One of my very good friends lives in Naples, Florida. I thought a few of you might like to hear first hand a view from a Floridian who was not in the hurricane per se, but near it.
Excerpt from my friend Sue's email......
"The hurricane was really terrible. I feel like I am finally getting back to being myself. I was quite depressed. The devastation to so many people just hurt. I did not know how to cope with it. Some people said, "you should feel lucky" or "at least it didn't it here" or "God spared us" I couldn't even talk to people because I did not want to hear their perception on it. I didn't know how to feel "grateful" that "I was spared": other people are suffering and devastated, how can I feel joy?
I was without power for 6 days, no phone either. It was sweltering hot. It was so hot that I felt dizzy and confused most of the time.
I just didn't know how to just go back to my life again.
On Saturday last week, I went to Punta Gorda to assist the hurricane victims. This helped me a lot. I could see for myself that people were getting help. They were getting food and water and medical supplies. People with cars were able to get out and get whatever they needed--the debris was cleared from the major roads so people could get out. The National Guard and Red Cross and every organization you can think of were there in full force. People are being helped. The most needy are those that are always needy and dependent upon others. Those in public housing, the elderly and the disabled. People with bank accounts and insurance are on their way to rebuilding their lives. They have options.
I helped a single mom relocate to Venice about 40 min north of Punta Gorda. I also helped deliver food, door to door. This little bit of service helped me cope and know that people are getting help. I just could not bear knowing that people were less than one hour away and did not have food and water. I wanted to take everything and just help them. I don't know where many of these people will go. They do not have resources.
Went to Ft. Myers beach for the first time this weekend.
The amount of debris stands about 8-10 foot tall and creates a wall on both sides of the road, Estero Blvd. People are clearing up the mess and dragging it to the road for pick up and this creates the mounds of junk. No odor or smell. Hard to see back through the junk to where all this is coming from. Looks like almost everything is still standing, but by the junk, it looks like lots of stuff has been gutted and only the shell remains. The barrior island, before you get to Ft. Myers beach is being used as a temporary dump, just to get the junk off the beach and it is piled maybe 30 feet high and maybe 10 different piles---just piles and piles. It is incomprehensible. I brought a camera but could not even stop to take pictures. It is overwhelming and quite depressing. Sanibel still does not allow visitors.
We are doing fine here. Life is getting back to normal. "
Excerpt from my friend Sue's email......
"The hurricane was really terrible. I feel like I am finally getting back to being myself. I was quite depressed. The devastation to so many people just hurt. I did not know how to cope with it. Some people said, "you should feel lucky" or "at least it didn't it here" or "God spared us" I couldn't even talk to people because I did not want to hear their perception on it. I didn't know how to feel "grateful" that "I was spared": other people are suffering and devastated, how can I feel joy?
I was without power for 6 days, no phone either. It was sweltering hot. It was so hot that I felt dizzy and confused most of the time.
I just didn't know how to just go back to my life again.
On Saturday last week, I went to Punta Gorda to assist the hurricane victims. This helped me a lot. I could see for myself that people were getting help. They were getting food and water and medical supplies. People with cars were able to get out and get whatever they needed--the debris was cleared from the major roads so people could get out. The National Guard and Red Cross and every organization you can think of were there in full force. People are being helped. The most needy are those that are always needy and dependent upon others. Those in public housing, the elderly and the disabled. People with bank accounts and insurance are on their way to rebuilding their lives. They have options.
I helped a single mom relocate to Venice about 40 min north of Punta Gorda. I also helped deliver food, door to door. This little bit of service helped me cope and know that people are getting help. I just could not bear knowing that people were less than one hour away and did not have food and water. I wanted to take everything and just help them. I don't know where many of these people will go. They do not have resources.
Went to Ft. Myers beach for the first time this weekend.
The amount of debris stands about 8-10 foot tall and creates a wall on both sides of the road, Estero Blvd. People are clearing up the mess and dragging it to the road for pick up and this creates the mounds of junk. No odor or smell. Hard to see back through the junk to where all this is coming from. Looks like almost everything is still standing, but by the junk, it looks like lots of stuff has been gutted and only the shell remains. The barrior island, before you get to Ft. Myers beach is being used as a temporary dump, just to get the junk off the beach and it is piled maybe 30 feet high and maybe 10 different piles---just piles and piles. It is incomprehensible. I brought a camera but could not even stop to take pictures. It is overwhelming and quite depressing. Sanibel still does not allow visitors.
We are doing fine here. Life is getting back to normal. "