I grew up on Pine Island (St. James City). Though I moved away after joining the military, my heart is heavy with the devastation post Hurricane Ian. "Islanders support islanders"! Please don't let the coverage only shine on Sanibel, Captiva, and Fort Myers Beach. Continue to include Matlacha and Pine Island like you all did in this segment. You are doing a great service to the community when equal coverage is distributed for all who are impacted by this storm. Thank you!
I am Totally Heart Broken by this!! This is THE SAME thing that happened with Charley, Wilma....All the Resources & Attention on Sanibel & FM Beach ( both $$$$) Why is it ALWAYS like this. I lived 2 miles from Matlacha ( Island Time) for 17+ years ( total 33+ in Lee County) During Charley it was at least 3 Weeks before FEMA showed up on Pine Island with Paperwork ONLY!! Really??! I still have Loved ones on Pine Island that we don't know any Specifics on.....I guess The Blue Collar Islanders have Learned that they HAVE to Rely on Themselves & Each other.....I Wonder Why?? Thank You for the Little information on Matlacha....BUT What About Mid Island, Bokeillia ,& St James??? PLEASE Gov DeSantis give Some Much NEEDED Attention to This Beautiful Pristine Island.....Don't Repeat Mistakes, Learn From Them!! God Bless All my Florida Family....I Am Praying for you All. 🙏💞🙏 Not Much about Cape Coral either......
UPDATE: I was able to get in touch with a family member and Susan & Jim DID make it off Pine Island. “We have been safely evacuated by Coast Guard to Cape Coral. Staying with friends who have a generator,” is the message sent to me by their family.
WINK news studio flooded and Matt(baby gorilla) the weatherman wasn't able to predict it. Why can't you report this story. It's vital for the community.
I second that! That was definitely one thing they didn't want to lose and sadly they did. I can only imagine. I'm a single father and my son is my world I'd have ended my life if that was me!
@@NoPrivateProperty why would I capitalize on people's struggles. I meant get things together and get them to those who are in desperate need. I live here. I would never try to take advantage of people. My whole family is coming good tomorrow and taking it to areas where people have nothing. Not even a hot meal. But that will only help for a moment. We need to gather supplies and food and help them as in give it to them for free. No money, no capitalize anything
@@JessH1 people don't acquire beach front homes and yachts by being generous. plenty of people suffer every day from lack of health care and environmental pollution. why help the rich?
I am a Pine Island Resident stuck off island with my home out there destroyed. We are pine island strong and we survive. Thank you for seeing that. You guys are THE FIRST new channel to make a solid and meaningful story. That may be because it's difficult and that I understand. But you made it happen and for that I thank you. PINE ISLAND STRONG!!!!!!✊️✊️💪💪WE WONT BE FORGOTTEN
@@sbinsdca no one said the we're stronger than a fuckin ocean lmao shit your dirty mouth trying to shoot down positivity in this time of desperation. Clearly you know.
Our community is strong. We will recover. Rebuild. And one day we will be better than we are now. That's what PINE ISLAND STRONG means. Have some common sense and learn when to keep things to yourself.
Oh my goodness as soon as that woman started talking about her daughter and how her daughter was gone and passed away I just started sobbing uncontrollably. I feel her pain through her voice and I just can't even fathom how much she's going through her and her husband... oh my goodness Thank you so much for giving these people a voice and helping them not feel forgotten.
This is so sad....I hope thye got help to leave pine island and bury their daugther.These people are in shock from the storm and the duaughter"s passing....
I really appreciate hearing this report. So much of the reporting I've watched has been focused on the damage to property, infrastructure, etc. It's good to hear reporting about the people and what they're going through; so many people adversely impacted by this storm! Take care of the people first then take care of the property.
You said it, people first. Especially islands like this that get lost in the news!! I live in Key West, we got the eyewall of Cat 4 conditions. 116+ 43 from a fire, lost our homes. Our county is trying hard to shut us up. Islands north of us aren't the main tourist attraction so their voices aren't heard at all! Our island as a whole didn't suffer but our people are. Sending ❤️ to Pine Island's people
Just a bunch of crazies running natives off of their fishing grounds and building houses soon to become garbage dumps. What you’re witnessing is a result of habitat destruction. Build inland and the coastline protects from these natural occurrences; build on the coastline and these natural occurrences become “DISASTERS”. 100 year old real estate scam!!
All these people were asked to evacuate that island for the dangerous situation! Even the First Responders were transporting people to shelters, hospitals and pet friendly shelters. The Governor and First Responders said that there would be a time that first RESPONDERS would not be able to go out to help people. Still, even on those times people don't want to leave. I am a retired Cop from a tactical unit, worked during major hurricanes and solid storms and it is incredible how stubborn some people can be even when WE BASICALLY BEGGED THEM TO LEAVE THOSE DANGEROUS PLACES! But now...... They say they are forgotten? OK! It is sad watching that mother with all that pain for the loss of her daughter. 🙏🕊
People, please listen to the emergency warnings when they tell you to evacuate. Especially if you have a medical situation. I live in Florida and if I lived in any of the places along the water that were told to evacuate, without hesitation, I would be calling and looking for a place to go. There are many places to go to protect yourself. They broadcast it regularly there would be no help after the hurricane started. As harsh as this sounds, it is selfish to risk the lives of first responders when you could have evacuated before hand. To think your tough enough to weather out a 150 mph Hurricane is naive.
Every person on this planet has made a judgment call that when looking back they shudder to think of, "...what could have REALLY happened if the odds weren't in their favor." We all are shocked and grateful for that little voice, that gut instinct. We will never truly know why people make the decisions they do. But I can have compassion and support for the ones that are left behind that suffer from grief as the parents that outlive their children - for whatever the reason. May ALL be healed of their pain, sorrow and suffering. 🙏 🥀
Just like with Katrina (8/29/05), this hurricane landfall happened at the END of the month (i.e., no $$$), days before a lot of SSI and Social Security recipients would be getting paid. All of those fixed-income people were trapped in place, not sheltering in place. Many of those people live in mobile homes so they can afford to live where it is warm in the winter.
of the dozens of reports i've seen, this was _by far_ the most well done: sincere, direct, and real upon a pure foundation of humanity. my mom is less than 25 miles from this island, but the devastation here is 5-10 times greater.
My little brother Kirk is the photojournalist that filmed Evan and edited this story. Our parents live in Bokeelia and I know how important and emotional it was for him to work on this
Part of the story that was missed for those who aren't familiar with the area, that lady who lost her daughter, unable to get to Cape Coral. Cape Coral is only 5 miles from where she was at. That's how dire the situation is.
Am I the only person who thinks this POS should have given the woman ride BACK to the mainland? ....I mean how fkn pathetic is this broadcast that they couldn't do this. Wait, I know he was in a one man helicopter....right...GTFO, I tried to contact the lady but couldnt reach her....GFY! send your fkn pilot back over to pick her up....oh wait , gotta get the story out first ...fk this planet
Five miles might as well be 500 under the circumstance of an almost Cat 5 hurricane that we Floridians by birth understand? Any romantic notion of self sufficiency in the face of such is ludicrous and fatal as this story clearly proves.
Either way, sitting home with medical conditions with a Strong Cat 4 heading your direction is just crazy. I rarely evacuate for a hurricane, but when they announced Katrina was a cat 4 headed right up the mouth of the MS, I got the hell out of dodge. And lucky I did as my house was destroyed. I feel for the mother, losing a daughter. Thats a terrible thing no one should experience. At the same time, this was preventable.
@@SL50438 it turned like what? 12 hrs before hitting the coast? 18ish hours. It was supposed to hit Tampa. At that point I-75 was gridlocked. And no one wanted another Rita situation.
Thank you for telling the story about Pine Island. I have a home in St James city and I'm going down in three weeks. I'm not sure how I'm going to get on the Island yet but I'm taking supplies down and since my boat wasn't damaged I'm going to do what I have to to support my neighbors. We'll get organized and support ourselves if the officials think it's too hard and too much trouble.
By far the best news report I've seen so far from any source. A mature, informed, humble reporter in the trenches giving a sober account of the reality he's observing. This is the way news should be done. No more kids fresh out of journalism school hyperventilating over waving palm fronds, puddles in the parking lot, and a bent stop sign. Give us more Evan Dean please!
Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the LORD Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD.
No one is forgotten, people are being rescued from Pine Island and Sanabel, and as of Friday and Saturday they are shuttling people back and forth from the islands to get to there homes. This was a historic storm the county responded as soon as it was humanly possible. If you don’t want to leave Pine Island its unsafe, and not reasonable to expect resources when the road is out… Get to the main land shelter, which the state has dozens open, with food and water…
Thank you for saying what I thought. It’s not anyone’s fault about this tragedy. They made a choice to stay in an ISLAND. The problems they face are because of that choice.
@@andreamara8542 the hurricane is not their fault. They stayed in the face of warnings of at least a cat 3 storm and deadly surge for the SW FL coastal region, regardless of the exact spot it made landfall, and there were offers to evacuate with assistance. They did not. That is their fault. Sad about the parents who lost their daughter but she should have been evacuated. A mandatory evacuation from the islands and coastal region would have saved her life and the lives of others. Very tragic. Absolutely preventable deaths.
Thank God for HONC... they are pine islanders that designed this new road that has allowed us all to come and go, and now the power will be back on by Tuesday.
Never underestimate a persons resolve. I played Everquest for years with a guy who lived in Maine. Saw him every day for nearly a decade for a few mins or a whole day. One day he posts he's not going to play for a while and I figured a while would be a week. He was gone for 4 years. When he gets on for the first time after going missing I ask how he has been and what he has been up too. He told me there was a storm and it washed several feet of mud over his property. He grew his own food and harvested the trees to build his own house so having everything you own buried under feet of mud was devastating. I never did ask for clarification on what several feet of mud is, but knowing him it could have been 9. What this man did was dig out his entire property by hand and rebuild by hand. I asked him why he didn't just rebuild on top of the mud and he told me it was not going to support plants, but the land under it would.. so he dug. I asked if he used a tractor or other equipment and he said he did it all with a wheelbarrow and several shovels. When the ground wasn't frozen he was digging it out. When the ground was frozen he was building a house. When people have their minds set to a task and it's a true resolve there is nothing that can stop them.
My grandparents used to live on Matlacha until the combo of rising taxes and flood insurance was too much for pensioners and moved to Cape Coral before passing in 2017. My great grandmother lived in St James City until she passed about 12 years ago. Seeing those places since the 1970s were wonderful memories of the FL fishing village past that mostly remained up to the early 2000s. Matlacha in particular had added a quaint art district by the mid 2010s, reminded me of Sedona AZ art district. Hard to see the devastation from Ian, and prayers and donations to the FL disaster fund are the least I can offer.
Awesome Story!! We loved the Bridgewater Inn. We stayed in one of the shanties across the street directly across from Bert's Bar. We are so sad for everyone and so thankful for the memories. Sending love and hope to all that were affected so badly by Ian. We are in South Venice and had damage and many huge Live Oaks blow over. Many fortunately missed homes. We feel extremely lucky and plan to help anywhere we can in these hard hit communities. Especially Matlacha. Their resilience is inspiring. Thank you for this amazing coverage.
I have been trying to find out more of Pine Island, Matlacha, St James City and Bookeelia. Thank you for the coverage. Wonderful people, My prayers for them.
You’re not forgotten. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all. We love Matlacha and are in the area daily. We can’t can’t get to you and have had zero communication with the outside world till now. Hope help arrives quickly. Personally will be there to help when we can. Blessings from Naples❤️
My parents lost everything in their Naples home to storm surge. 8 feet of water inside their home. Like you said, communication has been spotty at best. It took communicating between multiple family members to make contact with them.
That's chilling. I'm in north ft Myers with no water no power I'm filthy and all my clothes are dirty and I had to throw away everything in my fridge but I'm lucky to be alive.
Amen, brother. Focus on the good and keep on keeping on. True blessings and miracles are not found in materialistic things; they come in the form of brotherly love, generosity, and real appreciation of the things that truly matter in this crazy thing called life. GOD Bless You and your loved ones in JESUS' Mighty Name, Timothy. I'm glad to know that you survived and I will definitely be praying for you my brother.
@@billwilson5341 I don't believe that for a second. Evacuation assistance well in advance was offered not only for able bodied but infirm. Devastation all along that part of the coast was certain.
Prayers from Houston. We made it thru Ike & Harvey it sucked but its amazing how people come together. Hopefully these communities can get the help they need.
if the local economy is unsustainable with the natural resources available, then maybe people should not live there. coastal living is a failed business model, and I'm not interested in throwing good money after bad. wise up and grow up snowflakes. pull yourselves up by your own bra straps. relocate. start over
To anyone asking why people didn’t evacuate, think of this…We have a lot of old people here. Many are infirm with medical issues and cannot just pack up and go somewhere easily. My heart goes out to these people.
Why pack anything? Just leave. It has to be all or nothing? Better to wait until everything you own is destroyed anyway and you have to be carried by someone risking their lives out to a Jon boat? if your lucky enough to not die a horrible and totally preventable salt water drowning?
What I don't understand is why a said small tight community that chose to stay, they did not gather up all their elders, disabled people & occupy a safer multi stored building before the storm hit. I lived in Florida Keys around 50 years ago, and was stranded in a couple fairly large hurricanes both on a small islet in the keys & on the Foridala coastal mainland, I could not believe how many of the machismo locals intentionally chose to stay and wait out the storm despite warnings, getting drunk having a "Hurricane party" before and during the event. Then afterwards sobering up to the reality of losing friends, loved ones, elders & neighbors.. even tourists, as well as losing their properties and livelihoods, all the while being too drunk and helpless to listen, heed or have any forethought. I saw that strange tough guy bravado behavior twice in 2 different Hurricanes over a 3 year period.
WHAT? They stayed on Pine Island knowing that a cat 4 hurricane was coming? Why? It’s a very small vulnerable island. I don’t get it. And the news story isn’t reality. Pine island has mango trees, that’s it. There is a big grocery store, which will deal with the obstacles to staying open until the bridge is rebuilt. But the area is NOT a self-sufficient place at all & looks devastated. I have land there & have spent a lot of time in the area. My heart goes out to everyone suffering as a result of this hurricane. 😅😅😅😅
Because most people are ignorant and think because they survived other hurricanes then they will roll the dice again. The mother who had a daughter in Cape Coral should have left before the hurricane to assist her so I don't understand why they thought riding out a CAT 4 on a island made any sense. I feel bad for people for what happened but when they say 911 is not going to be an option during a hurricane they mean it.
We were in Orlando at the time the hurricane came through and I had to unsubscribe to all kinds of Disney RU-vidrs claiming that they made it through the hurricane and they were staying at Disney hotels…. Wake up people. What came through Disney was NOTHING compared to this. I hope everyone can recover and people find peace who lost someone and lost everything.
Thing is SW Florida was basically a time bomb waiting to go off. If you look at National Storm Surge Risk Maps you will see any sizeable hurricane will destroy that area miles inland. It's basically a combination of swamp and shallow Gulf of Mexico that causes such a bad storm surge. This same storm hitting Fort Lauderdale would have a fraction of the flooding because of the geography on the east coast of Florida is not as dangerous for hurricanes(though still dangerous obviously)
They were told to evacuate. As a born and raised Floridian, and a Hurricane Charley survivor, I have no pity on those who decided to stay. Come on ego, get over yourself.
Why didn't they evacuate to begin with over and over and over again these people are determined to stay and die in the year 2022 there's no excuse for somebody to stay right on the water and die. I wrote out Hurricane Hugo a half a mile from the coast where the eye came in when I was 19 years old and I swore to myself after somehow by some miracle surviving that night that I would never do it again and I haven't. They had multiple days warning they knew exactly where it was coming in days ahead these people could have easily left and that woman's sister would still be alive so it's hard to have compassion although I do because I'm not that kind of person but it could still be avoided these people are just hard-headed they think because they've lived somewhere for 30 years they can't leave when in reality their place is going to be destroyed either way, no excuse.
Hi Ken. We ourselves didn’t have a way back at that point either. We had to stay and continue talking with residents who are desperate to get their stories out. We weren’t going to hold up Susan to wait for us. We do know she stopped by a fire station and I’m hopeful she was able to get back. It wasn’t until about 5 hours after we met Susan that we were able to find someone to take us back by boat. Cell service is terrible too which only adds to the challenges on Pine Island right now.
@@_EvanDean Given the situation, could the station provide Pine with a stat phone or stat link a generator so they can get ahold of loved ones abroad in the interim till they know where they're feet are settled?
The problem is, there's so many places that need such urgent assistance, and there's such a limited way to get people off the island and supplies on it, not to mention limited manpower
Prayers for the families! I lived thru Hurricane Hugo in ‘89 in the Virgin Islands with winds clocked at over 200 mph. Sounded like a freight train! Lost my roof and electricity for over 2 months. I feel your pain. Take it one day at a time. You are resilient.❤️
Never underestimate the forces of nature and never overestimate your own ability. Be aware of your situation and always leave yourself an out. I have found myself in desperate times just like these people and had no one to blame but myself. Please, God, never again!
Please people, if they tell you to evacuate, do it! Possessions can be replaced, lives can’t. I understand that you want to protect your property, but you aren’t stronger than the storm. Personal safety must come first. My heart goes out to you.
My ex moved to Pine Island three months ago. Bought a house (mobile home) in a 55 and over park. She is able to work remotely. Fortunately, she had to go to headquarters in the Mid-Atlantic the week of the hurricane, but now has no idea about her house.
Our Jersey Strong ❤️s are praying for you! Give PINE ISLAND the resources they need...and they will do it right! 🙏 to you...we hear your story and feel your ❤️S!
I can tell you from the perspective of someone in a wildfire zone. My closest family is in Canada, and the cost of gas to drive there is more than I could afford. Same goes with trying to find a hotel that isn't price gouging when they know everyone is evacuating. You could go to a shelter, but most don't allow pets, so I have to choose to leave my 4 pets behind and I just couldn't do that. So you ride it out and hope it doesn't get you. It's irresponsible, totally. But there aren't any good options.
@@jsanchez8855 I’ve lived on the coast and had to evacuate. I know there are sheltering provided by the city and also evacuating opportunities. Why are these insane people staying in their mobile home with the possibility of death?????
Unbelievable the arrogance of humans who think they can outwit mother nature. I'll never understand why a Cat 4 hurricane was thought of as a basic thunderstorm. How could you not evacuate if given the ability to. For the love of all that is sacred STOP building your homes in a seriously prone hurricane areas. Im so sorry for all the lose of life it was horrible and TOTALLY avoidable if warnings had been heeded. Godspeed. I surely hope the ones that need the help get the help quickly and arent made to suffer more
@@artistaloca4 what exactly is misinformed about the post? You sound ignorant. Every death was avoidable. These people chose to live where they did, knowing the risk as well as pretty effin accurate forecasts, then ignored the warnings and offers for assisted evacuation in plenty of time. It is a complete tragedy because every death could have been avoided. That is not opinion.
When people experience different hurricanes and nothing severe occurs they are lulled into s false sense of security. Every one is different and they move and wobble before making landfall. A few miles can make the difference between catastrophic damage and minor damage. It's always a gamble staying put and choosing to ride out the storm. Charley and Ian had the same wind speed but Ian was much larger and much wetter than Charley. It moved slower as well. All of those characteristics magnify the effects for those on the south side of the eye.
I’m sorry but she had plenty of time to get to her why would anyone stay knowing a category three or four hurricane was coming in it makes me mad to think they’ve done this to themselves. And then people like Joy on the view wants to blame the governor.
A Category 4 155mph coming directly at you and you didn’t Evacuate and your living on a Island, Come on man! I was given 3 notices of mandatory evacuation in North Port before the hurricane. If you don’t evacuate you are on your own… That’s the way it is. Another thing I bet that entire island is a very high risk flood zone and any rebuild will have to be 14 foot above ground and still have to have flood insurance.
@@guidedandblessed If you feel so compelled, I invite you to consider collecting money to send to one of our coordinators on the mainland; I, along with others, are putting together a route for mainlanders to purchase food, water, blankets, tents, toiletries, etc. destined for Pine Island via private boats. I know we did that for our Brothers and Sisters in Oz when y'all had the raging fires... God bless us all 💖💝🙏
Caribbean inhabitants know the risks of what they’re most susceptible to. Same with those who live near fracture zones, active volcanoes, coastlines, or in a places with names as literal as “Tornado Alley.” It’s people’s choices to live in these places that are more likely to be affected by nature’s wrath, so an acceptable lifestyle in these places is understanding the fact that the destruction, rebuilding, and maintenance of infrastructure IS the lifestyle.
I'm was born in the Caribbean and it's not the same as Florida. They don't need a Visa and a passport to leave. Islands are far apart they are not connected by I95.
@@greenbrown7776 Climate change in Pakistan and devastating floods:The overall death toll in Pakistan from the devastating floods has increased to 1,559, with 12,850 others injured, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said
@Terri Caton I saw a mandatory Evacuation called for 2 days before it hit for both Ft Meyers and Naples and I live in Texas. Tuesday there was news footage of everyone hitting the roads. Seems most people who really wanted to go, did.
I am very sorry that these people have lost everything they owned and that they are living entire circumstances but that's what you sign up for when you live on a tiny Island on the Gulf Coast that is only accessed by a very long road / bridge through swamp. You need to be self-sufficient if that's how you want to live. You cannot expect the government to just pop right in and make things right for you
I don’t have any sympathy for somebody who didn’t have the sense to get in their car and drive out of the path of the hurricane. I’m a single senior citizen and I did it.
It's fine Anne. There will always be a group who don't leave because they can't or won't or were told it would be okay. Not just for this storm and every other storm of the past, but future storms as well. Living in the gulf when a storm is coming you get away from the storm no matter where they think it is going to be. I seen in in Tallahassee, I seen it in Houston, I seen it in Pensacola. Every time I get a U-haul and truck me and all the things I plan to keep AWAY from the area. It's a week vacation while I wait for nature to pass through. Not going to roll any dice as long as I can take care of myself.
Not everyone has the funds to pick up and leave. With food and fuel as high as it is, many were barely scraping by. Glad you were able to get out. My prayers are with those who didn’t.
Thank you for this coverage. I lived in Bokeelia and opened my first bookstore in Matlacha. I have often thought of moving back. That no longer seems an option. My heart breaks.
We vacationed in Matlache 4 years ago and fell in love with it! What a charming place. I wonder how Blue Dog Grill and The Perfect Cup fared? It's heart breaking to see the devastation there.
It is the poorest, the oldest, the disabled, the ill/injured, and those without a family safety net who NEED the most help. It is never the wealthiest, beachfront properties who've purchased FEMA insurance, and who have multiple homes and multiple bank accounts at multiple banks because one bank can't insure it all with the FDIC. FOCUS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE....THAT IS WHERE YOU MAKE THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE. This is true in EVERY disaster. THE MOST VULNERABLE NEED YOUR HELP.
Its weird that the News reporters changed the narrative to "they have fruit and can fish" after the storm has tossed around cars, trees, and the entire road 🛣️ is destroyed 🤦🏿💥
I think they were just referring to how self sufficient they COULD be... They are doing rescues there now, and the people will have a choice to leave or not... Most communities like this will choose to stay and start the cleanup.. apparently they are very tough people... They live there year round, and know what they are doing
Based on what this report tells, Pine Island will be back much quicker than the Florida areas. Why? Because these Pine Island residents have an entirely different mentality. They won't wait for taxpayer funded hand-outs. They'll, "Git - er - Done"!
G AFTERNOON BOBBY VEE,,NICE WAY OF PUTTING IT..PEOPLE LIKE US HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT MINDSET THAN MOST..THOSE PEOPLE ON PINE ISLAND OTHER ON THOSE ISLAND WILL RECOUP AS YOU STATED THEY WILL BE UP AND BACK BEFORE THE REST~MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY~SO MANY BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN TOUCH BY IAN~THOUGHT FOR PARENTS WHO LOST THERE DAUGHTER~
WHAT A TRAGEDY FOR SURE! MY HEARTS GO OUT TO EVERYONE..I live in Ct and was looking to move to Orange county or Lee county in the Spring..I am now rethinking this decission..MY QUESTTION>>>> how do you even clean up after something like this? Where does all the wood and furniture go? What about the cement? What is done with it? what do they do with all the boats? my mind is boggled! thank you and God Bless everyone including all the rescuers xo
These people on Pine Is. IMO have the greatest need for help. Obviously, everyone who has suffered from this needs help, but those who are year-round residents, who work for a living, should not be pushed aside or sent to the back of the line so that the wealthy communities, winter home communities, and tourist areas can be taken care of first. Those places with 'name recognition' will get the most attention, but there are so many others who are in the same desperate need of help - they should not be forgotten.
Shouldn't those people have evacuated that area? If they did stay, shouldn't they have prepared? Living in Florida most people know that you have to have food, water, gas etc to survive at least 3 days. You can't expect help immediately in a major disaster.
As heartbreaking as this story is I just can't understand why anyone living in a costal area when a Cat 4 storm is heading your way would stay? I can't wrap my head around this. What were these people thinking?
Why would you stay on an Island, when you knew a hurricane was coming? If you have no place to go. Why would you not go to the mainland for a proper shelter?