They all arrived SAFELY last night in Ft. Lauderdale.
My daughter is quoted in the last paragraph. The report
neglects to mention her little guy, but she says an
attending physician was seeing to him at the time she
was interviewed. His insect bites and heat rash are
much better today, and while they're all tired, sunburnt
and traumatized, they are grateful to be alive and they've
gone on to NYC to stay with some friends til early next
week, so I can recover from the ordeal... :)
After rescue from Caymans, travelers tell of surviving Ivan
By Jaime Hernandez
Staff Writer
Posted September 17 2004
Fort Lauderdale -- Mitzy Fields' diving trip to the Cayman Islands was ruined by Hurricane Ivan when the storm's 160-mph winds battered the island.
Now she will see whether the deadly hurricane damaged her Birmingham, Ala., home.
"It's a double dose," Fields said Thursday night as her husband, Michael, was making hotel and flight reservations on a pay phone. "It won't be as bad as the Caymans. We're just glad to be back."
The Fields arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport late Thursday aboard a U.S. government plane carrying more than 150 people.
The charter flight was a humanitarian mission aimed at bringing people, mostly American and British tourists who were trapped on Grand Cayman, to the United States.
At least two similar flights from the Caymans are planned for sometime today, airport spokesman Jim Reynolds said.
Many passengers stepped into the terminal sunburned and fatigued, but most were still in shock after having experienced the powerful hurricane. Many people shared video clips stored on digital cameras, footage that showed fierce winds, swaying palm trees, flying debris and thick sheets of horizontal rain. They were still gasping Thursday while watching the footage.
Ivan was a Category 5, the highest and most dangerous on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, when its eye brushed the Caymans on Sunday. The storm made landfall early Thursday near Mobile, Ala., and was heading northeast while weakening. Officials say Ivan has killed about 90 people in the Caribbean and the United States.
Rob Willer, 48, of New Hampshire, walked through the terminal wiping tears from his eyes. He said he was overcome by emotion after having weathered the storm and its aftermath -- no food, water or power on the island.
"I'm no wimp," he said. "That was the worst thing I've ever been through."
Many passengers said they were angry at the way they say the Cayman government is handling the disaster. Although two British Royal Navy ships deployed dozens of security personnel, the passengers say Cayman officials insist they don't need any outside relief help.
They also said there is no sight of relief agencies. The American Red Cross gave free meals to those who arrived on the flight Thursday.
"It's anarchy, every man for himself," said Debbie Myers, who lives on Grand Cayman but arrived in Fort Lauderdale with her son and daughter to have them stay with family in California. "There were looters in my back yard. I had to yell at them to leave."
Copyright © 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cflight17sep17,0,5010961.story
Thank you for the update.
Everyone has been worrying and praying for your family, it's great to know they are now safe.
Happy for you.
thanx for that update. God be with you and your family as you all recover from this incredible trauma.
Good....sounds like things got very bad down there for a mom with kids alone.
Folks turning savage is scary.
What do you think she will do from here?
As someone who has traveled and lived overseas alot, I can say with honesty..............there is NOTHING like landing on USA soil!!! Thank God your daughter and grandchildren are home again!
Their story and yours has kept me glued to this thread.
Please continue with follow-ups.
Great to know your family is safely home on U.S. soil!