Residents optimistic after Frances

By Chris Butler

staff writer

Since Hurricane Frances passed over Martin County,

Palm City resident Charlie Cellotto has lost his

electrical power, thrown all of his food away and says

he misses the comfort of a hot shower.

Mr. Cellotto even has a sign in his front yard

advertising his need for power, one he hopes will

attract FP&L workers.

But despite his recent hard luck, Mr. Cellotto, who

lives on 31st Street, says a lot of good has come with

the bad, and given him the chance to put matters in

perspective.

“It’s like we went back 100 years in time. If you can

imagine what it was like to live then. I guess we’ve

all been a little bit spoiled with the things we have

today,” he said.

The aftermath of Francis, Mr. Cellotto said, has

afforded him the opportunity to grow closer to his

neighbors, several of whom he never would have met

otherwise.

Many of his neighbors, some of whom have power, have

offered Mr. Cellotto use of their extension cords,

while others have offered their help repairing his

damaged roof.

Others have offered food.

“I guess everybody bands together in times of crisis,”

he said.

Donna Price, who lives nearby on Feroe Avenue, says

residents of the Palm City neighborhood have always

remained close.

“There is a very strong sense of family here in this

neighborhood to begin with. Everyone knows everybody.

“And everybody looks out for each other,”Ms. Price

said.

Ms. Price is one of the few residents in the

neighborhood to have her power on, and says she feels

guilty, so much so that she has allowed her neighbors

to use her phone line.

But Friday morning, garbage trucks passing near her

house ripped that phone line down.

Ms. Price is experiencing other problems as well.

An overhead tree crashed through her roof, and Ms.

Price says she’s afraid her insurance policy may not

pay for repairs because of her 5 percent deductible.

She said she rode out Hurricane Frances with her

family, but is sending her children and grandchildren

away from Florida for Hurricane Ivan, in case it

brings more damage.

Ms. Price, however, says she will remain in Palm City,

no matter what.

“I’m staying here. My house is the only thing that I

have,”she said.

Meanwhile, in Sewell’s Point, where the eye of Frances

was said to have passed, Cindy Allen also says the

hurricane has brought her neighborhood closer

together.

 Sewell’s Point residents planned a party for last

Friday evening.

“Actually, we fared pretty well,” Ms. Allen said,

despite having gone without power for several days and

the Indian River almost flooding over into her house.

In East Stuart, residents of the predominantly black

community saw their power return, only to turn off

after a nearby transformer blew.

They were still without power as of Friday afternoon,

and some residents had experienced water damage to

their homes.

But two residents, Dessie Lewis and Lillian Wesley,

both of whom have lived in the neighborhood for more

than 40 years, said they wish FP&L was more prompt in

restoring their power, but otherwise have no

complaints.

“Yeah, we’ve got damage,”Ms. Wesley said.

“But other than that, life is good,” she added.

butler@hometownnewsol.com