Photos: Floridians show resilience as Keys communities slowly rebuild 1 year after Irma
One year after Hurricane Irma’s unwelcome arrival, the Florida Keys are open for business, but the continued recovery serves as an ongoing reality to the storm’s long-term effects on the region.
The storm impacted all parts of Florida, but the damage was most severe in the Keys, which was on the receiving end of the Category 4 storm’s most powerful impacts, when it made the first of two Florida landfalls near Cudjoe Key early on Sept. 10, 2017.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s tropical cyclone report on Irma, a combination of storm surge and flooding produced maximum inundation levels of 5 to 8 feet above ground for portions of the lower Florida Keys.
Damage assessment results from Monroe County stated that over 1,100 homes were destroyed. The hardest-hit areas included mobile homes, manufactured homes or RVs.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated that 25 percent of the buildings in the Keys were destroyed, 65 percent were significantly damaged and 90 percent of houses sustained some damage.
Over 1,300 boats were damaged or destroyed due to storm surge and there were extensive power outages and tree damage. Three people drowned in the Keys during Irma's passage and another 40 people suffered injuries. At least 75 percent of residents had evacuated.
Visitors to the island chain in the year since the storm may not have noticed much damage in popular tourist areas such as Key West. However, if someone were to travel about 15 miles north, the signs of recovery are evident in neighborhoods that are still struggling to rebuild.
“The recovery story is one of longevity,” said Michelle Luckett, executive director of the Monroe County Long Term Recovery Group, which provides recovery services to individuals and families affected by disasters in the Florida Keys community.
Luckett cited several factors that have made recovery a challenge. Because Irma was so big and it impacted the entire state, there was a limited number of contractors available to do construction, such as roof and siding repair.
The geography of the Keys has also played a role. Parts of the Upper Keys are about an hour south of Miami-Dade County, while Key West is a little over a three-hour drive to Miami, and that’s without traffic issues. U.S. Route 1 is the only thoroughfare into and out of the islands, making it particularly challenging to return if there is extensive storm damage.
“Although the Florida Keys are open for business, it’s a little different than what it was last year,” Luckett said. “There are still parts of the middle and lower keys that still have significant damage.“
Some are still living in FEMA trailers, while others have tarps covering their homes. In some instances, people are taking a piecemeal approach to rebuilding their residences as they wait for additional funding from the state. The Long Term Recovery Group is helping rebuild 30 roofs thanks to a $500,000 grant from the American Red Cross.
The recovery has also impacted the mental well being of many residents. Luckett said post-traumatic stress disorder is a big problem in the county. Monroe County is also experiencing a higher-than-normal suicide rate.
Monroe County Health Director Bob Eadie told WLRN that Irma is likely a big factor in the rise in suicides.
“It’s like this miasma, this cloud hangs over anybody that had to go through it,” he said.
With the current Atlantic hurricane season at its peak, and some areas still vulnerable, Luckett said she thinks people are paying much closer attention for potential storms following Irma. There’s a greater awareness that it’s not going to take as much to bring harm, she said.
“Everything in the Keys…things are recovering but everything is very fragile. And it won’t take a major storm for there to be major damage here.”
A cyclist rides past a pile of debris, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, in Key West, Fla. Businesses and residents in the Keys are removing debris and fixing damage caused by Hurricane Irma in anticipation for the return of tourists in the area. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
To help improve preparedness, Monroe County instituted the "Monroe Emergency Reserve Corps" that will consist of "volunteers with a variety of talents and skills who would like to help in time of emergency in the Keys."
Despite the arduous recovery and the trepidation of future storms to come, the communities have shown a remarkable resilience, according to Luckett.
"The recovery is every single day. But people here are so resilient and they’re so committed to bouncing back, that they’ll do whatever they need to do whether that’s working two jobs or three jobs to make ends meet," she said.
“I think that's a testament to the culture of the Keys and the desire to live life to its fullest. People here don't mind working, and so if you're willing to do those things, then you're willing to pick up the pieces after Mother Nature comes through town."
