We Still Have More to Learn and Understand

The unpredictability of hurricanes and the science of tracking them is an imperfect science, one which has become better with time as has the modeling done by various organizations such as NOAA and the European Modeling groups. However, it is an imperfect science at best as both Irma and Ian have shown us.

Others have also spoken to the latest phenomenon regarding the “rapid intensification” of recent storms. The subsequent dangers that has presented to emergency service personnel and residents have been substantial, as they have underestimated the strength of oncoming storms until it was too late to safely evacuate.

An acquaintance of mine stopped me the other day when on my way into the post office. He and his wife questioned why there wasn’t more warning. I explained to them that there was. At the meeting on September 26 City Manager McNees and Chris Byrne, the City’s Fire Rescue Chief, both commented that, “although direction of the travel of the storm may still be somewhat in flux as of now, there is one thing certain, this will be a major event.”

They cautioned residents to be very focused on pulling together their plans should a deviation in the storm track require relocation and orders requiring their evacuation. “People really need to be aware their mobility may be seriously impacted due to the combination of the high tides over the next few days as well as a possible major rain event which may accompany the storm,” said McNees.

No one wants to leave their homes and abandon so many wonderful memories or treasurers behind. However, the scenes in the days after Ian had left Southwest Florida can only reinforce the caution which came with the advice from our own professionals given to us on that Monday evening and was broadcast over our local Comcast and Summit channels.

Although no one lost their lives here on Marco Island, a total of five deaths have been reported in Collier County as of this writing and that is an unfortunate number to say the least. The prayers of our community go out to all that have been affected.

In last week’s edition we reported on the outpouring of love from various organizations such as Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, Al’s Pals, the Greater Marco YMCA, the Marco Patriots, the Knights of Columbus and San Marco Columbiettes, the United Church of Marco Island and Bargain Basket, the Marco Island Police Department staff, numerous businesses, restaurants and so many more that have reached out to assist those here on Marco Island, as well as Isle of Capri, Goodland and Everglades City.

Just last evening I had the privilege to attend an event sponsored by the Island Country Club’s Charitable Foundation. The total amount of those funds would be going to benefit their many staff members who have been so hard hit by this devastating storm. The outpouring of support to those in need was overwhelming and truly shows the extent of the giving nature of this community which we call home.

If there is a lesson to be learned as a result of this terrible event, it is the fact that we must all stay vigilant in dealing with these situations. We must never let our guard down and must stay informed and be prepared should the potential for this situation to repeat itself. I would be disingenuous with you if I were to say it won’t, for the potential is always there and we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to stay alert and be observant in the future.

We should also reach out and thank those men and women who have descended upon our community to assist in our recovery. They have a battle plan and know how to implement and provide a way forward for us to return to normalcy.