Two Hurricane Irma evacuees said they’ve been overwhelmed and blessed by the kindness shown to them in Baldwin County following the hurricane.
Connie and Brad, who live in Apollo Beach near Tampa, were recently interviewed by Lori DuBose and Mark Swalley on WABF 1480 AM, after Lori met them out in Fairhope.
“These are people that have made lemonade out of lemons,” DuBose said. “They’ve taken what could have been a big negative and are just so positive about what they’re doing right now.”
Connie said she and Brad had been in contact with family members who were back in Florida and said they were doing okay.
“Our area took it very well,” Connie said. “They have power and they aren’t underwater. A couple of our close rivers did flood, and there are still first responders coming in and getting some folks out.”
Connie said she and Brad spent days trying to outrun the storm, eventually making their way into Baldwin County and settling in at the Key West Inn in Fairhope.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the hospitality Alabama has been showing,” Connie said. “Anywhere and everywhere we’ve been, they’ve been over generous.”
The pair has been seeing the sights while sticking around Baldwin County, making sure to take plenty of photos with “Gator Monkey,” a stuffed monkey that belongs to Connie’s grandson.
“Everything we do, the Gator Monkey does also,” Connie said. “We got pictures of him hanging out at the Hangout, flying at the Dragonfly, here at the radio station, washing the truck. He’s been busy, and we’re just trying to make sure he has a lot of fun. It’s keeping my mind off of things going on at home, and we’re enjoying it.”
Connie and Brad said they were deliberately delaying their return home so that people who had not been able to leave would be sure to get the supplies and help they needed.
“Some folks like us have the funds to stay away,” Connie said. “Some couldn’t afford to leave, and I didn’t want to go home knowing there were people who couldn’t afford to leave that still needed help. By me not being there, it’s helping them because we aren’t taking resources they might need.”
To that end, DuBose has started a hurricane supply drive to stock Connie and Brad’s truck with supplies for them to take back to their friends and neighbors.
Needed items include heavy duty trash bags, plastic gloves, work gloves, disposable masks,first aid kits, mops, brooms, buckets, shovels, mosquito repellant, bleach, vinegar, rags and all cleaning supplies. No clothes are needed.
These items will be distributed by the Seeds of Hope charitable organization.
Donations must be dropped off by 5 p.m. Wednesday at WABF or Revolution Resale at 9 N. Church Street, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 pm.
