I am sitting in the Orlando airport heading home after being “stuck” due to Hurricane Ian. As I reflect on this past week, I wondered whether I would cross my professional (Contact Center – Workforce Engagement) world with my coaching world. Today I bring them together because this is bigger than a Linked In or Facebook post. It is part of my story that permeates my whole world not just one aspect of it.
I have seen the best of people and the worst of people this week. Mostly the best!
I was traveling with work colleagues. When it was certain the storm would hit, we all scrambled to change our flights. I changed it, then it got cancelled and it was downhill from there. I could not get out. Everyone worked for a solution to get me home and we simply came up short.
It was time to extend my hotel. They said NO. What, are you really going to put me out in a hurricane? I began to panic and look for options and other hotels. Panic truly set in for a bit! What would happen? How would my family react?
No fear! Calabrio (the vendor of the convention) and Gaylord Palm Resort got a plan together and began extending our reservations and ensuring that basic needs were going to be met. Since we were stuck, the event carried on with a few changes.
Understandably, my family and friends were concerned. My husband tried to convince me to let him drive to Orlando. It was so tempting BUT Florida was in an evacuation route and he would not been able to reach me. While I stayed calm, they were obviously a little less calm. This was new to us. We weather storms together not apart. Pun intended. I found the news at home is a lot more fear and dread than here. Probably because in a hurricane, people need to stay calm and not do stupid things.
They could have stopped there but humanity took over. The conference was extended so that we were entertained and fed. Everyone extended grace. If your home was in the path, and you needed to leave, empathy and understanding. if you wanted to get out and get home, more understanding.
If you were stuck, well, we processed it all together. As a coach, I saw the very best of the opportunity in front of us. Not only did I seize the moment, so did everyone who stayed. The best of people shined brightly. Some of the best moments of the convention were in those extra hours and events. We saw the personal side of people. We laughed. We worked through some lingering work issues. We laughed some more. Eventually, we started getting the clear to travel home and we said good-bye. Goodbye came with mixed emotions – sad to leave our new friends. Anticipation of home and family.
What was it like to go through my first hurricane? I have absolutely no idea. I slept through the entire hurricane. I saw the beginnings and endings because the winds start early and end late.
While I would not wish to do this again, I gained a deep understanding of the impact of hurricanes. I saw that people don’t always choose to stay but have no choice. I saw that we need to do more than send our prayer and thoughts. Yes they matter BUT action after is what is needed.
With that I would like to offer my thanks and praise to several people:
- Calabrio – you have my greatest respect in how you handled the situation. Thank you for being so accommodating and helpful during a stressful time
- Gaylord Palm Resort – amazing staff. It was obvious that many people couldn’t be there and that was understandable. However the ones who were there, always willing to serve and with a smile. I was never made to feel like an inconvenience, only respected.
- Waterfield – we may not have gotten me home, but the efforts did not go unnoticed. The calls, emails making sure I was safe and calm were amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better team
- My family – I know it was a scary time for you. I know that at times you had a lot of fear especially watching the news. Thank you for staying brave until I could get back home.
The doors are closing on the flight. There will be typos and I will correct them when I land. in the meantime, I hope you are traveling home that you are safe. If you are evacuating due to Hurricane Ian’s path, right now I can’t do anything but sympathize. Stay safe!
