Hurricane Ian Part 1: A Personal View

Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

By: Benjamin J. Chewning

34 BETTER OFF WET | NOVEMBER 2022

Like many Floridian’s, I started out seeing the storm that became Hurricane Ian as just that; a storm, far, far away from Florida, like many other storms before it. But, as the days passed by the storm got a name, Ian, and a destination…Florida. Some of the first models had Ian heading for B.O.W.’s home area of the Nature Coast. Like many other folks on the Nature Coast, I and my family and friends, in the area began to plan and “safe things up”. Hurricane Ian decided ultimately on a different path, despite the many models and original predictions of heading our way, to the Nature Coast. Ian decided to make landfall instead in Southwest Florida and He made landfall with ferocious roar that is sure to leave a long lasting impact.

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Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

36 BETTER OFF WET | NOVEMBER 2022

Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

Wednesday, September 18th I was at home in Hernando County, watching the winds blow heavily through the trees, and the clouds move fervently as part of Ian’s outer bans. I went to sleep Wednesday night, only waking up a few times when the wind gusts were really roaring. But, what I saw and heard in Hernando County was nothing in comparison to what I would see over the next 10 days, in the counties of Southwest Florida. A good buddy of mine called me early Thursday morning and asked if I could head down with him, to do some FDOT work, that his company was contracted to do. I said yes, and we were off to Southwest Florida, with a task order to put out generators at main-line intersections, and get the traffic signals running, if possible. Many folks may forget about the niche of traffic signals… but, as soon as they are not working, the importance of them comes directly to the forefront. I would not go so far as to say there was chaos amongst those in charge at

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Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

38 BETTER OFF WET | NOVEMBER 2022

Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

the FDOT location we were working out of, but there were surely organization issues and far too much red tape. I have been a part of many large-scale heavy civil projects, with many facets, moving parts, and etc. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, when it comes to organization and leadership, on large projects and small for that matter. I know an emergency situation, like that of a huge hurricane hitting an area, isn’t really comparable to projects that have years of planning, preparation, and due diligence. But, there are many logistical basics that do work the same. I will just use the old adage my Grandmother always stood by, “if, you don’t have something good to say, don’t say anything” in this particular situation, with the FDOT.

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Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

40 BETTER OFF WET | NOVEMBER 2022

Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

Unlike the governmental agency mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Military, State Troopers, and other Law Enforcement Agencies were phenomenal, from this man’s perspective. I really don’t know how some of them do what they do. Being present after a hurricane as Military personnel or as a Law Enforcement Officer, in the capacity of traffic control, is absolutely a tough job! Long lines at gas stations, extremely long traffic jams, and water over everything doesn’t really bring out the best in Florida drivers, in my opinion. Many folks are still texting away and not paying attention (which led to many accidents I witnessed) to what is going on around them, as if a huge hurricane hadn’t just hit the very area they were driving in. As I helped my buddy’s company put out generators, at the intersections, and get the traffic signals back running,

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Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

42 BETTER OFF WET | NOVEMBER 2022

Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

the Officer’s were very thankful, because the traffic lights could guide the public again, and not them. I must have said it a hundred times, while I was working alongside the Law Enforcement Officer’s, the storms bring out the best in some and the worst in others. It is certainly easy to spot the selfish citizen(s); they honk at the Cops and Workers to only find out the cones they were crossing or traffic they were cutting off, was all for nothing…because yes, Starbucks or the gym was closed. The look of confusion as to how these places could be closed is fascinating to me. The entire area would be without power and somehow folks still think that life should just be back to normal at the snap of a finger. The antithesis to these folks mentioned is the actual majority of people I saw, the folks who Ian brought the best out of. There were more thank you’s and double taps from car horns than I could even count. I believe the majority of citizens understand that things don’t happen at the flick of a switch, especially after a storm the size of Ian hits you. I saw Law Enforcement Agencies from literally all over the State of Florida, present and working in Southwest Florida. Thanks to all of you who were there helping!

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Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

44 BETTER OFF WET | NOVEMBER 2022

Hurricane Ian Part 1 – A Personal View

By Tuesday, after Ian made landfall, my buddy’s company had all the traffic signals in his prescribed area back up and running (if they weren’t totally destroyed). Traffic was flowing much better by then. When we first arrived it took 3 hours to go 10 miles, and by Tuesday, it was under an hour. We slept in parking lots, in our RV, while we were working in the areas hit by Ian. We met many folks from all parts of the Country who were down rebuilding the Southwest Florida infrastructure. After the first few days of work, it seemed like a lot of the red tape had been cut and the men and women workers were allowed to start really getting after it. I witnessed many jobs being done in a day that would have normally been weeks. Thank you to all the crews and crews of innumerable workers who helped and are helping to get things back “up and running” in Southwest Florida. It will be many weeks, months, and years in some instances for life to get back to normal in Southwest Florida. But, seeing the good spirit and willingness to help from most of the folks I saw, I know the majority of Floridians will recover and do so with good attitudes. Anyone affected by Ian who is reading this article, may God bless you and bring you peacefulness and joy, even as you grieve and deal with all the many factors at play in the process of recovery.

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