isn’t my lifestyle.
Overall, I managed well after the storm. I received increased support from my village. On a regular day-to-day basis, my village assists me tremendously. During this time, I had to double my requests from them.
I strongly encourage everyone to consistently try to prepare for the worst. I know this is easier said than done, but life is unpredictable. Being prepared can make getting through the unpredictable easier.
