Hurricane Irma: A Miami Native's Perspective

How many men does it take to fix a power generator, on the back of a pickup truck, at 11:00 p.m. with the only light shining coming from a flashlight? You probably think a joke is coming, but the answer is it took four men. They came together for the common cause of fixing a generator for an elderly, disabled neighbor 24-hours after Hurricane Irma hit. 

As many across the world looked on in wonder at a powerful category 5 hurricane barreling its way through the Caribbean, with a target pointed at South Florida, they wondered why everyone wouldn’t just leave. And well, many did. However, the majority decided to stay and prepared to weather the storm. Life circumstances, whether through illness, money, not wanting to break up a family, or just plain stubbornness, led many to stay.

Those who decided to stay began their preparations not just by boarding up their homes and purchasing the supplies they could find, but they also began to reach out to their friends and family to know who else was staying. It became a matter of making connections and both helping and relying on each other through the calm before the storm. This included sharing what gas stations had gas and where you could find water, batteries and plywood. It was not uncommon to get a 2:00 a.m. text letting you know about a water shipment, or a 4:15 a.m. call letting you know the gas station had just refueled. A highly important commodity, since everyone still had to get to and from work, purchase supplies and try to maintain a full tank of gas, as well as getting gas for their generators. Together everyone joked and prayed for the best.  

As Hurricane Irma approached, South Florida learned that Irma had decided to move a bit west. Those that had evacuated west decided to move further north. Those on the west coast were now also preparing for a direct hit. Grocery stores, home improvement stores and gas stations faced long lines with short supplies, as it was now truly apparent that no one in the state would go unscathed.

By Friday, the speed of the winds began to pick up as did the activity on text messages, Facebook, Instagram, What’s App and Snapchat. Many even downloaded Zello and created channels to get word out quicker. As the night fell, all the preparation was done. Friends and family gathered in homes and shelters. Many rushed to cook meals that could be stored and eaten throughout the storm, as well as washing and drying clothes so the mounds would not be insurmountable after the hurricane passed through.

By Saturday, as the sounds of Irma increased, the sounds of phones settled. As quickly as the lights went out, the ability to use all means of communication were also snuffed. It was time to trust that everyone would be safe. It also meant it was time to pull out the flashlights, candles and board games. As the wind howled, and objects hit against the boarded windows, Monopoly money was being exchanged, Dominos were being shuffled and many tried to pull Clues together to figure out who had done it.

With most hurricanes, by Sunday everyone would have been out of their homes. Irma had other things in mind and decided to stick around another day. The winds got stronger, the temperature grew hotter, the water level rose and the realization that it would take another day settled in. Radios now provided one-way communication, as they did years ago. Kids and adults realized that they couldn’t read their books or draw in their sketchbooks, because they were all loaded on an iPad or Kindle that no longer had power. As they stared at dark screens, creativity on ways to stay entertained began to bloom.

After a hot night of sleep, Monday greeted those emerging from their darkened shelters with a cool breeze and a sight of destruction on a backdrop of an emerging beautiful, blue sky. Neighbors greeted each other and with a sense of understanding began to clear away the evidence of the previous two days. Trees laid toppled over, as did fences. Electric poles stood in yoga like angles with their frayed wires dangling in the wind, or stretched like a rubber band asking for relief. Roads were completely flooded and cranes teetered above construction sites. Questions about what neighbors needed and if everyone was ok could be heard across streets and yards. The voices of family and friends slowly began to also emerge, as cell phone service came back to life.

Irma’s sounds had ceased only to be replaced by chainsaws and generators. With the spirit of community and helping those in need, the young and elderly were given a place to lay their head that night with friends and family that were fortunate enough to have power. Service companies from neighboring states helped the communities impacted begin to restore normalcy. Restaurants served what food they had to those in need rather than watch it perish. Communities began to gather supplies for those impacted in the Keys, who bore the brunt of the hit. And four men came together, not to be the butt of a joke, but the solution to a neighbor in need.

Laura K Bonich 9/14/17