One year ago today we were on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico when Irma morphed me from a hurricane amateur, into a hurricane whiz.  Unfortunately, when Maria hit ten days later, I became a hurricane pro.  

Well folks, I hate to break it to you, but it looks like it’s happening again. This morning, when I checked my phone, I had three tropical storm/hurricane warnings flashing! Three! Florence, Isaac and Helene! September is definitely hurricane month for this part of the planet. They happen. They are serious business and should be taken seriously when they occur.

After what we experienced last year, we’ve had quite a few people ask us what they could have sent and could have done to help people that are suffering through hurricane disasters.  So we’ve given it some thought.

Buying a gift for the person who has everything can be challenging.  The Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog has capitalized on this “challenge” for years.  Among last year’s Christmas Book offerings were designer gowns and jewels, Rolls-Royce limited edition vehicles, and a private New Year’s Eve party for 300 at the Knickerbocker Hotel above Times Square.  Neiman Marcus definitely knows how to pick ‘em.

Buying for people who have been through a disaster, like Hurricane Maria, can be likewise challenging.  We had a friend, on Vieques, whose family sent him a box of bottled water.  The postage to send the box was right around $30! Don’t get me wrong, having drinkable water is absolutely necessary to survive such a catastrophe, but it is usually available through agencies that have come to help.  It’s the things that the relief agencies can’t or won’t provide that can make a big difference to folks going through the recovery process. 

So we asked our friends and people on the island what they needed and would like to see in a care package.  Below is a list of what we could have used, as well as a compilation of what they said. 

If you are thinking about sending a package to a friend or loved one after they have been through a disaster, remember that getting any package is a big deal.  The day we received a generator from the owner of the house we were sitting, I started crying.  It was an emotional event, for sure.