When The Helpers Come Out for Hurricane Florence, a drama/adventure novel by Christina Crooks, the story begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After flooding in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Wilma pummels the coastal city of Beaufort, South Carolina. When the residents realize that they have no place to call home, the state government offers them thirteen thousand dollars to move to another area of the state. As most people know, South Carolina was one of the hardest-hit states during Hurricane Katrina. With this newfound wealth, the population quickly swells to almost one hundred and fifty thousand people, more than twice what it was before the hurricane.
Everyone is eager to start a new life in the area, but there are a few people who refuse to leave. In fact, most of the displaced people are from the surrounding areas and the surrounding area’s residents want to help. Joanna finds herself in charge of transporting the people to their new destination. She is also in charge of finding a suitable hotel for them to stay in.
Her father, a respected veterinarian, volunteers to help with the hotel arrangements. His services are needed because he knows where the closest possible hospital is. Also, he knows that doctors have the best treatment and availability. His experience is invaluable to Joanna. Her father dies in childbirth and Joanna must take care of his four children, ages two to seven, along with her own responsibilities as a mother to Joanna’s two other children, ages eight and eleven.
Once Joanna gets everyone settled, she turns her attention to the task of selecting a hotel. In doing so, she meets with some difficulties, including the owner who wishes to convert the hotel into a dance studio. In addition, there are other concerns such as security and noise. But the main issue is the quality of the hotel’s service, and Joanna will be looking to that as well as her family’s needs.
So, what should one look for in a hotel when it comes to a place to stay during a hurricane? There are many factors at play here. One is the reputation of the hotel and its staff. Another is the quality of the hotel’s location and the accessibility of the amenities it offers. And of course, one of the most important things is the family reputation of the business or establishment in question.
The reputation of a hotel, like a good business, can be determined by the quality of its advertising. If the hotel is not showing any advertisements or promotions, it’s probably because it doesn’t exist. When it comes to advertising, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. Therefore, the best thing to do is to check with local groups or associations, like the Better Business Bureau, to see if there are any negative reports filed against the hotel in the past year. Another thing to consider is the hotel’s proximity to the sea or riverfront. If it’s located near a busy port or marina, it’s probably best to avoid it, as bad weather can cause delays on your trip.
In terms of location, the hotel’s proximity to grocery stores, gas stations, airports, and the general vicinity will have an impact on your stay. It will also affect your ability to store some essentials, like food and water, away from the flooding rains. A good example would be if your hotel is located between two hotels that are very far apart. Even if you have the most up-to-date, well-stocked kitchen and refrigerator inside your hotel room, your family members may need to improvise and find food elsewhere during the period of a power outage. Also, if your hotel is right next to a gas station, it’s not a good idea to use it as a last-ditch source of emergency food. You’re also going to need a way to get gas to and from your rental car if you don’t already have one, and having to carry heavy bags along with your groceries and appliances is not ideal during a time of emergency.
It’s important to check into the reputation of the hotel staff as well. You may have heard a lot about how great the place was before you came, so you may want to make that part of your trip’s memory. After all, memories often make us more appreciative of our time. You’ll want to know that your family’s needs were taken care of, and that they were both comfortable and well-fed during their stay.
