This article from the Miami Herald reports that those in the path of Hurricane Ian are “growing weary, angry and frustrated as they waited for electricity, gas, water, food and other basic needs.” This raise the question, why didn’t these people evacuate? So many people’s cars were inundated in the flood waters. If they had only driven a few miles inland, they would have saved their cars and been safer. They would probably be less angry and frustrated right now.
Here’s the good news: Help is on the way. Now, imagine a global catastrophe where there is no help. Think how bad that will be. Anger and frustration will grow worse and worse as the days pass. Looting will be the least of the problems.
It is difficult to get supplies into damaged towns when trees block roads, bridge are out, and floods block access. I understand I75, the Interstate connecting much of the Florida West Coast to Georgia, only recently re-opened after flooding.
Evacuees
I ran into someone today who spends the winter in Florida but lives up here during the warmer months. Their Florida house is ten miles inland. Their neighbor says the house survived but pieces of the soffit and parts of a gutter had blown off. They arranged for their handyman to make repairs. Another couple own a condo not far from the beach. They have not heard anything because the power is out and communications with people in the neighborhood are still down. Their condo was on the sixth floor, so it should be safe from storm surge and water damage. The last hurricane that hit them ripped their air conditioner unit off the roof and blew it so far away it was never found. They have their fingers crossed.
I don’t know if these folks are up here because they haven’t returned to Florida yet or if they bugged out up here like my neighbor did. Their experience definitely shows the value of having a second home. Even if one home is a total loss, you still have a place where you are comfortable, feel like you belong, and have everything from clothing to food.
