Florida resident recounts surviving Hurricane Ian amid growing concerns over active hurricane seasons

This year’s hurricane season is predicted to be one of the most active in history. Recent news of a home collapsing in North Carolina due to swells from Hurricane Ernesto has highlighted the destructive power of these storms.

With three months remaining before hurricane season ends in November, many more storms are anticipated. This raises concerns about what it is like to own a home in a hurricane zone—or worse yet, to be in the house when a massive storm strikes.

Kory Covaci, a 38-year-old Florida native with a military background, has lived through numerous hurricanes. However, Hurricane Ian in September 2022 was different for her and her family on Pine Island, FL—a barrier island severely impacted by this Category 4 storm.

“Nothing compared to the strength of Hurricane Ian—and the fact that I was now a mother,” said Covaci. “I had an 11-month-old at the time. It was my first child and my first time going through a hurricane where I needed to think about someone other than myself.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 60 million residents live in hurricane-prone zones. Many newcomers to these areas may not fully understand what it entails to endure such storms. Covaci shared her experience during Hurricane Ian and its aftermath.

Covaci and her husband chose to stay on Pine Island through the hurricane with their infant and three dogs. She prepared extensively with hurricane-impact windows, a plug-in generator, and an extensive hurricane kit. Her parents, sister, and brother-in-law joined them as they waited for Hurricane Ian's arrival.

When Ian hit, winds reached 150 mph and water levels rose between 7 and 9 feet on Pine Island—unlike any other storm Covaci had experienced before.

“The storm started, and we’re in the thick of it,” recalled Covaci. “I’m watching the floodwater rise... If the water crests the road, we are in trouble.” Twenty minutes later, they were forced into Plan B: evacuating to higher ground amidst rising waters.

With her family wading through knee-high water filled with debris, they moved slowly but eventually reached safety at a neighbor’s elevated house.

“I knew we were going to be safe because we were in an elevated space,” she said. “But then I transitioned into worrying about what am I coming home to.”

After nine hours of intense rain and wind from Hurricane Ian, Covaci returned home relieved that water had not entered their house; however, her extended family wasn’t as fortunate—their home suffered significant damage including three feet of water inside.

“Our first priority was getting my parents’ house assessed,” said Covaci. With no bridge access due to storm damage, they used a boat for transportation. Her parents’ house faced major losses requiring substantial repairs which they undertook themselves due partly because insurance reimbursement would have taken too long.

Covaci also dealt with lengthy insurance processes for repairing her own roof but managed using grants from sources like Coast Guard assistance while cautioning against potential price gouging by out-of-town contractors post-storms.

Despite challenges posed by Hurricane Ian's devastation on Pine Island’s infrastructure—including damaged bridges—Covaci emphasized self-reliance during recovery efforts stressing preparedness ahead of future hurricanes can significantly mitigate impacts especially concerning essential utilities like electricity or clean water supply along with structural protections like impact-resistant installations around homes among other proactive measures necessary ensuring safety amidst increasingly frequent severe weather events across vulnerable coastal regions nationwide today.

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