Record Details:

Highway 19 Gas & Grill [open business, grilling free food]

Organization:
Facility Type: Open Business*
Status: Open

Address:
Perry, FL 00000

Region:
County/Parish:

Website: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/31/1196943553/after-idalia-neighbors-in-perry-fla-share-a-spirit-of-hope-and-togetherness







This organization provides Temporary or Permanent Service? Temporary

Notes:

After Idalia, neighbors in Perry, Fla., share a spirit of hope and togetherness
August 31, 20235:12 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition
FROM
WFSU

By

Regan McCarthy

2-Minute Listen
Download
Transcript
Hurricane Idalia walloped Perry when it stormed ashore with 125 mph winds on Wednesday. People in the city are just now trying to pick up pieces and sort out how to move forward.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

The city of Perry, Fla., was hit hard by Hurricane Idalia. As in other communities in the Big Bend part of the state, the storm knocked out power, flooded roads, damaged homes and smashed businesses. After the winds and rain cleared last night, community members started counting up damages. And as WFSU's Regan McCarthy reports, neighbors came together to share a spirit of hope and togetherness.

(SOUNDBITE OF CHAINSAW REVVING)

REGAN MCCARTHY, BYLINE: In some parts of Perry, the sound of chainsaws is almost enough to drown out the usual singing of cicadas and tree frogs. Families, neighbors and out-of-towners are coming together to clear roadways and a path to recovery.

DENISE MINGO: It took a tough hit, a very tough hit.

MCCARTHY: Denise Mingo (ph) says the aftermath of the storm looks bad, but she prefers to view things in a more positive light.

MINGO: The cup being half full, you know, or about empty - so it's all in their perception of what life is to how they're going to handle their situation. But, I mean, as far as the community, if we could come together as a whole, we could do it.

MCCARTHY: And in a gas station parking lot where a plume of smoke carries the smell of barbecue, that's exactly what's happening.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: That's good. That's the one there (ph). Oh, yeah.

MCCARTHY: Highway 19 Gas & Grill is one of the only open stores. The power's out, and rather than waste the food that might spoil, workers are in the parking lot cooking up a free feast for the community. Others have brought by bags of charcoal or helped clear the parking lot of debris.

MARY GRAMLIN: We work together. We family here. We know everybody by name. We kiss the kids. We hug. We check on everybody. That's how we do it around here.

MCCARTHY: Mary Gramlin (ph) is helping to dish up to-go boxes for a growing line. She says in the 50 years she's lived in Perry, she's never seen a storm so devastating. Gramlin's coworker, Shonda Palmer (ph), says her house was damaged by the storm. Part of the roof lifted up, and one of the rooms flooded from the incoming rain. She doesn't have homeowner's insurance.

SHONDA PALMER: Most of this community don't unless they're paying a mortgage or a payment. We can't - I mean, you can't really afford that here. So, you know, it's just too hard. I mean, you barely make your bills.

MCCARTHY: In rural communities like this, it's not unusual for houses to be passed down through generations, meaning they're often owned outright. And since homeowner's insurance is so expensive in Florida, people often choose not to carry it when it's not required. That can make recovery an even longer and more difficult process, one Palmer says she's not sure can be done. But for her, standing behind a grill feeding her community feels like a good place to start. For NPR News, I'm Regan McCarthy in Perry, Fla.

Info Source/Changes:

Created At: Thu Aug 31 23:36:15 +0000 2023
Updated At: Thu Aug 31 23:36:15 +0000 2023
Updated By: tfri

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