Demolished homes at Tropicana are sometimes left with messages. Paul Goldfinger photo 3/09/22. ©
One person left a sign saying goodbye to his neighbors. His home was a pile of rubble. The message “Don’t touch” could mean “be careful” or it could mean “don’t take anything that isn’t yours.”
Some more aid is arriving including help from a Florida Methodist group, and I was reminded of when several truckloads of young strong workers showed up in the Grove from Maine to help after Sandy. They also were a Methodist group. The CMA housed them in the Youth Temple, and as soon as they had arrived in the Grove they jumped off the trucks and began working to clear debris, especially big tree parts—they even brought their own equipment and food.
In a recent report I complained that demolitions in Tropicana had not begun after a month. But be careful of what you wish for: the demolition crews have arrived and they are working in multiple sites at high speed.
As a result, the park looks like a war zone, and huge trucks sometimes block the streets causing traffic jams. The big steam shovels are moving loads of destroyed metal housing, and as you go by on foot, car or golf cart, you can’t help but imagine that one of those loads, swinging through the air, might fall on your head.
But, not to complain, because as soon as all the demos are done, new trailer homes can arrive and be installed, but, as you might imagine, there is difficulty finding available houses to be moved here.
I worry about medical issues such as mold. While the tornado blasted through Tropicana Park, there was a heavy rain, and mold can be very dangerous health-wise. And there might be respiratory problems in people roaming around by the wrecks or even working inside to find personal items. I think of 9-11 and the health problems that developed short-term or long-term after the attacks.
See you all soon.
Paul Goldfinger, MD