Wilma on the East Coast

Published Oct 27, 2005

131 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Home Health.

I live on the east coast between Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm. We just got hit very hard by Wilma! The eye went directly over us. There is a lot of wide spread damage. I was at work when it hit (lucky me) it was horrible. It was so dark with only emergency lighting. Call lights didn't work, couldn't get in touch with MD's because of phones not working, at times we couldn't get into the pyxis (needed diprovan). One hospitals back up generator failed and they were bagging in NICU and ICU. Telephone poles split in half like twigs, lots of wires down, porches blown away, some peoples hurricane shutters got ripped off, many cars were damaged with debris, some blew over on the side! It is going to take a long time for the city to recover! It's a miracle that I have power!! Came back in the middle of the night. There are MANY not as lucky as me. Gas and store lines go for miles (3-5 hour wait), but supplies are coming in. As horrible as this is I have to say the community is really pulling together. Lots of neighborhood bar-b-ques with lots of sharing. People cooperating on busy roads without street lights. It is easy for me to say it could have been worse (no damage to my apt or truck) but I know a few people that had their homes and/or vehicles destroyed. Utility company is predicting it will take 2 weeks to get power restored to a few place, many are on boil water alert also.

This is just too much, 3 hurricanes in 14 months. I had planned on moving out of Florida, but my plans just kicked into high gear. This will be my last hurricane season!