The hurricane cave in Saint Helene

There’s a cave in St. Helene that just about everyone on the island knows. It’s not marked, there’s no sign pointing to it, but ask around and someone will show you the way. Over the years, it’s become the place people go when a hurricane’s coming.

Locals have been using it for decades, maybe longer. It’s one of the most common shelters here, especially before people had concrete houses or access to warnings ahead of time. The cave’s big enough to hold a crowd and feel protected once you’re inside. When a hurricane is near families bring what they can carry and ride it out together in the dark.

When I visited, it was quiet. It gives you that feeling you get in places that have held a lot of stories. You can picture it full of people, kids trying to sleep, older folks, everyone just waiting for danger to pass.