It was Tuesday when the calls started to come in. People from Florida were looking for a campsite. We had just finished a busy Labor Day weekend and things were getting back to normal. Labor Day is the end of the summer season and we were getting a few more calls from hunters and fall fishermen. There were some projects we wanted to complete before guests from up north started to arrive for the winter months. These activities were put on hold once the phone calls started.
Last year the evacuation for Hurricane Matthew taught us a few things about what to expect when hurricanes cause evacuations. We knew we could convert a tent site into a camper site if needed. Most people did not know how long they would need to stay so we learned early on not to book extended stays. Kids needed something to do and parents needed access to information on the storm.
Irma was different in several ways. First the number of people leaving Florida was very large. It was rare to be on the phone and not hear a beep of someone else trying to call in. Many people were just not sure of their plans. Some wanted out of Florida by Thursday while others were not sure they would need a place until Sunday. Trips that would normally take 6 hours might be extended due to traffic to 8 or 12 hours. After awhile we learned to ask what people needed and where they were located. This was the information we needed if we were going to be able to help. Although we used spread sheets to track available sites and reservations, much of the process was kept in our heads. We went through and updated the list multiple times. We tried to keep facebook and the web page updated in relation to availability. Keeping up with the on line reservation system was not a top priority.
The city came by to provide information and check in with us. We had filled up pretty quickly so we soon where able to find other locations that might help evacuees. As time got closer to the landfall we started to hear from people that were not only very tired but also unsure of where they were headed. One person thanked us for answering the phone since some places had stopped doing so. We tried to work with a waiting list and fortunately most on the list had found a destination by the time we called back. Thanks to everyone who called to cancel reservations as they made room for others. I am sure we missed a few calls in the process but we did try to offer help and support,
By Saturday it looked like the storm was headed this way. Projections indicated the weather was not likely to be much worse than our usual spring thunderstorms but that news was not all that reassuring to folks that had fled and were very worried about what they would find when they returned home. We encouraged people to have a destination rather than be stranded on the road. Many elected to leave which provided us with peace of mind after several long days of dealing with frightened guests. We heard back from several who had found accommodations further inland and we were glad we had been able to help them prior to winds picking up here.
The storm did come through - we had three hours without power but otherwise did quite well. There were a few return guests after the storm but most people were able to head back home once the hurricane had passed. Like a busy holiday it took a few days to get back to normal. I also was able to look at our campground with some fresh eyes. Not only did I have a better sense of how many RV's could fit into available spaces - I had a better overall feel for each space. I am seeing new options for reservations on holiday weekends and ways to cluster groups together.
Most importantly thank you to everyone who shared this experience with us at Lake Eufaula Campground. Despite your concerns you were considerate of each other, communicated well with us and made the best of a challenging situation. At a time when people are overwhelmed by information, tied to electronics and separated over political points of view it was wonderful to see this type of cooperation. Many times people do want to help each other but do not know the best ways to overcome these barriers. Maybe it's because we share a love of the outdoors or maybe it was the storm cloud's silver lining - in any case thank God for safe harbor and enjoy your next camping adventure.
