KEY WEST, Fl. — When you grow up in Marshall County, West Virginia, chances are slim you ever witnessed the likes of a Cat 4 Hurricane. Therefore the power of Hurricane Irma was a unique and jarring event to Alex Shook. Shook , a native of Moundsville and former WVU football player, is now an attorney who practices in Morgantown. But he maintains a second home in Key West and was there when Irma tore through the Florida Keys on Sunday.
“I didn’t think we were going to have anything left when I saw the power of the wind,” said Shook in an appearance Friday on Metronews Talkline. “Once the eye went through, I looked outside and all of the trees were ripped out. It was awesome and scary.”
Shook and his family decided not to evacuate. They instead chose to ride out the storm on the third floor of a hotel near the Key West Airport. The hotel is manged by a friend who offered them refuge in the structure which was built to endure hurricane force winds. He’s not second guessing the decision.
“I’m glad I stayed now. I’m able to get up on roofs, using my chainsaw and clearing people’s properties out. I’ve been able to help out a lot and that’s what I’m doing to pass the time,” he explained. “Everybody’s property took some damage.”
But Shook says his home came through Irma in pretty good shape with some minor cosmetic damages. He refuted many national news reports which indicated horrendous damage in Key West. While ti’s bad Shook says the real damage was in other parts of the Key. He’s seen some of it.
“Boats are down everywhere, they’re sunk and overturned,” Shook explained in describing the damages. “Houses were picked up and carried all the way across the road. Trailer courts took it hard, some are no longer there. Standing structures were ripped up and roofs torn off.”
Shook’s boat was secure on a lift and amazingly came through the storm almost unscathed. He was able to get on board and use the craft’s battery power to tune in the radio for some news since all other lines of communication immediately afterward were down. The situation continued to be dire since nobody is able to get into some of the Keys to deliver relief supplies. Several bridges need inspection and possibly repair, according to Shook, before they are reopened. Navy ships just off shore cannot move in until shipping channels are thoroughly searched for submerged debris.
Shook said one of the biggest needs is gasoline to keep generators running and some gas deliveries are getting into Key West. Lines at those gas stations are a mile long in some cases.
When asked what West Virginians could do to help, Shook indicated there wasn’t much anybody could do until the roads are reopened and even then only emergency responders are being allowed in. Until then, a lot of the Irma survivors in the Keys are helping one another and doing the best they can to get back on their feet.