SEPTEMBER 14, 2017: Press photos of Hurricane Irma focused on battered or destroyed homes in the Florida Keys.
However, some of our members in the Keys were well-prepared for the 150 M.P.H. winds long before Governor Rick Scott’s order to leave the Keys and Dade County.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017: Press photos of Hurricane Irma focused on battered or destroyed homes in the Florida Keys.
However, some of our members in the Keys were well-prepared for the 150 M.P.H. winds long before Governor Rick Scott’s order to leave the Keys and Dade County.
Association members Alan and Kathleen Hulbert closed their aluminum shutters in the concrete home and drove upstate to their cousin’s home for a five-day visit. “We made it on one tank of gas, although, we had an extra 2 gallons of gas because all the gas stations were empty, out of fuel,” said Kathleen.
When the devastating storm was over we drove back home. We have a resident sticker on our windshield, otherwise we would have been prevented from being on the highway. We’ve had that sticker for 15 years, the first time we needed it.”
The Hulberts concrete home like other such homes were constructed before they made Key Largo their residence. Alan is a retired professor, of Lowell Tech and Kathleen the same from UMass Lowell.
“We knew before we moved to Key Largo, which we love, that we should be prepared for a major hurricane to strike sooner or later. Unfortunately, the photos our friends saw back home were wooden structures and could not withstand the stress of a Category 4 hurricane. We have managed to send the attached photos to our friends and relatives back home to reassure them that we’re OK.”
“Alan and I feel sorrowed about the losses of the many members who were impacted by Irma,” said Kathy. “Concrete homes were not necessary in most cases.”
“Having such a home in Key Largo was truly a blessing that we were able to afford and we have been busy helping retirees who suffered devastating losses. We did have 2 inches of water in our garage, but under the circumstances of others, I shouldn’t even mention this.”