FDC OPENS FOR CLIENT VISITATION SATURDAY
UPDATE #2 : STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS CLOSED THROUGH FRIDAY-POSSIBLE MONDAY OPEN.
Date line: Ritz Carlton, Washington DC.
September 12, 2017.
POWER: FPL says all east coast power restored by this Sunday. All power in West Miami to be restored by this Friday. The farther east you go, the more power lines are down and the longer it will take.
COURTS:
SAO SUFFERS DAMAGE AND FLOODING:
Our intrepid state attorney is seeking temporary office space, as her office (part or all- it's not yet clear) is damaged/flooded.
State courts remained closed on Wednesday AND WILL REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH THIS WEEK.
Federal court is also closed through the end of the week. Support personnel, including those who stamp "denied" on most motions, are being asked to report to work on Thursday if they are able.
Monroe County Courts closed...indefinitely.
OUR VIEW:
Here is our community's attitude:
The Storm came. The rain came. The wind came. We all are in this together. We are damaged. We shall rebuild. We are all strong and resilient.
We're going to use a legal phrase here: BULLSHIT!
Miami survived only by sheer luck (which we had discerned by analyzing weather patterns days before the storm, about which we told you about BEFORE supposedly expert forecasters did. See our last two posts).
This community would have been destroyed beyond repair within a year if a Cat4+ had hit us directly.
Our shelters were in disarray. Staff didn't show up, requiring police officers to run shelters, which took them from the streets where they needed to be.
Our governor was (is, and continues to be) a moron. We watched (from the relative safety of our suite at the Ritz in DC, where we are rather well known) as on Friday night, the governor said during a state-wide televised press conference- and we quote "get out now!"
Get out to where? Anyone in Miami on Friday would not have had enough gas to get to the Florida/Georgia border, and many of those who fled Miami, fled to....Naples, Sarasota, and Tampa. Enough said.
We have heard of individual acts of altruism and that in many neighborhoods neighbors did in fact help their neighbors. But make no mistake, people in many depressed neighborhoods are suffering without food, water and power. It is almost impossible to sleep in 90 degree heat and no breeze, which is the type of weather that follows large storms.
On an individual basis, police officers, fire rescue, nurses, surgeons, hospital staff and doctors all left their families to serve our community during the storm. For that we should all be thankful. The next time you see a police officer, thank him or her for serving during the run up and after the storm while you were getting supplies and taking care of your family and home.
But our elected officials were bumbling fools. Moe, Larry, and Curly could have done a better job. The Mayor of Miami, during a press conference when he was taking criticism for the fact that shelters were not opened or were not staffed, felt it important to tell everyone his home was without power. As if that mattered.
We survived this storm only because it missed us, not because our elected officials did their jobs in a competent matter.
For the future, those of you who remained behind, consider this- during the next run up, do everything a week early. Board up your house before there are lines at Ace and Home Depot. Drive out of Florida before there are gas lines. Book tickets to fly to Uncle Ernie in Akron, before the flights fill up.
If this storm has taught us anything, it has reminded us that they are very very powerful and deadly, and that we cannot rely on our officials to make wise decisions and run government in a manner that will assist us in a time of need.
We are fortunate to have access to private travel and be able to afford a few weeks at a luxury hotel. Not everyone can do that. The key to surviving these storms, is the key to winning cases: prepare, prepare, prepare.
Stay safe. We wish all of our dear readers a quick recovery with power restored.
Your Humble srvt,
H. Rumpole, Blogger.