Power Restored For Hurricane Victim After 15 Years

[The Straight Story]

Power Restored For Hurricane Victim After 15 Years

(CBS) CULTLER BAY, Fla. An elderly woman who had been living without power in her home due to hurricane damage was finally seeing the light Friday night when power to her home was restored. What makes her story amazing is that the hurricane which put her in the dark was Andrew, which hit Florida almost 15 years ago; she's been living without power to her house since Aug. 24, 1992.

She had no heat when a winter chill settled over South Florida. There was no air conditioning when the mercury climbed into the 90's and the humidity clung to 100%.

Norena, who didn't want her full name used because she is embarrassed by her situation, has not had one hot shower at home in nearly 15 years. Every morning started with an icy blast.

"I think it's like everything: you learn how to step into it and wait, and when you feel it, you take your quick shower," she recalled.

Like many victims of Hurricane Andrew, Norena had a problem with an unscrupulous contractor and when the money from the insurance settlement ran out the contractor did too. He left her home half-repaired and not up to code which meant it would not have the electricity connected.

http://wfrv.com/topstories/topstories_story_048105125.html

[sakabatou]

1. !

:banghead:

[laylah]

2. Reprehensible! K & R!

[madrchsod]

3. "little pink houses for you and me"

pathetic is`t it...

[MedleyMisty]

4. Ugh

And considering I just read another post on another forum blaming all the victims of Katrina for how slow the recovery is going....

She's a strong woman. We were out of power for a week after an ice storm and that was bad enough for me. 15 years? Wow. I admire and respect her.

[kdmorris]

5. MY GOD!!

After Hurricane Frances and Jeanne in 2004 and again after Hurricane Wilma in 2005, we were without power for a week or so each time (a little over a week with Frances, only 2 days with Jeanne, but that was only 3 weeks apart). After Frances, it was so hot I could barely eat or sleep (South Florida summers are BRUTAL). I just don't know how this poor woman must have suffered for 15 summers with NO AC. It's beyond fathoming. I hope she gets everything repaired without having to put out any more money. I think she's suffered enough over the last 15 years to freaking EARN free repairs.

It just goes to show how little we speak to our neighbors these days. How could no one notice?

[Jeanette in FL]

6. That is unacceptable in the richest country in the world

I cannot believe that someone in the code enforcement could not link this woman up with a program to get the work up to code and get her electric back on.

Unbelievable.

[hashibabba]

7. I used to live in Florida and it's brutal in the summer because of

the extremely high humidity. So you get used to the heat and then it goes down to freezing in the winter. I don't know how she managed. Yes, it is despicable that she had to live like that.

Regarding New Orleans, you can't blame the whole city for what is happening. There are a few bad apples everywhere.

We need more Democratic congressmen and a Dem for president in 2008 in order to fix some of the gross negligence in this country.

[Greyhound]

8. Thank gawd she had insurance, huh? I'll tell you those people are

just so great, it is no wonder all of our leaders are always thinking up new ways to make us give them more of our money.:sarcasm: