Remembering Hurricane Wilma 10 Years Later

Oct. 24--Ten years ago today on Oct. 24, 2005, the most devastating hurricane to hit the Keys in 45 years arrived in the form of Wilma -- the worst storm Monroe County has seen since 1960's Hurricane Donna.

At Sombrero Light off Marathon, sustained winds were 98. At Cudjoe Key, they peaked at 123 mph. Summerland Key saw a peak of 127 mph. Islamorada had winds of 108 mph, says the National Weather Service in Key West.

But it wasn't the wind that did in the Keys. It was the water, which resulted in saltwater intrusion wrecking thousands of cars and mold developing in homes and businesses up and down the islands.

Storm surge in Key Haven was 7.2 feet. Upper Sugarloaf Key saw 7.6 feet of water. Cudjoe Key had water surge of 8.5 feet. Marathon saw 7.3 feet and Tavernier experienced 4 feet of storm surge.

"I lived on 107th Street gulf" in Marathon, says Les Boyanton. "My wife and kids evacuated to Boca. After it appeared the worst was over, I went around checking on family members. We got the news of the water coming so I returned home. Within an hour I had lost almost everything I owned. It was straight to work for [the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative], though, working to restore power."

"Water, water, more water," says Tanya Saint-Amand, then a Sugarloaf Key resident who now lives in Michigan. "Six-person Jacuzzi cruising by the house, no driver."

The surge, despite what some people contend, should not have been a surprise. The National Weather Service issued a statement that Saturday night and early Sunday that a surge of 5 to 8 feet was expected on Monday. It happened.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it "obligated $342.5 million to 227,321 disaster applicants" in Monroe and other Florida counties. Of that, $150.8 million was for housing (including temporary rentals and repairs) and $191.5 million for other serious disaster-related needs, such as personal property losses and moving and storage.

More than $1.4 billion overall was provided to governments and nonprofit organizations for clearing debris and making repairs to property.

Ten years later, the memories have not subsided like the water did.

"I was in my house directly on the bay, at Captain Pip's, a half mile from the Seven Mile Bridge," says Barbara Reeve of Lake Worth, then co-owner of Captain Pip's Marina and Hideaway in Marathon.

"Peaking out between the hurricane panels, I could see the water getting higher and higher -- eventually coming over the sea wall into my house and down the lane. I trudged through knee-deep rushing water to get to our manager, Ellie's, second-floor apartment. We spent the next few hours counting the steps. When there were more dry steps than wet, we knew the water was receding and soon the big job of cleaning up would begin."

"I moved to Miami days after she hit for hospital work," says Suzette Tamblyn of Key Largo. "Debris everywhere, no power, a huge mess. I had to report ASAP despite the challenges. Three weeks later when I returned home and heard the AC running I nearly wept with joy. Tough start to living in Florida."

"Oh how I do remember my most uninvited wedding guest -- Wilma," says Shirley Wilson. "She stormed into our lives and forced us to evacuate our wedding planned in Islamorada."

Lisa Yacovelle Kronus lived on Flagler Avenue in Key West. "Ruined items of memories. First FEMA trailer and caused chaos to our family. Things went haywire after that storm."

Christy Volkert Karl Johnson, co-owner of SeaSquared Charters in Marathon, lived on 90th Street oceanside in a rental house.

"Had been in the Keys less than a year," she says. "Lived through three others before Wilma. Thought everything was just fine until we saw water rushing down the street from the gulf side. Meaning it had flowed across the highway."

"Just glad it's over and everything was fixed," says Donna Slater Davis of Key Largo. "Porch and air conditioning unit all raised 24 inches at a cost of $4,000. Insurance paid $380. Citizens [Property Insurance Corp.] said it was flooding fault. FEMA said it was wind's fault. Go figure."

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