Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Observations After Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma will be implanted in the minds of many in Florida for sometime to come. For those residing in the areas of Southeast Florida some considerations are:

After over one week, electric power has not been restored to over 18,000 customers (approximately 12,000 in Miami-Dade and 6,000 in Broward.

It took the unfortunate death of eleven elderly residents at Hollywood Hills Nursing home for the Governor and politicians to pay attention to the needs of the elderly in times of a hurricane. It is truly a shame that such concerns were not previously considered and implemented to prevent the death of so many vulnerable seniors.

Who would know that consumers of upgraded telecommunications features that are highly touted by AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint would loose their phone signals for days? I guess that these telecommunication giants need to go back to the drawing board.

No signs of the Red Cross. However, thankfully through the collection efforts of community agencies, local corporations, professional sports groups, school districts, and private citizens many are getting the aid that is needed to survive during their difficulties.

WLRN in association with the Miami Herald provided well needed news and allowed residents to call in to their studio during the early stages when thousands did not have electricity to watch television so as to keep up-to-date with the news. It would have been even more helpful if the actual names of the opened libraries and meal distribution sites were announced instead of allowing listeners, who may not have had access to the internet, to remain clueless as to which libraries and food sites were opened.

The selfishness of those who bought up more than they needed (including the man you bought 24 loaves of bread) turned into the desire of some to donate all those good that they found to be not necessary when their lights were restored.

Governor Scott's efforts to dominate all press coverage in a political effort to gain publicity for his intended run for the senate and also his attempts to restrict information to the press compromised the press's ability to release important information in the best interest of the public's evacuation efforts.

One step foward - two steps backward comes to mind when it came to the telecommunications giants since their updated mobile and WiFi networks crashed for some days.

The criminal mentality of those thugs who are not deterred by a hurricane was demonstrated when they broke into stores to steal merchandise. It is absurd that some of these store are located in these thugs' own neighborhoods where many business will never consider to open a store. Do you wonder why? The sad thing about it is many in the community will be deprived of even more needed services when the businesses that were vandalized do not re-open.

The deafening, irritating, non-stop noises of loud generators throughout practically every block indicate the popularity and somewhat affordability of the machine that many seem to believe they must have to maintain their spoiled comforts of life.


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