How My Beehive Survived Two Hurricanes in Three Weeks!

I’m joyful to report that my treasured beehive survived not one, however TWO hurricanes in lower than three weeks!

First got here hurricane Helene, which introduced tropical storm power winds and several other inches of rain to my space because it handed by Tampa Bay in the Gulf of Mexico en path to landfall close to Cedar Key FL.

Next got here hurricane Milton which struck Tampa Bay instantly. Our neighborhood (about 50 miles away from the place the attention got here ashore) received 90 mph winds with gusts at round 110 mph. We additionally acquired about 10 inches of rain, which induced fairly a little bit of localized flooding.

Needless to say, I needed to dial up my beehive storm preparations to have any hope by any means of my colony surviving the ordeal.

Not solely did I safe it with bungy cords and a sturdy windbreak board (to forestall damaging wind tunnels contained in the hive), I added two extra concrete blocks on the highest to weigh it down additional.

Despite my preparations, gusts of 110 mph might have simply toppled the hive and destroyed it.

In a stroke of excellent fortune, Mother Nature intervened.

During the height of the storm, a tree fell on high of the hive, however amazingly, didn’t knock it over. 🤯

Instead, the branches created a cage across the hive that appeared to guard it. Above is an image of how I discovered the hive 100% intact the following morning after the storm abated and it was protected to go exterior.

I used to be so thrilled at how nicely the colony tailored to the adversarial circumstances and even appeared to thrive in spite of them.

Below is a brief video of how the hive sorted hurricane Helene. Little did I do know on the time that a fair worse storm (Milton) was little greater than per week away!

I performed an intensive examine of the hive once more yesterday (one week after hurricane Milton), and I’m joyful to report that there’s even MORE honey in the honey field, aka “super”.

Our household shall be having fun with this honey surplus in the approaching weeks with, after all, a lot extra left in the hive for the colony to devour all through the winter.