The warnings that came right before Florida was about to be decimated by yet another hurricane were beyond frightening.

Before we had properly mopped up the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and before we had even finished our prayer of thanksgiving, we were told we were about to be hit by Hurricane Milton.

“Take this one seriously, folks. This is going to be a biggie that will be far worse than Hurricane Helene,” said Wayne Sallade, our most reliable forecaster.

Wayne is known to never exaggerate and tries to keep us all calm. I couldn’t believe we were in crisis mode again, less than two weeks after we survived Helene.

I tried to stay positive, reminding myself that after Hurricane Ian destroyed my house we rebuilt it much stronger.

But storm forecasters didn’t allow us any comfort in our chance to survive Hurricane Milton.

Emergency management posted strongly worded warnings. Basically, what they were saying is “evacuate or die.”

During Hurricane Helene many people ignored the evacuation warning. They stayed behind finally having to cling to roof tops to be rescued. Hundreds of people were plucked off rooftops into a medic helicopter or pulled from water by rescue crews. The rescue team performed one heroic act after another, putting their own safety in jeopardy. One member of the rescue team lost his life, trying to save those that didn’t listen to the evacuation warnings.

This time, emergency officials didn’t mince words.

“Evacuate or die” was their dire warning. It was on every social media site in big, red bold letters. To make it even clearer they advised anyone who didn’t evacuate in time to write their name on their body so they could be identified after they died.

I got the message. We all did. But the hurricane was going to be so widespread that we would have to go far away to be safe.

I couldn’t find a place to go.

God didn’t stop taking care of us, because out of the blue my husband’s grandson and his wife called to say they were driving 4½ hours to pick us up. Actually, for them it was a 4½ hour trip to get to my house then another 5½ hour drive through heavy traffic to get to their house in another part of Florida.

Without a doubt they were our angelic rescuers. There are no words for what they did, quickly finding family to watch their baby and 4-year-old so they could come get us.

You know that old expression, “It was the best of times and the worst of times.”

While we were in one of the worst experiences, grandson David, his wife Betia and her incredible family filled us with love, overcoming our fear with family warmth and caring.

Ironically, Hurricane Milton also hit their Ormand Beach neighborhood. Their home was safe but we were without electricity the entire time.

Grandson Dave still managed to put on the most delicious meals using his outside grill.

We were in great hands and we will never forget their extraordinary kindness.

When they drove us back to my house I cried happy tears when I saw my home was safe. We had a place to live!

David and I stayed up at night asking each other where in the world we could live if our homes were gone.

We have a weird situation whereby he has a home in Port Charlotte while I live 44 minutes away in Rotonda West. I have always hated that situation.

To tell the truth, anyone who listened to me soon knew how I hated having to take care of two homes. When we got married late in life I envisioned being like every other couple living in one home. But David’s circumstances made it impossible.

I was the one who had to take care of two homes, stock two refrigerators and travel back and forth every week like a carpetbagger.

I hated it. The older I got, the harder it was for me to make those weekly trips.

OK, here’s a bit of honesty. There’s an old expression that says: Love what you have. If you don’t, you might find yourself mourning what you no longer have.

And that’s exactly what has happened.

When we got back to David’s house in Port Charlotte, his once-beautiful waterfront street looked like a war zone. And we were among those who lost the war.

I don’t understand how water ruined every single thing in the home, including every bit of furniture and clothes that were in the highest drawers.

The only thing we could save was a painting that was high on a wall.

There is so much I want to tell you, but it will have to wait for another week because we must deal with serious matters such as mold taking over the entire house, waiting for the insurance company and trying to find the right people to help.

But I wanted to write this to thank my wonderful readers for your prayers and concerns.

Most of all, I want to tell you I am resolved not to think of what I no longer have but to continue staying thankful for our safety and for what I do have.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcastnet