My first experience with a hurricane was very memorable.

It wasn’t just because of the weather, though. I worked for hospice. It was after-hours, and I was called to a home. At that point the weather was cloudy, windy and it was sprinkling.

As I walked up to the house, I saw and heard a large group of people. The house was so small, and so many friends and family had arrived, that they spilled outside into the front yard. The patient had just passed away, and there was lots of crying at the realization that the matriarch of the family had died. I met up with the chaplain who had arrived before me. We just stood and watched as the group comforted each other.

Did I mention the house was small? Children were running underfoot, food was being brought into the kitchen, and there was complete chaos.

During the evening a lot happened, but the most memorable was when a young woman passed out and an ambulance was called. Watching four firemen and two paramedics, with all of their gear, work their way through the crowd and down a very narrow hallway to a bedroom would have been entertaining if it were under different circumstances.

They somehow got the young woman onto a gurney and headed outside. I was glad they were taking care of her because we had enough to deal with.

When the paramedics got her to the middle of the yard, the woman suddenly jumped off the gurney and ran back into the house! She didn’t want to go to the hospital, which was her right. But now she was back in the thick of the situation and becoming faint again.

Family members wanted to take her home, but she wanted to stay. A big argument took place in the yard, with the wind picking up and the rain increasing! Someone finally got her in a car and left.

The hurricane outside, the chaos inside, and the family refusing to let the funeral home representative take the body, made for a very stressful situation.

It was so hot in this house with all the people, that I opened a side door to let in some fresh air. The wind grabbed the door and threatened to rip it off its hinges! I managed to get it closed and realized I would have to endure the heat.

When the funeral home reps finally forced the family to let them take the body, a crowd followed them to the hearse. As it drove away, I watched as several little girls ran after the hearse, screaming.

As you might know, social workers like to fix things. But I realized early on in this situation that I wouldn’t be able to. Comforting family and friends was important, and I tried to do that.

At the end of the evening, the chaplain led the large crowd in prayer and Amazing Grace. The people seemed comforted.

I was comforted.

Because in the end, God wins.

Hurricane and all.