From Ian to Milton: Real-Life Hurricane Prep Lessons (and the Snakes I Didn’t See Coming)
Hurricane Ian. They said it was a once-in-500-year storm. If you live in Florida, you’ve heard that kind of language before—but experiencing it is another story. Ian exposed flaws in my hurricane preparedness that I didn’t know existed. The emotional toll, the constant threat of flooding, and the chaos afterward were all unforgettable. (Have your insurance up to date!!!)
I thought that kind of storm wouldn’t hit again any time soon. I was wrong. Just two years later, Hurricane Milton showed up—and brought new threats I hadn’t seen as much as I have in the past. Yes….snakes.
Hurricane Preparedness Isn’t Just About Wind and Rain
After Ian, I thought I was done with big storms for a while. We had sandbags (which we fill at the beach), food, and water stocked, and our home held up reasonably well. But in the aftermath, one thing stood out: the storm drains were completely clogged. Leaves, branches, and trash had flooded in and blocked the drainage system. The water just sat there, rising. This isn’t just the bigs storms, it’s every hurricane!
Like many others, I grabbed my metal garden rake and got to work. I had rubber boots in the garage, but I left them behind, thinking they’d just fill with water and slow me down. Big mistake.
Out I went in shorts and sneakers, wading into murky, debris-filled water. I walked away with scrapes, cuts, and bruises from all the hidden hazards beneath the surface—branches, screens, sharp metal from the screens and downspouts, who knows what else. I felt like I had survived the storm only to risk my safety afterward.
The Gear That Made All the Difference
That cleanup effort after Ian taught me a hard lesson. So I got serious about post-storm gear:
Chest waders
Cut-resistant gloves
Steel garden rake
Upgraded headlamp
Copious amount of hydrogen peroxide
Come Hurricane Milton, I was ready.
After the winds died down and the flooding receded just enough to walk, I headed out again to clear the storm grates. This time I felt prepared—waders up, gloves on, rake in hand.
Hidden Hurricane Hazards: Snakes in Floodwater
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Milton’s debris was the usual mix: broken branches, soggy palm fronds, every other type of debris—but there was a new danger I hadn’t seen after Ian: snakes.
Water moccasins. Everywhere.
Look, we live in Florida. It’s a jungle and we have snakes everywhere. Pretty common to see, especially snakes after hurricanes, but never saw them like this before. One was coiled right on a pile of debris at the edge of a drain I was clearing. If I’d been in shorts again, I might not be telling this story the same way. Fortunately, I was able to get it back into the woods after a brief standoff and some coaxing with the rake.
The chest waders gave me just enough peace of mind and physical protection to keep going, but that close call led to one more addition to my hurricane prep kit: a snake bite kit. It’s the kind of thing you hope you never use—but if roads are blocked (like ours were) and help can’t reach you for days, it’s worth having.
My Post-Hurricane Gear Checklist
If you live in a flood-prone or hurricane-impacted area, here’s what I recommend having on hand for the cleanup phase:
Don’t Wait for the Next Storm to Prepare
Hurricanes aren’t just about high winds and property damage. They’re about what comes after: blocked drains, contaminated floodwaters, and yes—snakes in the MF streets.
Living in Florida means being ready year-round. That doesn’t mean panicking. It means planning ahead, investing in the right gear, and understanding the risks beyond the headlines.
Final Thoughts: Hurricane Survival Is About What Happens After
My experiences with Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton completely changed my mindset. It’s not enough to just “ride out the storm.” (Which it you do, make sure you have enough stuff to keep the family busy…another blog post)You have to be ready for the recovery phase—because that’s when the unexpected can strike.
If you're new to hurricane zones or just haven't had a bad one yet, take it from someone who’s been through it: Get the right gear. Know what to expect. And prepare for everything—even the danger noodles. Also, now I have good pair of waders for year round…even though we fish barefoot on the beach.
