Former Palm Springs resident describes being in Hurricane Irma’s path
Many are dealing with the effects of Hurricane Irma, after it made landfall nearly a week ago in the Florida Keys.
One of those affected is Aaron Huntsman, a former resident of Palm Springs now living in Key West.
Huntsman described riding out the category four storm.
“Having no phone. Let’s see, no cable is one thing, no power. Power came back on yesterday for us. Sewage has been backing into people’s houses.”
Huntsman provided images of Irma’s destruction and says he never experienced anything comparable to Irma’s force.
“I’ve been through some wind storms out in the Palm Springs area, and also Las Vegas but nothing like this. It had a sound I will never forget like a freight train and then you can hear the gusts or swirls of wind coming, which ended up being tornadoes.”
The former local says the worst part during the storm was losing touch with his family.
“Two days ago, I got ahold of my mother and that was a good feeling. It really hits you when you get ahold of your loved ones, on how much you’re actually affected and how much people actually do love you.”
He says the reason he stayed in Key West is because his hotel in the Tampa-Bay area cancelled his reservations due to changing forecasts.
He also plans on applying for FEMA relief as about half of the island now has power.
Meanwhile, state officials are not allowing residents who evacuated back onto the island yet keeping them on Florida’s mainland.
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