You Can’t Prepare for Everything—But You Can Prepare to Be Ready
For the past few weeks, you may have noticed it’s been quiet around here. Cat5Prep hasn’t seen the regular updates, blogs, or storm tracking breakdowns you’ve come to expect. And I’ll be honest with you—there’s a reason for that.
I recently had leg surgery. I won’t get into the specifics—how it happened or what exactly it was—but what I will say is this: it knocked me completely off my feet, literally and figuratively.
Recovery isn’t just painful, it’s disorienting. As someone who lives and breathes hurricane preparation, emergency readiness, and forecasting—it was hard to admit I couldn’t physically do any of it for a while. I couldn’t test generators. I couldn’t haul water jugs or check our storm shutters. I couldn’t even drive down the street for a resupply run if I had to.
And then, of course, a storm showed up.
When the Tropics Don’t Wait
While I was down, we had a tropical system scurry across the Gulf and form in the Atlantic. It wasn’t a catastrophic storm, but it was enough to get the adrenaline pumping. It passed over the state and continued toward the Carolinas, stirring up rain, wind, and a real sense of urgency for those of us who take storm tracking seriously.
Under normal circumstances, I would’ve been first in line to start deploying our home prep plan. But this time, I couldn’t do anything. Not physically. And not entirely mentally either. Pain meds and physical therapy tend to cloud the brain a little.
That’s when the stress set in—not because a storm was coming, but because I couldn’t act on it. I’ve always been the planner, the mover, the one checking lists twice and running around the yard making sure everything’s lashed down. This time, I had to watch from the sidelines.
But what happened next gave me the kind of reassurance I didn’t know I needed.
Our Team Showed Up
Without even asking, our prep team stepped up.
Neighbors checked in with us regularly and helped secure loose items around the property. Family members made sure supplies were stocked.
All of it happened without a single frantic phone call. Why? Because we had a plan. And more importantly, we had a team that knew it and believed in it.
It wasn’t perfect. But it worked. And it reminded me of something I’ve preached here time and time again—but now felt on a personal level I’d never experienced before:
Preparedness isn’t about you doing everything—it’s about having a system in place for when you can’t.
Unexpected Storms Come in All Forms
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Sometimes it’s a hurricane. Other times, it’s a personal health crisis. Or a family emergency. Or a financial hit. Whatever the disruption, it can pull you away from your normal routines at exactly the wrong time.
What matters isn’t whether you’re 100% ready every single moment—it’s whether your people are. Whether they know your plan. Whether you’ve built a prep network you trust. Whether your systems can run even if you’re not the one at the wheel.
This time, we passed that test.
And that’s why I’m writing this—not just as an update on why things have been quiet here at Cat5Prep, but as a nudge for you to look at your own readiness in a new way.
Build the Team Before the Storm
I’m lucky. Over the last couple of years, we’ve slowly built a tight-knit network around us. Family, neighbors, friends—even just trusted contacts who live nearby. We’ve talked through plans, shared resources, and created roles.
So when this latest tropical system took aim and I was stuck in a brace, those people didn’t hesitate. They knew what to do, because we’d already worked it out.
If you haven’t built that kind of support system yet, start now. Here’s how:
Talk to your neighbors. You don’t need to be best friends, but you do need to know who has a generator, who’s willing to share freezer space, who can check on pets if you’re away.
Make your plan accessible. Write down your emergency plan, print it, and share it with at least one other person who doesn’t live with you.
Train together. It doesn’t have to be formal, but go over your checklists as a group. Make sure everyone knows where supplies are, who’s doing what, and what the communication chain looks like.
Practice delegating. You won’t always be the strongest link. Let others help now, so they know how to take the lead later.
The Mental Toll Is Real
I’d be lying if I said this whole process didn’t mess with my head. Being physically unable to prep, when a storm is on the map, is one of the most unsettling experiences I’ve had. It made me feel vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to.
But it also brought a strange kind of peace—because I saw the fruits of the work we’ve done. We’ve built something bigger than just a solo effort. Cat5Prep isn’t just a website or a checklist. It’s a mindset. It’s a community. And in my absence, that community held the line.
A New Chapter for Cat5Prep
Now that I’m slowly getting back on my feet—figuratively and literally—you’ll see more updates rolling out. More posts. More gear reviews. More forecasts and preparedness tips.
But I’m coming into this season with a deeper understanding of what readiness really means. It’s not about being a superhero. It’s about being part of a system that works even when one link breaks.
So let me leave you with this:
If you haven’t built your community prep team, do it now.
If you haven’t delegated roles in your emergency plan, do it now.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “That’ll never happen to me”—think again.
Because storms don’t wait. And sometimes, neither does life.
Final Reminder: Prep isn’t just about having the right tools—it’s about having the right people. Your team is your greatest asset. Build it. Nurture it. And trust it to carry you through, whether it’s wind and rain—or life itself—that knocks you down.
Stay safe. Stay ready.
—Steve, Director of Duct Tape & Destiny at Cat5Prep
