I still live in Central Florida, and a week ago we were on the path of Hurricane Ian.
We were incredibly lucky once again. There was flooding, some of it serious, in parts of the Greater Orlando area, but the wind didn’t do as much damage around here as it could have.
My house wasn’t hit, though the unbelievable amount of rain that fell over the course of the day softened the ground enough that a large tree fell on a smaller tree by the side of my house; this second tree deflected the hit enough that both trees ended just off the front corner of my house rather than through my kitchen.
I am now facing dealing with the HOA’s managing company to help with the cleanup (so not looking forward to this), and with the knowledge that there are still two months of active Atlantic hurricane season left. (As I type, NOAA is tracking two systems in the Atlantic.)
* * * *
The southwest coast of Florida bore the brunt of the hit by one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the peninsula (news outlets are already posting ‘ranking lists’ of hurricane devastation, because of course they are); several smaller islands, like Sanibel, were pretty much razed. Fort Myers was flooded by the storm surge to the point where the “shark swiming on streets” meme finally actually happened.
Houses were destroyed and thousands of people were stranded, without water, without power, and without communication infrastructure to ask for help. The death toll is already over 100 in Florida alone, but given the damage, it’s sure to continue to rise.
I’m glad that Biden committed to help Florida immediately; I fear how much of that money will land in DeathSantis’ and his friends’ pockets (he put his *wife* in charge of managing those funds, because naked graft is the Republican thing these days), and I feel for the many people whose lives have been destroyed, many irrevocably, because they didn’t have insurance and don’t now have the resources they need.
May their communities be there for them now and in the future, since it’s unlikely this Republican governor will.
Her Hands, My Hands 
I’m glad you and your house got through this so unscathed!
Thank you!
I’m very glad that you’re ok. Lots of hugs for dealing with the aftermath.
Thank you, Art! (I’ve been thinking a lot about you all in the past few weeks, I hope everything is well with you)
Thank any deity that your home was mostly unscathed. I pray that the obvious grift won’t keep people from receiving the help they need.
Thank you, Lori–and same.
Because the need is going to be great for a while.
So glad you and your home are mostly okay. The photos we are seeing from down there are devastating.
Thank you; devastation is the right word for it.
Catching up on blogs this morning – glad that you made it through relatively unscathed. The images out of Fort Myers are devastating…
Thank you; fighting with the HOA as I type to get those trees removed, but myself, the cats, and the house are well.
Fort Myers, Sanibel and the other islands along that coast; it is devastation, pure and simple.
Sitting on my thumbs for you not having to face anything worse coming up.
From your keyboard to reality, willa.