Ian evacuees from SW Florida are hurting

[teach1st]

I left the Tampa Bay area to escape from Ian. It turns out I didn't have to, but I did need to evacuate my mother, whose retirement community is on the water and has a forced evacuation.

Anyway, I'm staying in a motel not too far from Mar-a-Largo. There are tons of folks here from the Fort Meyers/SW Florida area. Not all are well-to-do, and there are many families with children. I talked to a young couple who just received a text that their home was severely damaged. They have an infant. They are devastated and holding back tears.

As I walk through the packed lobby, sometimes I see people watching the Ian footage and crying. One woman confided in me that they can only afford this night in the motel. She has two dogs and no room in her small car for her husband and her dogs to sleep. It's packed with their possessions. I paypal-ed her funds for an additional night.

I am lucky. My neighbor texted that my place is fine and still has power. But I see all of these people who have or may have lost everything. Folks, Florida will need help. I'm not going to post a link to where you can donate to Ian relief, but you can find one easily if you search.

Lots of people in the world need help. Please consider a small donation to Ian relief.

Thanks!

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[FalloutShelter]

2. K&R

[Beachnutt]

3. Has trump offered up mara largo as a place of refuge

for his supporters that are losing everything ?
Just curious about that, and we all know the answer but Yes let's please help our fellow Americans during this tough time.
I do feel for them and will donate.

[Tetrachloride]

12. The golf greens are good places for kids.

the fairways for BBQs

[COL Mustard]

29. There's even a place for you there if you don't survive.....

Or is that a bridge too far?

[Karadeniz]

13. Of course he has....just like he let 9/11 displaced people stay in his TT lobby!!!!!!!!!

[Marius25]

21. He would never let them step foot in Mar A Lago

And it's mostly his supporters getting hit by this storm right now. SWFL is Trump country.

DeSantis doesn't care about them either. He'll do the bare minimum to look like he's "governing" so he can win re-election, but that's it.

[Zilli]

46. Will those voters still be considered registered to vote

at the addresses of destroyed homes where nobody can live? Will there be more voter fraud accusations for these voters? How will this play out with voting in destroyed areas? How will these voters even receive mail that may advise them of these important issues if they cannot live in their current "registered to vote" addresses?

[The Bopper]

51. I bet

for $1,000 a night he’ll let you sleep in his now empty storage room.

[blm]

4. It will be a horrifying sight tomorrow

for sure by dawn.

[OMGWTF]

5. Randi Rhodes was talking today about how the insurance industry in Florida

is not going to help these people. There are very few companies left who will insure them, the premiums are very high, and they will likely be told, "Sorry, we don't cover that." IOW -- Sucks to be you.

[oldsoftie]

14. Well, when you live in a high risk area something has to give.

Just like the Govt flood ins program. Its a huge ripoff. They should pay off people who lose their properties but be prevented from rebuilding in a known flood plain.
As for Florida, we know storms are a big problem. Are we going to force companies to cover homes? And if the State does it, should the premiums be low to be affordable with the expenses covered by those who DONT live in the high risk areas?
Its a helluva situation.

[ancianita]

16. No national homeowners insurance carriers will serve FL, so there's a state exchange.

My two sons got their house (the one I've escaped from) insured with the same group my community uses, so we're thinking we'll at least get some economies of scale coverage.

I've also got an old NOLA friend I helped out after Katrina who will come down and help rebuild whatever the insurers won't.

Feeling lucky about a rebuild, if it's necessary.

[aggiesal]

36. You have Hurricane Insurance, not Flood Insurance ...

is the standard response when you file a claim.

Insurance Agent: Let us know what damage occurred from the hurricane.
Policy Holder: Everything you see.
Insurance Agent: I see flood damage.
Policy Holder: Yes, from the Hurricane.
Insurance Agent: But you don't have flood insurance
Policy Holder: But it's from the Hurricane
Insurance Agent: Sorry, you're not covered for flood damage.
Policy Holder: Fv¢k3r

[2naSalit]

45. And if a tree is on your house...

The ins might pay for the house repairs but not the $10K to remove the tree.

[aggiesal]

48. It's almost like ...

you'll have to negotiate every possible condition that might happen during any calamity that might occur from Mother Nature.
Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Wild Fire, Floods, ...

[2naSalit]

49. Insurance...

Is government sanctioned racketeering.

[aggiesal]

50. Insurance companies are definitely betting on ...

the fact that what they are insuring doesn't happen to enough of their clients that they make a profit.
But when a disaster happens, they file bankruptcy and hightail-it out.

[radical noodle]

42. Storm surge is generally considered flooding

and is almost never covered under homeowner's insurance anyway. Insurance companies have been fleeing the state and some people have chosen to self-insure. This will likely be a mess, but FEMA will help out with the storm surge loss.

[Random Boomer]

47. Why would they insure anyone in Florida?

Seriously, there's no justification for insuring property that is in such a high-risk area. Everyone living on the Florida coast is rolling the dice every single year that they will still have a home standing by the end of hurricane season.

No one should have to finance people's right to live in an area fraught with danger. Ideally, however, the government would fund a retreat from the coasts, buying up property and restoring it to wetlands. That's not going to happen under DeSantis.

[ancianita]

6. Thank you for pointing out the need most Floridians are in right now.

Finding a hotel generally: Visitors and residents can make general lodging relocation plans at https://www.expedia.com/florida (It sounds weird but expedia has the largest local listings.)

First responders traveling to the impacted areas can also use this information to find available lodging. Search for pet-friendly lodging BringFido.com or PetFriendlyTravel.com.

[teach1st]

10. Thanks for the info, ancianita!

[Wounded Bear]

7. K & R...nt

[Cha]

8. Mahalo for this description

of what's going on and your generosity, teach!

My Nephew and his SO are in St Pete.. I haven't heard back from them.. Do you know how Ian is affecting St Pete?

TY!

[teach1st]

9. Just some tidbits

As far as I know (this is just what I've heard) wind gusts to 60, downed tree branches, some minor flooding that I've heard of, and lots of power outages. It will get a bit more intense overnight. Once a friend's power goes out, I don't hear from them as they try to conserve their phones' power. There's definitely been a reduction in messaging.

If you do Reddit, try r/StPetersburgFL. Facebook also has a St. Pete group: just search for "I love St. Pete."

ETA: No surge issues, and, in fact, there is a reverse surge as water is being pushed out by the wind. There might be a minor surge late tonight.

ETA again: St. Pete has seen occasional wind gusts above 75 mph.

[Cha]

15. Thank YOu! I just got a text

from his Fiance' who's working at a hospital nearby and she says it's not too bad there and they're doing well!.. my Nephew is at their home with the dogs.. they're high winds but nothing like the parts that are devastated.

Best of Good Luck to where your Mom is!

[teach1st]

26. Thanks!

My mom is north of Sarasota in Parish with my sister. Mom is over 90 and wasn't up to a - for her - long car trip with me. They've lost power, but the house is new, well-built, and shuttered. They're drinking wine and reminiscing in the storm. My sister and I are Florida natives, and mom came here in 1950. We've all been through a lot of hurricanes.

[Cha]

27. That's good your Mom can

Last edited Wed Sep 28, 2022, 09:34 PM - Edit history (1)

be with her daughter.. drinking wine and reminiscing no less!

That is a lot of hurricanes! I've been through one here on Kauai on 9/11/92.. Iniki, a Cat 4 but nothing as Fierce as Ian!

Took 3 months to get Power back but there was no internet then, as far as we knew, so it was all good. lol

[teach1st]

38. Believe it or not, I was in Iniki

No forecast or warnings, as I remember. We were in the hills harvesting pakalolo when it began to hit. Got out just in time. My bedroom succumbed to the sea in Kapa'a.

I wonder if I know you. I was a citizen of Hanakapi'ai and then Valley House.

[Cha]

39. WOW! I believe it.. what a

Coincidence!

We were wondering if there was going to be a hurricane.. we were on the beach in Poipu in front of the Sheridan the day before and it was dead calm and Hot.

The Siren Blew at 5am the next morning and they had to wake me up.. We heard on radio later that Iniki was headed towards Oahu and then it changed course.. the guys on the radio were so happy!

We had gone next door to Big Save but all the water and batteries were gone.. I don't know how we survived but we did.. so much younger then.

I didn't know you, though.. I had only been on the Island for 2 months.. staying at my son's house in Koloa. The house stayed intact but it felt like it wasn't going to at times. Once I heard what sounded like a train was barreling down on us! There were 14 people.. my son's surfer friends.. great bonding experience!

[teach1st]

41. Yeah, different crews

Anyway, it was great messaging with a fellow islander. I left after that and returned to Florida. I do miss the island a whole bunches.

[Cha]

43. Yes it was! Cheers and Good Luck with rebuilding Florida!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. Might be a good time to remind folks that a car battery can power a phone for a long, long time.

[Cha]

40. Yes, Mahalo.. great Advice!

[mjvpi]

11. And the governor paidhow much per person for his little stunt? That would be quite a few rooms.

[Tree Lady]

17. I read that a lot of people don't have flood

Insurance because it is so expensive. It breaks my heart.

[stollen]

35. Also, insurance companies tend not to pay for flood damage anyway

coming up with excuses that the damage was caused by the wind, or whatever sorry excuse they can find. USAA is advertising that they will be there for victims, and them I believe. No other companies.

[secondwind]

18. You are a good soul, helping others.

[teach1st]

23. Thanks, secondwind!

My right-wing brother-in-law asked, "How do you know she wasn't ripping you off?"

I replied something like, "I don't. But the shame or anger at getting ripped off is nothing compared to what I would feel when I can help a person but decline to."

[Skittles]

24. excellent

when I was asked by a right wing coworker why I took extra food from work potlucks down to the street to give to homeless folk I replied simply, BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNGRY

[Skittles]

19. I'm checking out this link

https://www.volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf/

[teach1st]

22. Looks like a good one

Thanks for posting, Skittles!

[markie]

20. K&R

"Lots of people in the world need help"

[crickets]

25. K&R for visibility.

[MOMFUDSKI]

28. Beautiful post.

We went to a Motel 6 in Lakeland but only stayed 20 hours and drove back home to St. Pete. We went for dinner to a Bob Evans right next to our motel. The waitress told us she/husband have 4 kids and LIVE at the Motel 6. We were horrified and had been complaining about what a roach-infested terrible motel we were in. My heart broke for her and I can't even imagine what her life is like. My husband gave her $20 tip money. I have tears in my eyes right now rethinking this episode. "I cried because I had no shoes and then I met a man who had no feet . . ."

[iluvtennis]

30. Thanks for what you've done for your mom and helping other @teach1st. Stay strong.

[NJCher]

31. hey teach1st

that was very generous of you to spring for a 2nd night for that person.

You have a big heart.

[teach1st]

34. Thanks, NJCher!

[Dorian Gray]

32. Thank you for sharing.

I really fear the devastation from this one. You did a good thing helping that family out. Thank you for reminding us to do our part.

Stay safe and warm.

[BaeBnakes99]

37. Redcross

I see that Florida volunteer link upthread I like that one.

I seem to remember the Redcross getting grief some years back.. but I donate to them and to greater-good-charities in fact ggc are on the ground [there] right now. Txt Redcross to 90999 to donate 10$ right from your phone bill. Greatergood.org ; people, pets, vets, libraries, you name it, they're in Ukraine too. Stay cool everybody.

The international food kitchen does its best to be where its needed. You know the one with that really great man at the helm?

[Upthevibe]

44. teach1st............

I'm so sorry you guys are having to go through this.

How wonderful of you to pay for a family to have another night at the motel.

Vibes and light your way...