Keep calm: Buckingham residents share lessons learned from Hurricane Irma

They say it showed them how to prep for the unthinkable.

If you can imagine water up to your knees in the streets, the families we spoke to remember flooding swallowing cars and closing in on their homes.

“The hardest part was not knowing what happened to my house,” said Mary Kay Cassani.

Hurricane Irma forced her to count on more than just luck.

“After that, I bought flood insurance. I should’ve bought insurance before; in fact I just renewed it this week,” she laughed.

She’s hoping your family will prepare too.

“There were cars floating,” recalled Kathy Colmenares.

Even moms of five, like Colmenares, can’t plan on getting trapped in their home.

“At Cemetery Road: caskets floating, you know, things you don’t want to see. People walking in water,” she said.

Without power for weeks.

“It was scary because there was so much water,” she said. “You’re sitting here, trapped back here.”

The advice from these families to yours?

“Have a generator,” advised Colmenares.

She says get your neighbors’ contact info now.

“Know what’s coming don’t take it lightly,” advised Cassani. She saw an aftermath as unthinkable as the storm.

“There’s flooding in areas that may not be in flood zones because of the way development has occurred,” said Cassani.

Both say, remember how to keep calm in the madness.

You’re living in a cave, and not being able to see what’s going on when you get hurricane shutters up – it’s much easier to spend the time if you’re helping,” said Cassani.