A hurricane hit this weekend, as you know, and we lost power around 2:00. Having lived in Florida my entire life, I’m used to hurricane procedure. Stay away from windows. Don’t step outside if the eye of the storm isn’t present. Keep flashlights close by just in case.

We’ve never lost power, though, so I was floundering, confused as to how to proceed once the lights started flickering. My roommate was chugging wine in the living room. My father was calling to make sure we were safe. It was chaos at its best. Here’s what I learned in the 24 hours since the power cut off and darkness consumed:

First of all: make sure all electronics are charged and good to go. Without power comes less responsibility. AKA: Have the Hulu app downloaded to watch The Mindy Project because you’ll be left with nothing to do.

Second: make plans with friends. While we survived the night just fine (Even though the 90 mph winds sounded like our roof was going to lift off and blow away!) the next morning, the AC was cut out and we were feeling the after effects. So we fled. Coffee was a necessity and Black Dog Cafe was the refuge we were seeking.

Third: Not having power shows you who cares. Even if you’re sweating through the day and wondering where you’ll sleep, this no power situation becomes a good show of friendship. People come together in difficult situations. It’s a unifier and while it may seem like The Worst Thing In The World, living without power shows you what’s important and what you can let go of.

Power is slowly returning and while we will all resume a normal life. This brief venture into another time-period has offered up valuable life lessons and a good dose of humility. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere around Tallahassee was sketchy at best. For now, keep this hurricane as a reminder that it’s possible to survive any level of dire situations as long as you keep going and going and going (until you hit the next major city and camp out there hoping the power turns back on by Monday).

Exhibit A: my friend waving her arms out the window, delirious from a crowded restaurant and sleeping in her stuffy AC-less room.