Irma's Impact

originally published October 3, 2017

After lashing the state for a harrowing 72 hours, Hurricane Irma finally spun her way out of Florida. She will not be missed. Churning from the Southernmost Point up to the Georgia line, the storm left no part of the state untouched - some 4.5 million people were left without electricity, homes were shredded by tornadoes, streets were flooded. For many Floridians, the storm had passed leaving only minor damage in its wake. For others, the real challenge was just beginning. 

With dive boats grounded until the hurricane had safely passed, scuba divers statewide were partaking of an extended surface interval, many wondering how their favorite sites had weathered the storm. We'll talk at length about the Keys in my next post but first, let's talk about cave country. North Florida is home to dozens of underwater springs and caves that draw tec divers from all over the world, and the people in this region were finding themselves in dire straits following Irma's plodding passage. 

As Irma slowly made her way north over these rural, wooded areas, she dumped buckets of rain. Within 24 hours, rivers began to swell to dangerous levels. The Suwanee River rose several feet, causing a backflow of its dark, tannic waters into the normally crystal clear springs. Cave diving sites closed one after another due to dangerously low visibility. Bridges spanning the Santa Fe river were closed as the raging waters rushed just inches beneath the paved roadways. Officials were keeping a close eye on I-75, a major artery that brings travelers from Georgia to Orlando. As many Floridians were trying to make their way south, anxious to see if their homes had survived, the main roadway was about to be cut off by flood waters. 

This is where Guy lives. While safe from harm, he was without electricity for a week. Standard hurricane prep advice is to have enough food and water for three days. But... what happens on day four? Five? Six? No power means no running water, sewer system pump stations don't work (no flushing toilets), the food in your fridge is a loss and the ice in your cooler has melted. Conserving food, however much you may have left, becomes a priority. You may be running low or have run out of potable drinking water. 

And, guess what? You can't run to the corner store to restock. They don't have power either, or may have suffered heavy damage from the storm. Roads may be impassable. Ice? Forget it! Fuel? Only if you're lucky enough to find an operating gas station. I am happy to report that all of my friends up in cave country are safe and well after Irma. No one was injured or suffered grave loss. The flood waters have receded and most of the springs are back open to divers. It was a long, rough week but they are all okay and getting back to normal. 

Dealing with this for a week was bad enough. Imagine having no end in sight. That's what was happening in parts of the Florida Keys. No electricity, no cell service, no internet or WiFi, no way to reach your family to tell them you're okay or to call for help. Sweltering days and pitch black nights of wondering when help will come. This was life in the Keys after Irma. 

Come back for Irma's Impact - Part II: The Florida Keys