Irma

[tinopuno]

off the island

Our home is in great shape. A few small plants uprooted. Lanai screening is still intact lol. What a week. On top of it all my MIL had a medical emergency last night. Had we rode storm out we would not have got to hospital. She is much better today. Odds of all of this had to be great. I'm feeling ecstatic right now

Ross, Where is your place?

I can't get any pertinent information on the status of the beaches in Pinellas Co as a mandatory evacuation moved all the people I know who live there year round and this morning the county Sheriff "closed the entire county until damage assessment and safety concerns are satisfied". So the return of the IRB residents I know has presumably been delayed.

We have reason to be optimistic, inferring from the public information that is available, but have nothing specific on Indian Rocks Beach or our small condo complex there.

Before Irma moved off the projected course and went inland at Naples, I fully expected at Category 3 or 4 to hit IRB and decimate the place. Feeling relieved this morning but still... anxiously awaiting news.

[tinopuno]

Authorities have allowed residents (only) to return to the Pinellas Co barrier islands as of 4 pm.
Just got a call from a neighbor who lives in our small complex. Lots of debris on the complex grounds and no power but building itself is intact.

Dodged a BIG bullet!

Greatly relieved!

Hope the same holds true for you kyfred!

[Eagle60]

Authorities have allowed residents (only) to return to the Pinellas Co barrier islands as of 4 pm.
Just got a call from a neighbor who lives in our small complex. Lots of debris on the complex grounds and no power but building itself is intact.

Dodged a BIG bullet!

Greatly relieved!

Hope the same holds true for you kyfred!

[Jukin]

Come on kyfred, l make this a trifecta of good news.....

[Rossovich]

off the island


Ross, Where is your place?

I can't get any pertinent information on the status of the beaches in Pinellas Co as a mandatory evacuation moved all the people I know who live there year round and this morning the county Sheriff "closed the entire county until damage assessment and safety concerns are satisfied". So the return of the IRB residents I know has presumably been delayed.

We have reason to be optimistic, inferring from the public information that is available, but have nothing specific on Indian Rocks Beach or our small condo complex there.

Before Irma moved off the projected course and went inland at Naples, I fully expected at Category 3 or 4 to hit IRB and decimate the place. Feeling relieved this morning but still... anxiously awaiting news.

Lee County. Cape Coral. I'm still
In Hickory NC waiting to head home. MIL ended up
in hospital here. Doing better but still in hospital.

[kyfred]

Sorry, been busy and not checked back. Everything is good. Island life will continue. Like everyone, I am very relieved. We are heading down in three weeks.

[andrewaters]

Good to here KY

[Rossovich]

This didn't happen to us thankfully. I'm sharing it here. These people are our neighbors. Seriously WTF is wrong with people?

This first hand account was written by one of the teachers at our high school, Island Coast High School, which was used as a shelter during IRMA -- stunning!

I've got to get on the soapbox... everyone has horror stories after natural disasters like a hurricane. I thought I had suffered pains over the 34 years I've been in Lee County and never evacuated for any storm
HOWEVER, if you've never been in an emergency shelter during one of these events you have no idea. It is truly the most surreal situation. Horrors, compassion, sadness, faith, disgust, and so much more all rolled into one.
Babies laying on the same carpet where dogs are defecating.
"Death rooms" having to be set up for those that are nearly dead or might run out of their life saving oxygen if the power goes out.
All calls for anyone with medical training because the city only sends 2 emts for 3600 people.
Diabetics panicking that their insulin won't stay cold
Smokers freaking out because they havent lit up in hours
Old men getting bit by a dog and developing an infection
A little girl getting bit by a monkey... yes, you read that right
People spitting out the hot meals being provided to them because it wasn't to their liking ( ps it is the food we serve our lcsd children everyday)
All calls for adult diapers because people didn't bring them
Buckets set up for elderly people who cannot make it to the restroom
Brawls having to be broken up over whose blanket goes where
Nervous breakdowns my almost every volunteer at least once
Principals of schools scrubbing toilets because there aren't enough volunteers
People stealing each others purses, bars of soap, and so much more
Refugees destroying classrooms by letting their children write on smart boards with markers and by taking posters off the walls
Artwork having to be removed from the school walls because people are so inconsiderate they are destroying it
A classroom being used as the designated pet poop area during the portion of the storm when we couldn't go outside
The bathroom floors covered in urine, someone deciding to wipe their feces on the wall of the stall, and used feminine products just on the ground
The smells
The sounds
Then when it's over they leave their stuff everywhere. No regards to the few teachers and staff who have been up nearly all night for three nights that have to clean up after them
You cannot imagine unless you've worked it or lived it

If you see or know someone that has worked in a shelter be sure to thank them.

Gators you need to give props to Bueno, McNeeley, Steele, Perez, Pearson, Santini, Carla Lewins,
Christy Spear Koller,
Ariadna Reis, Angela Higginbotham, Aaron, Linda Meyer, Allam Sanchez, Gwen McCoy, Deputy Orlando, Marlon Brathwaite, the cafeteria staff, Charlie Fields and her custodial staff, Coach Thimlar and his wife Shelley, David Bechler, and Denita Davis! If I missed anyone that I was there working and not just hanging out to ride out the storm I apologize!

[Rossovich]

This didn't happen to us thankfully. I'm sharing it here. These people are our neighbors. Seriously WTF is wrong with people?

This first hand account was written by one of the teachers at our high school, Island Coast High School, which was used as a shelter during IRMA -- stunning!

I've got to get on the soapbox... everyone has horror stories after natural disasters like a hurricane. I thought I had suffered pains over the 34 years I've been in Lee County and never evacuated for any storm
HOWEVER, if you've never been in an emergency shelter during one of these events you have no idea. It is truly the most surreal situation. Horrors, compassion, sadness, faith, disgust, and so much more all rolled into one.
Babies laying on the same carpet where dogs are defecating.
"Death rooms" having to be set up for those that are nearly dead or might run out of their life saving oxygen if the power goes out.
All calls for anyone with medical training because the city only sends 2 emts for 3600 people.
Diabetics panicking that their insulin won't stay cold
Smokers freaking out because they havent lit up in hours
Old men getting bit by a dog and developing an infection
A little girl getting bit by a monkey... yes, you read that right
People spitting out the hot meals being provided to them because it wasn't to their liking ( ps it is the food we serve our lcsd children everyday)
All calls for adult diapers because people didn't bring them
Buckets set up for elderly people who cannot make it to the restroom
Brawls having to be broken up over whose blanket goes where
Nervous breakdowns my almost every volunteer at least once
Principals of schools scrubbing toilets because there aren't enough volunteers
People stealing each others purses, bars of soap, and so much more
Refugees destroying classrooms by letting their children write on smart boards with markers and by taking posters off the walls
Artwork having to be removed from the school walls because people are so inconsiderate they are destroying it
A classroom being used as the designated pet poop area during the portion of the storm when we couldn't go outside
The bathroom floors covered in urine, someone deciding to wipe their feces on the wall of the stall, and used feminine products just on the ground
The smells
The sounds
Then when it's over they leave their stuff everywhere. No regards to the few teachers and staff who have been up nearly all night for three nights that have to clean up after them
You cannot imagine unless you've worked it or lived it

If you see or know someone that has worked in a shelter be sure to thank them.

Gators you need to give props to Bueno, McNeeley, Steele, Perez, Pearson, Santini, Carla Lewins,
Christy Spear Koller,
Ariadna Reis, Angela Higginbotham, Aaron, Linda Meyer, Allam Sanchez, Gwen McCoy, Deputy Orlando, Marlon Brathwaite, the cafeteria staff, Charlie Fields and her custodial staff, Coach Thimlar and his wife Shelley, David Bechler, and Denita Davis! If I missed anyone that I was there working and not just hanging out to ride out the storm I apologize!

[Eagle60]

It's amazing how fast society breaks down when any sense of law is around. Then as an ex landlord I've experienced that several times even in the very nice 4 family home that I used to rent out where people just lived like pigs. I remember hearing stories like that when Katina hit and they opened up the Superdome. Unreal and glad that you didn't have to experience that Ross.