We were told that we were in the path of Hurricane Ian’s east eyewall, the storm was moving very slowly (5mph), and we were at high tide. Shell Point housed us on the second level of an extremely strong parking garage. We could not see or hear anything during the two days we were there, but the concrete floor did occasionally shake. We always felt safe and secure with zero gravity chairs, three meals daily, bottled water, and even snacks. We thank you for your prayers.
When we finally had a peek at what had happened outside the shelter, we were shocked. The horticulture was devastated. Large Banyan trees were lying horizontally and stripped of their leaves. Many cars were underwater. We had almost three feet of water in our parking deck, so we lost our car. Sadly, Shell Point will never be the same as 200 dwellings were no longer habitable.
After two days in the shelter, we were told we could return to our apartments, and most of us opted to do so. Thankfully, we had no damage, but we still had no water or electricity. Shell Point provided three daily meals for us to pick up from the shelter and I had to carry water up five stories from our pool to flush our toilet. We used flashlights to move around, but our biggest challenge was trying to keep our phones charged. The storm shelter was the only place powered by a generator, so many folks crowded around available charging stations.
Landscape companies swarmed the entire campus with activity, and the sound of chainsaws, bucket trucks, and large equipment loading brush into large dump trucks surrounded us. Cleaning up the campus progressed well, including overworked tow truck drivers hauling off dead cars.
BEFORE
AFTER
Electricity and water (with very low pressure) were restored a few days after the storm. After not having had a shower for eight days, I was desperate and showered with cold water. Slowly we are getting back to normal. Staff and volunteers check on all of us daily. Working with Carvana was a pleasure, and we bought a car online, which was a new experience. They delivered our Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid, and we felt very blessed.
As we reflect on this experience, we praise God for all our wonderful benefits and blessings. When trials come, you can tell a lot about a person’s or organization’s character. Our family stayed in touch with us constantly throughout this event. Shell Point did a fantastic job of keeping us safe—from the top executives to those sweeping floors. Every employee worked diligently to make the best of the circumstances. The president was with us much of the time we were in the shelter, keeping us updated and informed.
AFTER
BEFORE
With over 1,000 people, the shelter was full! Several who used walkers experienced falls, but the residents were cheerful and helped those unable to function well in such conditions. When we thanked the staff for doing a fantastic job, they smiled and said, “We love you and want to help you get through this.” The atmosphere was upbeat and caring. It was a time of bonding with fellow residents, and we are grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.
The horticultural appearance is forever changed, but Shell Point remains an example of how believers are to live together in harmony. We praise God for His sustaining and protecting power. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We serve an awesome God!
by Elder GR Houck
