Power Restored For Hurricane (Andrew) Victim After 15 Years

CBS-WFRV 5 ^ | 02/17/2007 | CBS

[abt87]

CBS) CULTLER BAY, Fla. An elderly woman who had been living without power in her home due to hurricane damage was finally seeing the light Friday night when power to her home was restored. What makes her story amazing is that the hurricane which put her in the dark was Andrew, which hit Florida almost 15 years ago; she's been living without power to her house since Aug. 24, 1992.

She had no heat when a winter chill settled over South Florida. There was no air conditioning when the mercury climbed into the 90's and the humidity clung to 100%.

Norena, who didn't want her full name used because she is embarrassed by her situation, has not had one hot shower at home in nearly 15 years. Every morning started with an icy blast.

"I think it's like everything: you learn how to step into it and wait, and when you feel it, you take your quick shower," she recalled.

Like many victims of Hurricane Andrew, Norena had a problem with an unscrupulous contractor and when the money from the insurance settlement ran out the contractor did too. He left her home half-repaired and not up to code which meant it would not have the electricity connected.

Norena didn't have the money to complete the work and she didn't have any place else to go.

[aberaussie]

So, the power company would not notice there was a problem? Did someone come out to read her meter?

[Humal]

Unbelievable. I wonder why it was restored now? What happened? Was she able to get her house fixed and up to code? Bless her heart.

[Viking2002]

I am almost rendered speechless. Where I come from, we'd have all pitched in and rebuilt the place from the dirt up. Every church in town would have donated services. Unbelievable.

[AFPhys]

For a church to help it has to know she exists in this situation.

People who don't go to some church regularly often don't have the advantage of people who they can talk to.

Yet another reason I'll attend at least weekly as long as I'm able.

[Old Professer]

Well, at least they didn't find her in front of the dead TV dead.

[metmom]

Norena didn't have the money to complete the work and she didn't have any place else to go.

Not true. Any church. Any compassionate neighbor who had been through the same storm. She has no living relatives? Unreal. I hope they find that contractor and string him up.

[PAR35]

She should have moved to Louisiana. Then she could have gotten unlimited FEMA benefits and free housing.

[PAR35]

I hope they find that contractor and string him up.

So contractors should be required to work for free? According to the story, he left when she quit paying:

"and when the money from the insurance settlement ran out the contractor did too."

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Clinton did nothing to help this poor woman for 8 years?

I thought it was the Presidents responsibility?

Where is the media?

[JimRed]

God bless her, but it appears that she was too proud to ask for help. Taking charity just doesn't sit well with some folks.

[ghostrider]

Don't confuse the Democratic Barrios of New Orleans with the Cajun folks of the back country. When Andrew hit Miami, we heard squealing and whining for Federal assistance.. When Andrew hit the Louisiana back country, all we heard was whirring and banging as the folks rebuilt. When Katrina hit Mississippi, the New Orleans Democrat Barrio never quit screaming, griping and begging for Handouts. When Rita hit the Louisiana back country, all we heard was how bad the Rats had it, while the back country rebuilt itself.

[admiralsn]

She's white. Clinton, being the first black president and all, well to paraphrase Kanye West, "Clinton hates white people!"

[Fido969]

Old folks are independent.

When Maine had an major ice storm about 10 years ago, some places lost power for up to 3 weeks. The old folks in the country did fine, they just stoked the wood stoves and lit the kerosene lamps.

It was the welfare kids in town that turned up at the Red Cross shelters.

[My Favorite Headache]

http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_048002512.html

You have to watch the story of this on video...horrible...just awful. My heart breaks for this woman.

[admiralsn]

Oh I did watch it, and it was sad. I questioned her extension cords. They were running to somewhere and someone set them up for her. She was failed by many many people.

I live in the direct hit area of Hurricane Rita and there was just recently discovered the body of a man found to have died during or shortly after Rita. Sadly, many people failed him too. He was basically ignored. They "thought he went to stay with relatives."