M. David Stirling: Rodents shouldn’t trump humans in disaster recoveries – sacbee.com
“Residents of the Southeastern United States know what to expect from the Atlantic hurricane season, but in 2004 it arrived with particular ferocity.
Hurricane Charley hit Florida, causing more than $14 billion in damage. Hurricane Frances prompted a record Florida evacuation.
But Hurricane Ivan proved the champ. At peak power Ivan ripped up nearly every house on the island nation of Grenada. After causing 60 deaths and massive destruction across the Caribbean, Ivan reserved a devastating punch for Florida’s panhandle, striking with 130 mph winds.
That spelled trouble for Paul and Gail Fisher and other residents of Perdido Key, a barrier island near Pensacola. Ivan struck Perdido Key with a fury, leaving a destructive path a few hundred yards wide and 16 miles long. The Fishers survived, but Ivan destroyed their home and many of their neighbors’ homes.”
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