Reflecting on Hurricane Irene
Irene is well on her way, and we can put another close one up on the shelf. This hurricane got me thinking.
A Memory from 1989: The Start of Hugo
I’m thinking back to my sophomore year in high school—September 9, 1989. A small storm began forming off the Cape Verde Islands, a small set of islands on the western shores of Africa. Who knew that in just 13 days, we’d be in for the ride of a lifetime?
Evacuating Charleston
As the storm grew stronger, we watched it closely. They named it Hugo. After watching the Weather Channel, my family decided to evacuate. Well, most of my family decided. I like to think I had a say, but my mom was old school. Kids listened, not talked. She said we needed to get my grandmother and ourselves out of Charleston.
The Drive to Safety
We packed up and hit the road. Now, let me tell you about my mom’s driving. Two feet, one on the gas and one on the brake. You never knew if she was stopping or going. My mother avoided the interstate at all costs and hated driving. Thankfully, her boyfriend Preston drove us. What a relief!
Riding Out the Storm in Statesville
Our family made it to Statesville, NC, and found a hotel. Most hotels were full and had no power. On September 22, 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston as a Category 4 storm. It rocked our little southern city.
Returning to Devastation
The Isle of Palms got hit the worse. Houses came off their stilts and landed in the streets. Boats were stacked up like toys. When we returned, the damage was indescribable. Roads were blocked by trees and power lines. The water was contaminated with pine sap. Schools were closed, Not that I minded!
Finding Small Comforts at Home
The family lived in North Charleston. Thankfully, our house had no damage. Though a neighbor had a tree through their roof. We had no power or water, but we were okay. I pulled out my Coleman camp stove and started cooking. The family had to use up all the food in the fridge and freezer, so we ate well.
Creative Survival: No Generator, No Problem
My Uncle Mike drove down from New Jersey with a broken fridge filled with meat and dry ice. It kept us going for another week. We couldn’t afford a generator, and people were price gouging them. Some sold them on the roadside until police shut them down.
DIY Lighting and Entertainment
So getting creative was key. We used a car battery and an old headlight for light at night. With charging the battery during the day. Used a battery-powered TV and radio to stay informed. The internet wasn’t widely used, and cell phones weren’t common. We didn’t miss them.
The Long Road to Recovery
It took a long time for businesses to reopen. Grocery stores were first, even without power. I remember long lines of semi-trucks delivering ice, food, and water. It was quite an experience.
What If Hugo Hit Today?
This weekend, I wondered what it would be like if Hugo hit today. So much has changed in 22 years. We rely on cell phones, the internet, and digital communication. But how many of us still have analog phones or radios?
Are We Prepared for a Modern Disaster?
If a major storm hit today and knocked out power, cell towers, and internet, how would we cope? Could you stay in touch? Do you have a HAM radio or CB? We depend on the internet so much that we forget what life was like without it.
A Call to Reflect and Prepare
I’m sharing this to encourage you to think. Could you survive for 14 days without power or internet? Could your business? What parts of your life depend on being online? Just stop for a moment and think about it.
Could Your Business Survive 14 Days Without Power or Internet?
When Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, survival meant creativity, grit, and community. Today, it means having the right technology in place before disaster strikes.
At Kotori Technologies, we help businesses build resilience through cloud-first infrastructure, secure backups, and remote access solutions that keep operations running—even when the grid goes down.
