Hurricane Wilma really kicked our respective butts here in South Florida. I came down here last Friday for the PRSA Annual Conference, which was cancelled (a very good decision). Rather than presenting a blogging seminar on Saturday, I spent the day watching a big red blob get closer and closer on the TV radar and getting supplies ready to ride out the storm. I stayed with my cousin, who lives in Hollywood, as I was planning on flying out of here today to Birmingham, Ala. for another conference.
Sunday night it started to get windy, then Monday about 6 a.m. I was woken up by howling, whistling wind. We lost electricity about 7 a.m. (just after we made some coffee, thank goodness) and the worst of it hit. It was not a fun experience as we sat there listening to pieces of the roof tear away, watching hurricane shutters and pieces of balconies fly by and hit trees, and feeling the walls shake. I have never seen nor felt anything like it. Thank goodness the worst of it only lasted about six hours; I can't imagine what it must have been like in Cancun and Cozumel.
Luckily, we weren't injured and our condo wasn't damaged. The building, however, took significant damage to the corner balconies, the clubhouse roof came off, many trees came down and there were some broken windows. A coconut smashed my cousin's car's windshield. My sister is pretty sure she saw the complex on CNN, who was broadcasting from Hollywood during and just after the storm, as an example of the damage!
We walked around the neighborhood afterward, and there are trees down all over the place. Very impressive. We are only getting a tiny window into the damage, however, given there has been no power. I have seen nothing on TV and will be checking out online reports a bit later today. It is a strange sensation to be embedded in an event, but have no big picture of it.
Yesterday we drove around a little bit (in a friend's car) and had a wonderful surprise when we found this little Middle Eastern sandwich shop open and could get a gyro - the best I ever tasted! When a convoy of public works trucks came by all the people sitting at tables on the sidewalk clapped and cheered. Most people I've seen and talked to are handling this by laughing wryly, shrugging and helping each other out.
There is still no power in Hollywood, and the water has to be boiled (which, of course, we can't because we have no power). Downtown Miami does have power, which is where I am sitting at the moment in my cousin's office. I just heard a plane go over, so it appears the Miami airport is open, but too late for my flight this morning. I fly out tomorow at an ungodly early hour so I can get to Birmingham and give my speech!
It is great to be online again - I have felt so incredibly disconnected the past few days. I owe people a million emails, but I wanted to give you an update as to my whereabouts. I'll be travelling the next couple of days, then back to normal posting next week.
Elizabeth - Sorry to hear of your experience in Florida, but very glad to hear everything turned out ok. Be safe!
Posted by: Kevin Dugan | October 27, 2005 at 04:29 AM
I think the Government should do more to help out the Hurricane victims. Maybe if we did not spend all of our resources over seas the Governemtn would be able to do more faster.
Posted by: Jessica | November 03, 2005 at 07:40 PM