When Hurricane Milton barreled down on us with its unforgiving winds and relentless rain, none of us knew exactly what to expect. There we were, six women huddled together in a small townhouse, anticipating a few hours of discomfort at most.

Before losing electricity, we decided to prepare for the long haul by ordering a generous amount of Chinese food from a local restaurant. It seemed like a small luxury before the impending storm, but it quickly became our comfort amidst the chaos. With an assortment of dishes—lo mein, fried rice, dumplings, and sweet and sour chicken—we gathered around the dining table, pairing our feast with a few bottles of wine. As we shared laughter and swapped stories over takeout containers, it felt like a little slice of normalcy before everything went dark. That meal became our lifeline, providing warmth and a bit of indulgence as the winds howled outside and the power flickered out.

But as the storm intensified and electricity flickered out, leaving us in complete darkness, it quickly became clear this was going to be more than just a passing inconvenience.

A Sudden Shift into Survival Mode

The moment the lights went out, we were plunged into a world without the modern comforts we’d long taken for granted. No electricity meant no lights, no cooking appliances, and no phone chargers. The absence of internet transformed our townhouse into an isolated island, cut off from news updates and messages from loved ones. We had no choice but to rely on each other and embrace the situation for what it was: an unexpected, prolonged adventure in survival.

Making the Most of the Limited Space

The townhouse, which had seemed perfectly spacious before the storm, suddenly felt incredibly cramped. Six women trying to navigate narrow hallways, small rooms, and the occasional tangle of personal belongings wasn’t easy. We made the conscious decision to designate areas for different activities—one corner for reading, another for chatting, and the main dining room as our communal space. It was a way to keep us from getting on each other’s nerves, while also keeping spirits high.

The makeshift dining arrangements brought us closer together as we shared stories, laughter, and moments of vulnerability.

The Comfort in Connection

In the absence of the usual distractions, we had no choice but to truly connect with one another. We talked about our lives, our past experiences, and even our fears about what might be happening outside our small shelter. When you strip away the noise of everyday life, you’re left with the raw, unfiltered version of people. In those hours, we shared personal stories that we probably wouldn’t have told under normal circumstances.

The Challenges We Faced

As time passed, some realities of the situation became hard to ignore. The temperature inside the townhouse began to rise as the humidity crept in, and the air felt thick. It was challenging to sleep. Luckily, we had water so we were able to shower to help with the discomfort of the heat.

Tensions did surface occasionally. The stress of uncertainty, but we were surprisingly resilient, always finding ways to take our minds off what was happening to our personal homes outside the storm as we would share a joke or a moment of quiet understanding, reminding us that we were all in this together.

Learning to Adapt

The need to adapt quickly became essential. We began using our limited resources more creatively. It wasn’t ideal, but we learned to appreciate these small victories.

Without access to news, our information about the outside world came from brief updates on a cell phone. Hearing about the devastation in other parts of the city and the length of time it might take for power to be restored put things into perspective. We were lucky, in a sense. Our townhouse was still standing, and we had each other for company.

The Power of Hope and Resilience

What struck me the most about our time together was how strong each woman was in her own way. One kept us laughing with her sharp wit, while another always had a practical solution for every small problem we faced. We drew strength from one another, creating an unspoken pact that we would come out of this storm not just as survivors, but stronger than when we entered.

There was a strange nostalgia for the bond we had formed in that townhouse—a sense of closeness that might never have existed otherwise.

A New Appreciation for Life’s Simple Joys

Surviving Hurricane Milton wasn’t just about enduring a natural disaster; it was about rediscovering our strength, embracing each other’s company, and appreciating life’s simplest pleasures. We may have gone into that townhouse as six separate individuals, but we came out of it as a resilient team, forever bonded by our shared experience.

The storm taught us that we’re stronger than we think that laughter can indeed be found in the darkest moments, and that sometimes, being forced to disconnect from the world brings you closer to the people right next to you. In the end, we didn’t just survive Hurricane Milton—we lived through it, together.

Life Moves On

When the storm finally calmed and the hurricane shutters were taken down, the time came for each of us to return to our separate paths. One by one, the women gathered their belongings—food, water, and a few remaining supplies—and headed back out to face the aftermath.

Three went home to the beach area, where harsh realities awaited: one to a destroyed house, another to a first-floor condo ruined by flooding, and the third unsure of what she would find. Another left for her home further north, blessedly untouched by the storm.

Graceann and I stood together, thankful for the small mercies of our own minimal damage, yet our hearts ached as we began to absorb the pain of those around us. The bond we had forged during the hurricane remained, but now our focus shifted to supporting our family and friends whose lives had been turned upside down.