Hurricane takes the center stage

Today’s blog was written at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

It’s not the one you’re reading.

For the second time in two weeks, I wrote an entire bit of political prose only to shelve it for yet ANOTHER hurricane blog.

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Unfortunately, I didn’t get an updated photo. Which is why today’s blog about Hurricane Milton shows the Valerie Theater during Wednesday’s city council candidate forum.

I had an entire blog written about political intrigue in Inverness (yes, Inverness has political intrigue), but as the afternoon wore on it became obvious that city politics would wait a few days.

At least I had the sense not to edit and post the blog before changing gears. Two weeks ago, I posted — and then pulled — a blog about Inverness Villages 4. After I swapped it out that night for a hurricane blog, a few IV 4 readers accused me of spiking the blog on purpose because someone had gotten to me.

Someone had. The name was Helene, and it held significant editorial persuasion.

Here’s the deal, whether we like it or not. For any storm with a name attached, if you’re in the affected area, nothing else matters in the days before, during, and after the storm. Nothing. The priorities come home really fast, as does the attention span.

I don’t think people who have avoided these situations can truly understand the magnitude of how weather can really change the day.

We’ve all had our outdoor plans ruined over the weather. Too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet. I always feel for those folks who save years for the Florida winter vacation, only to get those days when it’s, you know, um, winter. I don’t care where you’re from, a cloudy Orlando day in the 40s is no more fun than the 40s in Cleveland.

That’s not what we’re talking about. Major storms with wind, floods, and/or power outages are simply devastating. The physical and mental toll of losing a home or possessions — or worse — and the cleanup that follows is mind-numbing.

On Friday, a friend and I drove to the little towns in the Big Bend right on the Gulf Coast, the ones with a direct hit from Helene. We took lots of photos and I had planned a blog about it.

We visited Cedar Key, Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach and were turned away by a deputy about a mile outside of Suwanee. All of these coastal towns have one thing in common: They’re small and isolated. Imagine three Homosassas in Citrus County — and virtually nothing else east of U.S. 19 until Inverness. Except Homosassa is 30 miles off the highway and not 5.

Most of those places don’t yet have electricity. The county roads leading in are lined for miles with fallen power poles. Locals told us stories of longtime restaurants and businesses that had survived decades of EVERYTHING Mother Nature could throw. They’re now reduced to roadside debris. They couldn’t withstand Helene.

I hear stuff like that and it gets my attention in a hurry. I’m a great respecter of the weather. Put my house anywhere near that cone of influence, and everything else takes a back seat.

I read with interest of a local group that had organized a vehicle parade of some type Saturday from Crystal River to Inverness to support their national candidate. Much planning went into this event and the organizers were quite excited about it.

Following Hurricane Helene, members questioned the appropriateness of a campaign event while a third of the county is recovering from a hurricane. Some folks said the event should go on, that the national stage doesn’t wait on the weather. Others said it’s in poor taste when hundreds of our citizens still have mud in their living rooms.

The event took place, but knowing this group, the debate hasn’t ended. 

They didn’t ask my opinion, so I won't give one. But, as I said in a blog last week, any hint of campaigning while a portion of the community is suffering from a hurricane simply isn’t a good look. Has that tone-deaf feel to it. I'm mentioning it again because the election is fast approaching, but Milton is approaching faster and our neighbors' needs come first.

So, there ya go. Another hurricane is upon us. Make sure to check the county, sheriff, Mayor Joe Meek, and Just Wright Citrus Facebook pages for updates. Be nice to one another as we plod through this week.

It certainly is Monday. Let’s make it the best Monday we can.

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