| Page 2 of 2 < |
Resident: 'We Just Didn't Think This Storm Was Going to Be That Bad'
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
He agreed that the damage appeared worse than that from most recent storms.
"Overall for Miami Beach, the damage is looking by far worse than Hurricane Andrew," Duckworth said. "I saw a white Ford van rolling down West Avenue, and it landed upside down on a Camaro's hood."
Gallery owner Cora Bettcher, 38, watched the restaurant fire from her window with a mop in hand. Her gallery in the Morningside neighborhood, up Biscayne Boulevard, usually floods. "I won't know how bad this storm is until I can assess the damage tomorrow," she said. Bettcher has been in Miami since 1995 and did not expect Wilma to be so intense. "I was so scared I went into the bathroom at 6:30 a.m.," she said. "The wind was picking up."
The incoming traffic on the causeways to Miami Beach slowed to a crawl as police checked IDs to dissuade would-be looters. But authorities said there was looting, anyway.
"I saw a young man carrying ladies' bags and high-heel shoes on Alton Road," Duckworth said. "I stopped him and asked him what he was doing with the stuff. . . . It was blowing so hard, he nearly fell down three times as he was running away from me."
But the fast-moving storm meant a quick return to normal for those places left undamaged. By early afternoon, Wilma had blown out to sea and a few tourists returned to a bar on Ocean Drive, many ordering hurricanes.
Ilan Segal, general manager of the Hotel Victor, said his establishment had no air conditioning. Its new generators kept the hotel's big refrigerators operating, though, and, just as important, maintained the 1,000-gallon aquarium in the lobby, which is home to 22 Pacific moon jellies.
Segal said the hotel would not reopen to the general public on Monday. "However," he said, "I am happy to report that our jellyfish and 12 guests have survived."
