It’s crazy how fast a storm can turn and how many best guesses meteorologists can make. Michigan-born, last week was my first time witnessing a storm of this kind when Hurricane Ian hit my new home of Florida. Snowstorms? I’ve seen dozens. But hurricanes? None. At first, the Category Four hurricane was supposed to hit one of the largest-growing cities in the United States, Tampa. Instead, it sucked all the water from Tampa Bay and turned south, with warnings going to Sarasota, then Venice … until it finally broke ashore at Sanibel Island/Fort Myers.

Luckily, everyone I know in Sarasota County is safe. However, many people lost their homes and cars due to heavy wind, falling trees and flooding.

Catamaran resting on a residential neighborhood street in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Many streets near mine are still without power and water, and just 45 minutes south, Venice streets are flooded due to the overflow of the river.

Hurricane Ian: flooded house and fallen tree in Florida residential area

It’s been almost a week since the storm hit. Thousands of people have traveled from all over to help with clean-up. Much appreciation goes out to those willing to go the distance to help those in need.

Free food and water being given out in Ft. Myers following Hurricane Ian

Gas stations are out of gasoline, ice and propane.

Gas shortages and long lines after the storm

People are traveling hours to get the resources they need to survive.

I learned from my first hurricane experience that you can never be too prepared. I know every time something happens, you always wish you would have done something differently. But if I had to choose one thing, it would be to start eating all my perishable food so it didn’t go to waste. Here are some things I would do next time, before the storm comes:

• Own a generator powerful enough to keep my food cold and my house lit
• Store at least 10 gallons of gas in my shed for my car and generator
• Have a good-quality cooler, filled with ice, ready to use as backup
• Freeze all my perishable items so if the power goes out, it takes 24 hours before they start getting ruined
• Purchase at least one week’s worth of nonperishable foods; if you don’t use them, donate them or save them
• Stash my valuables somewhere safe away from areas that could flood
• Fill my car with gas
• Find a sturdy parking garage and park my car on the top covered floor where no flooding or trees could harm it
• Purchase a few good books to read
• Purchase comforting-smelling candles to give warmth and light
• Stock up on batteries for flashlights
• Have battery packs for cell phones
• Easy access to a saw and rake in case you get trapped in your driveway or home

My heart goes out to those who had greater losses than me,

Truck pinned down under debris in Ft. Myers, Fla.

and I hope they have access to family and good neighbors so they don’t have to go through this devastation alone.

— Christyn Pek, business development executive