Hurricane survivors wait for water, gas; thousands in shelters
Couple's final choice to stay home through Charley proved fatal
As people in SW Florida get over the shock of the devastation around them and begin to adjust to the reality of it all, the sheer scope of the damage is just now becoming evident. Homes, schools, businesses, government buildings...little was spared on Friday the 13th. Charley even created a new island, carving a channel through North Captiva Island, effectively splitting it in half.
As 2,000 relief workers and another 2,000 insurance adjusters (including some from my employer) set up shop, other workers are trying to restore electrical power, in some cases almost from scratch. The good news is that the donations are pouring in (check the link at the top for how you can help). It's a logistical nightmare, to be certain, and no one is really happy with the state of affairs, but given the depth and breadth of this tragedy, people seem to be in reasonably good humor.
OK, so not EVERYONE is in good humor. There have been reports of looting, and police have instituted an 8pm curfew in Punta Gorda. The police and National Guard are blocking some residents from returning to see what is left of there homes- especially in the exclusive enclave of Sanibel Island. To some folks, this smacks of martial law, but what else could reasonably be expected? I can't imagine that public officials have it easy trying to balance public safety with the public's desire to return to their homes.
Given that the official death toll stands at 16, perhaps some of these folks would do well to remember that they are alive. Of course, I can hardly be judgemental. After all, how would any of us react under similar circumstances? But for a twist or turn here or there, folks right here in Miami could be dealing with this tragedy. There but for the grace of [insert name of your particular Deity here], things could have been a whole lot worse.
When you hit your knees tonight, send one up for the folks in SW Florida. Right now, they need all the help they can get, and a little Divine Intervention would go a long way.
