All of that began to change on Monday. Suddenly, there was a mass rush to every Walmart, grocery store and gas station. Water was sold out on Monday, and there were long lines to get gas and building supplies. The usual laid back pace there became frenetic and worried. People scrambled to get supplies for the imminent hurricane, even though, at that point, it seemed it was poised to hit the East coast.
Still, most people who live in Florida become somewhat immune to impending hurricanes because that becomes a part of living in a place that is dubbed as paradise. You watch and prepare but deep inside there is a confidence that things will be fine and return to normal shortly. And that his what most people in Naples were doing.
On Tuesday, Irma shifted course slightly and now it began to look like it might hit in the middle of the state and maybe on the West coast. The pace quickened and some people began to make plans to leave. I happened to fall into this group because I would be traveling with my parents and my Mom had just had surgery and would be more challenged in her travel plans. It occurred to me as we were leaving what a gorgeous day it was. We were able to book a hotel room in Valdosta and by 2:30 pm, we were on the road. Thankfully, we averted the heavy traffic that would begin the next day.
We drove the rest of the way to Tennessee on Wednesday, and that’s when things got dicier for residents in South Florida. At this point, the time to drive from Naples to Georgia (which usually takes 5 hours) began to take about 13 hours, and by Thursday the same distance took 19 hours. Gas stations began to run out of gas, and people had to wait for new supply to come.
I would really like to commend Governor Rick Scott for the amazing job he did on preparing the state for such an unimaginable catastrophe. He was very detailed and organized in his approach and exhibited exemplary leadership skills. He told Floridians in south Florida to finish up everything they had to do by 8pm on Friday because that is when tropical storm force winds would arrive on the scene. This is where the problem emanated.
Irma shifted again slightly to the West by Friday am and now Governor Scott had to evacuate Sarasota and Tampa. Highway I75 was so crowded that by noon on Friday no one else could leave South Florida because they would have been sitting on the expressway when Irma barreled in. Many people (including several friends of mine) thought they were prepared and thought they had time to evacuate but they did not. They had to remain in Naples despite their desire to leave.
Over 100,000 people ended up in shelters because time caught them in its grasp. Despite prudent preparedness, the clock ran out. Even though they thought they were ready, they really were not.
This makes me think about the storm on a more macular level, even on a spiritual one. The first verse I think of are words that Jesus Himself told us. He said, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” (Luke 21:25). I truly believe that Harvey and Irma are among the natural disasters of which Jesus warned us.
I think that, like the Southern Floridians, there will be many who will believe they are prepared for the return of Christ, only to find that the door has shut. In God’s mercy, He wants each one of us to be ready for His return. I pray that we can read the handwriting on the wall and be among those who are raptured up to the place that is the only true paradise!
My thoughts and prayers are with every Floridian and every victim of Harvey. Please know that God is with you and that His mercies abound even in the midst of the storm. Please know that He loves you more than you can imagine and that He prepares an eternal home for you, even now.
Love,
A Fellow Evacuee
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