I have a deep appreciation for hurricane damage after living in coastal SC, but two new tents were taken out for their first run with tropical storms pending during my first six months of learning to camp.
I hiked into a site on Hunting Island State Park perfectly situated on a lovely point beneath some ancient Live Oak trees carrying my brand new REI Halfdome tent for my second ever solo camping trip. I did look up before setting up the tent to check for widow makers and that is where wisdom started failing. The Front was moving in quickly so I threw up the tent, grabbed the pup, and proceeded to pray really hard for the rest of the night. I had read many reviews about my tent so I felt confident that it would hold up, however with all of the lightening and thunder lasting for what seemed like an eternity it occurred to me that I had never asked about tent safety and lightening...the tent held up perfectly, no rain got inside and as soon as it got light enough to find my way back to the car I left.
My parents gifted me my springbar-type tent (Kodiak) a few months later and I tested that one on the Outer Banks with another tropical storm blowing in. Folks here gave great advice for methods of staking a tent in sand so once again I was feeling confident. I found a spot behind a large dune thinking it would help shield this new tent from the wind. Pure adrenalin got that 60 pound canvas tent up in the whirling wind and rain (picture of this in my journeys album after the rain). Well, everyone commented about how surprised they were that the tent still stood after the storm, granted it listed a bit to the right afterwards, but that canvas tent didn't collapse that night.
Lessons that I learned:
Knowing that your tent will keep you dry and not blow away in a tropical storm...priceless
Beginners luck and dumb luck are pretty much the same
Carry a SPOT so your family knows you're safe
Preparation is everything!