Posted on 10/25/2005 7:49:09 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A South Florida fishing village of 1,000 well off the tourist track was completely submerged by Hurricane Wilma, but won't be seeking federal aid.
After the storm passed Monday afternoon, Ochopee Fire Chief Paul Wilson said he and his crew reached Chokoloskee and knew immediately the community of mostly mobile homes had been devastated.
"The first thing we saw were mattresses, furniture and washing machines floating in the water," he said. "We said, 'Uh-oh.'"
While there were no casualties in the village south of Naples, at least 80 percent of the homes are beyond repair, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.
Ernie Watson, 37, laughed when asked whether he would be looking for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"We don't look for no government help; we take care of ourselves," said Watson, who works for a company that kills nuisance plants in the Everglades.
Wilma swept the peninsula from west to east Monday, killing at least six people and leaving at least 20 of Florida's 67 counties damaged.
"We don't look for no government help; we take care of ourselves,"
FLA vrs LA - big, big difference.
"We don't look for no government help; we take care of ourselves," said Watson, who works for a company that kills nuisance plants in the Everglades.
BRAVO.............BUMP
They will rebuild faster than LA also.
"Wahhh, wahhh! My vacation was ruined and now I'm stuck here!"
We visited Everglades City in the early 90's when we were vacationing at Marco Island. We had a great tour of the mangrove 10000 Islands and the estuary...we also ate at a great little "seafood shack" - I have no memory of what it was called or anything except that it was a very enjoyable day. My kids loved watching the dolphins play in the wake of our tour boat. Hope they do ok.
Wilma completely floods tiny Fla. village
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20051025-102748-5477r
"We don't look for no government help; we take care of ourselves," said Watson, who works for a company that kills nuisance plants in the Everglades.
What? No one screaming into the camera saying "Where's my xxxxx!" "Where's my yyyyyy?"
What's up with that? Also, I wonder how FEMA did in Florida...probably as well as they did the other times when Michael Brown was in charge. But no loonie Governor or Major those times. Why are they still in charge in LA by the way?
\
What a great attitude, ha?
Small communities have always taken care of their own. There isn't enough people to attract the attention of politicians, so they had to learn how.
Ochopee? Home of the "world's smallest post office?" Good for them!
The guy who said that is just one resident- I'd be willing to bet a lot of folks in that town will be accepting federal aid. And let's be honest- if our homes were destroyed and the feds came and said "here's some cash to rebuild" who among us would say no? If my tax dollars are paying for aid to the looters in New Orleans, I wouldn't have any problem with accepting it for myself.
Now, I'm sure some will reply to this saying "I'd never accept aid" but those statements don't mean much until you're actually in the situation.
That's not really fair. The Americans that were there on vacation are now stuck in terrible, terrible conditions, with seemingly no way out. This is not something they really have any control over. This is exactly what foreign embassasies are for, I thought. Please do not compare the two situations and have a little bit more compassion. If it were your son or daughter stuck in an arena without any sanitation or plan for getting out, I don't think you'd be quite as snotty as you sound now.
I thought the same thing when I read this article. One person does not speak for an entire town. Post this article again a year from now if NO ONE in that town accepted any kind of aid. I guarantee you that won't happen. It's just another excuse by some to post another "We hate New Orleans" thread.
Glad to see there still are some REAL AMERICANS out there!
There's not a thing wrong with someone asking for are getting help dealing with a tough situation. There is something wrong with people (or their local government) who do nothing at all to help themselves or their neighbors (but complain) until help arrives.
I assume none of them have flood insurance or if they do will not accept the taxpayer-subsidized payments?
Some intrepid travelers who didn't somehow manage to get themselves out of harm's way before the storm actually got themselves over to Merida and found flights out.
If this were my son or daughter I would expect them to use the brains God gave them to find their own way out.
Hostility?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.