The Aftermath of Hurricane Ian

Nothing I write about this week can soften the hurt that so many are feeling today due to the terrible losses many are experiencing in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. The scars he has left in the lives of so many Floridians are real, as they mourn the loss of family members and friends, as well as the financial losses they have suffered due to the loss of their homes and businesses.

I’ll never forget sitting and speaking with friends of mine that worked for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department after Hurricane Andrew devastated many portions of Dade and Broward County in 1992.

As with many who have worked in the Emergency Services Field, whether it be in law enforcement, fire/rescue or EMS, you don’t always get to be with family and loved one during times of crisis such as Hurricane Ian, for this is what you’ve signed up for - to stand on the line to help complete strangers. It is your calling and responsibility.

Some of those friends of mine during that event worked for 72 hours straight before they could return to view what was left of their lives and their belongings. This one Captain would reveal his gut-wrenching experience after those 72 hours finding only the plumbing pipes extending up through the cement foundation that he had helped his father lay when he was only a boy. That family home he had been brought up in was no longer there and could never be recovered.

Many men and women on this side of our state are experiencing those same gut-wrenching emotions as they realize their homes are gone, as are the businesses which some had poured their life savings into over the years. Many are feeling overwhelmed due to the prospect of having to rebuild and repair those aspects of their lives and that is understandable.

Unfortunately, some are facing the prospect of dealing with the loss of a loved one and the terrible void that will leave in their lives. Some will inevitably question whether they could have averted the loss had they pursued another avenue rather than the one which they did.

We all deal with grief in our own ways. Some tend to hold it inside, to compartmentalize it and hide it away in the darkest corners of our mind. Some may be lucky and never think about it again, while others may constantly anguish over the unresolved issue of guilt. The road back is a tough one for many and may require some professional assistance which I would hope they could get.

The aftermath of this storm will linger for years to come. The rebuilding of our infrastructure here in our state is the easy part; the rebuilding of our personal lives is the hard part. That process in itself may take the rest of our lives as we deal with the many unanswered questions in our own minds. Failure to do so will just cause more pain and distraction from getting on with our own lives in a productive and fulfilling manner.

Although Hurricane Ian may have been one of the strongest to hit the United States, our people are strong and will persevere through this difficult time. One of the ways we will accomplish that is by being there for each other. Providing that shoulder to be leaned upon or that ear to bend are just some of the ways we can help friends and family.

There is something unique about the American Spirit that helps provide us with the strength and fortitude to bring us through tough times. That was the case for the early settlers in this wonderful nation we all today call home. It continued through a depression, two world wars, national tragedies and numerous other challenges which we overcame, and we will again.