Being ready to evacuate

An evacuation order is always a mind-boggling experience. When the evacuation order came on Thursday, September 24, in the morning, I was physically ready but mentally unable to give up the Challenge Mission. Knowing my "hurricane box" was 288 miles north, and I was vying for roadway with 3.8 million other people, it was time to ride out the storm at home. (a hurricane box is supplies Florida residents gather to ride out having no water and power for at least 2 weeks.)

As I said, I was physically ready. MRDF began hasty hurricane preps on Wednesday morning, and by Wednesday afternoon the place was nearly deserted. As those on the team futilely fought time against a hurricane and attempted to proceed as normal, I methodically prepared our equipment and bodies for the inevitable evacuation. I have lived in Florida for 20 hurricane seasons and knew no steering currents from the north to guide the storm away from us would cause the Keys to get nailed.

The morning Robin and I left was surreal. Robin suggested that we leave Wednesday night for our 4 1/2-hour trip back. My vehicle was loaded and ready to go. I had watched the tourists leave over the previous two days and knew we would have a relatively easy drive back before the roads were closed. I knew we were buying time when the southbound lanes of US 1 were closed Tuesday - no supplies anymore and the Circle K was getting ready to close. It would be miserable afterwards. The air was eerily calm. The sky was a slight red/peach color. We had one day left before the wrath of the storm would hit. There is a saying here and places where hurricanes are known to hit: "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." That was what we needed to do. That is what I did.