As most of you in the US and Canada are aware, and probably many of you in other parts of the world,  the southeastern United States was hit hard by Hurricane Helene over the course of several days. 

The storm developed quickly and made landfall as a category 4 storm in Florida's Big Bend. On its way up the west coast of the state, it created devastating storm surges. 

I live on a peninsula that juts out into Tampa Bay. During my 17 years in Florida,  most of it was spent in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. We were extreme fortunate in that we only lost power for three days. The canal we live on rose almost to our steps. Yes, we did evacuate, and I'm glad we did. Many people around us lost a lot of their belongings. We only lost the contents of our fridge and freezer, which amounted to about $200-$300. It could have been much worse and I'm thankful it wasn't. 

My heart goes our to those who live and have businesses on Anna Maria Island. We spent many hours out there with our boys when they were young. Many an evening was spent sitting on the sand and watching the sun kiss the horizon in spectacular colors. The island suffered catastrophic damages that will take months, if not longer to recover from. 

The same holds true for parts of North Carolina. 

There are many organizations that are accepting donations. Should anyone choose to donate to any relief organization, please do your due diligence and make sure the money actually goes to those who need it. Unfortunately, there are plenty of scammers out there.

If you live in any of the areas affected by the storm, be wary of contractors approaching you. Any reputable business won't hesitate to provide their license and insurance information. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Stay safe no matter where you live.