Hurricane Irma Aftermath Photos

[PalmatierMeg]

Not long after sunrise yesterday I grabbed my camera and stepped out into a brave new world. Most of the damage was on our 125'x125' Garden Lot where the vast majority of hardwood trees were stomped or shredded. Nearly all of the palms held up admirably except where they were crushed by hardwood trees. I won't have a count of those victims until the trees are cut up and removed later this week. Most of the garden was flooded with ankle deep water so I had to pick my way around the drier areas to take these photos. Very disheartening in the light of day but I already knew the news would be bad. Here's how Irma proved you don't fool with Mother Nature.

[PalmatierMeg]

More wreckage

[PalmatierMeg]

More

[PalmatierMeg]

And more

[PalmatierMeg]

Last ones for now

[doranakandawatta]

I think some of the trees will recover , and maybe you'll discover new spaces to plant , less trees, more palms. 

Best wishes for clearance work in the next days.
Sorry I am too far for coming and help!

[bgl]

Meg,

Wow, what a mess!  And even though there's obviously major clean-up to be done, it seems as if most of your palms have survived, and even a few of the damaged ones may very well recover nicely! Hoping for the best and that you will be able to get most of the serious debris cleaned up soon.

Bo-Göran

[Cindy Adair]

These are quite dramatic and so glad none hit your house! I am hopeful the folks you mentioned in your other topic will show up soon and help. Looking at the broken pieces is surely upsetting and seeing even a few that may be salvageable by bracing or resprout will be reason to smile, at least a little, again.

I heard on the Miami radio station that gas is hard to find so folks who evacuated can'r return yet. I guess that would be really upsetting not being able to return to your home and start to recover. The station said that many gas stations did not have generators so could not access the gas they have. Wow.

They discussed potentially requiring gas stations to have generators as some states have done. So many layers of concern here.

[IHB1979]

Lots of damage, but lots of opportunity too! I'm happy you are safe. Thank you for posting the aftermath images.

We have a bit of damage on the east central coast of Florida too. I'm wondering why my Eucalyptus Deglupta's branches and leafs were shredded while yours were left on but the tree was downed. We had gusts that were near 90 mph and about 10' of rain.

 

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Meg,

I am glad you and your family are safe, and I hope your home is okay too.  Sorry for your beautiful trees and plants, but the nice thing about living in a tropical climate is that they recover rapidly.  Keep in mind how bad it could have been.  If the eyewall of Irma had not hit the northern Cuba coastline, things in Florida would be far worse.

John

[Missi]

UGHHH Why are Ceiba so prone to downing? They have huge root systems...but maybe the roots stay shallow? I lost two of mine. Also, my rainbow euc snapped in half, among other things.

[Yunder Wækraus]

On 9/15/2017, 10:53:21, IHB1979 said:

Lots of damage, but lots of opportunity too! I'm happy you are safe. Thank you for posting the aftermath images.

We have a bit of damage on the east central coast of Florida too. I'm wondering why my Eucalyptus Deglupta's branches and leafs were shredded while yours were left on but the tree was downed. We had gusts that were near 90 mph and about 10' of rain.

 

My rainbow euc was also stripped. I think our island saw more powerful gusts than have been reported. A brick building two houses down was stripped of its facade.

[Cindy Adair]

As so very sad as I am to see all the losses, I will look forward to follow up photos anytime.

Perhaps especially on the one year anniversary month of similar areas in your gardens. 

I know you all got hit much harder than I did by Irma, but the day it happens here, seeing your "after" photos would help me to adjust.

Sure I have seen photos of hurricane and typhoon devastation and recovery before, but it is even more personal on PT.

Thanks in advance.

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi Meg

Sorry to see your damage..some nice palms in your collection

Hopefully a couple of young Floridian palm persons can come and give you a helping hand

Hope things are improving for all there

Regards

Colin

[palmfriend]

Meg,

those pictures are hurting!  I really hope your garden will recover well - sometimes it looks worse than it is. Some plants can be

pushed back while others unfortunately can`t... I have got used to check my garden always at least twice - I often miss something

during the first round while being focussed on something (eg. the worse) - so, there might be more hope than it seemed at

first glance.

All the best to you,

best regards -

Lars

 

[Jimhardy]

Man,that is a serious drag....never saw a Pachypodium in a hurricane before!

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Yikes! Those rainbow eucs didn't fare well.