Wilma

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Kate and I had the unfortunate pleasure of getting storm stayed in Miami and suffering through Hurricane Wilma in late October of 2005 -- our airline got us to Miami on Sunday where we were supposed to change planes for Managua, Nicaraugua in Central America. Kate had a business meeting and I was along to enjoy some vacation time. We were well aware that Wilma was approaching but were assured by our airline that there was plenty of time for our connection and we would be on our way well before Wilma was scheduled to hit Miami.

They were right about the time. We napped at the airport for a while and the weather was fine at the time of our scheduled 6:30 pm departure to Managua. The storm hit early in the morning of Monday. Our flight to Managua was first delayed and then after a bit they said "Sorry, your flight is cancelled and ... you're on your own. Go find shelter." They gave us a coupon for a distressed rate at a nearby hotel -- the Wyndam where they treated us very well. The airline blamed the cancellation on the weather.

The storm went through Miami area quickly starting at about 1:00am through to 1:00pm on Monday. But it went through like a train wreck for hours on end. We watched the city go dark as electric power stations exploded during the night like bombs exploding in CNN coverage of the night bombing of Iraq. When the storm was at it's peak we huddled in our bed with curtains drawn (to protect us from flying glass) and prayed that our windows would hold. It was no fun.

In the morning it was blowing like crazy, lights were down, road signs ripped up, trees toppled, the bed was shaking and a window popped out in a room below us. We were then stuck without electricity or telephone (fortunately we had food and water) from Monday through to Thursday when we finally got out to return home. We never made it to Nicaraugua (fortunately as hurricane Alpha or Beta made a mess down there). We never really got out of our hotel at the airport. And you wouldn't want to. Everyone was without power, roads were dangerous, curfews were in place.

The moral is -- never go south for a vacation during Hurricane season! You might want to see some of our slides -- click on the photo of the Shell pumps.

Some comments on the pictures:

The view out our window (the Wyndam, Miami Airport) early Monday morning. We were on 5th floor. Power was already out, a window on another room had popped. Wind blew so hard it dried the streets! It sounded like a train running by your front door and went on like that for hours.

The wind ripped the restaurant awning to shreds. Trees were down on street, signs blowing around and no traffic.

Our hotel room. When the storm was blowing real hard you huddled in bed with the curtains drawn praying that your windows wouldn't pop and that your bed would hold still. On the other side of the building rain blew into the rooms through cracks around the windows and guests had to be moved. We stayed dry, kept the tub full (but water was never a problem).

It was dark and noisy, thankfully we didn't have to huddle in the bathroom or hide in the hallways.

By about 1:00pm the storm has abated. Restaurant awning ripped to shreds.

Palm trees stripped of leaves. In some areas they said it looked like winter in the north as trees were stripped bare.

This boat house was just down the street on a canal. The wind has torn it apart. There's some close up pictures later in the show.

The pool at our hotel filled with debris, trees down, planters broken. Not an inviting place for a swim. But they tidy it up and Kate did get in. But not this day.

A telephoto view towards downtown and the Orange Bowl. Note the car awning tossed about -- why was that left up? We took a drive through that neighborhood. Trees, powerlines and poles down. But most home are solid and survived with only minor damage.

The hotel had limited power (generator failed for a while so we had none for a day). When power was up news was interesting. Papers were published and we read every bit of news about the storm. That's Kate at the near right with her back to us.

When the power is out everywhere who is watching the news on TV? Just those folks lucky enough to be in a hotel with a generator.

Trees down in golf course by the hotel. It was odd to see ground staff busy grooming the greens when nobody could get out to play the course. Golf is a low priority game after a Hurricane.

The canal and boathouse at dawn of a new day.

Sunrise over Miami, a new day.

A close up of that boat house.

The gas station pumps were blown right out of the ground. Gas was a problem -- how do you pump gas if you have no electricity?

At the same Cuban restaurant ... the only restaurant open. Another day, no "cafe con leche" today as their coffee machine is kaput. There probably was an awning over the outdoor cafe -- long gone thanks to Wilma.

At the same Cuban restaurant. The tall girl was wearing 5" spikes while working -- she spoke flawless English and talked to us when Kate commented on the streaking of her hair. The girls all addressed the boss lady as "momma". Momma didn't speak any English. It was busy, very busy.

Kate did go swimming in the pool. They cleaned the debris out of the pool. But there's no pump to circulate and filter the water. No chlorine. Living life dangerously. The boathouse is in the distance at the bridge by the canal.

Last Frame: our supplies for the storm. There's a song by Tom Russell about hurricane season and packing up the essentials -- "Diet pills, potato chips and gin". We stocked up when we checked in on Sunday night. I took a cab to the nearest liquor store. The cabbie said, "Are there a lot of you?". I lied and said yes.... We finished the wine early on and were left with hard liquor with no mix.

The undies hung up to dry is a hard fact of life when the airport has your luggage.