Lake City, Florida. Again!
Posted in Current Events by Robert Mathis on March 10th, 2008 at 6:48 pm There is a scene in the movie “The World According To Garp” , where the lead character (played by Robin Williams) and his wife are looking at a house to buy, when a small plane loses control and crashes into the roof. Once it is determined that the pilot was OK, Garp announces to the real estate agent “We’ll take it”, and explains to his wife “Honey, the chances of another plane hitting this house are astronomical. It’s been pre-disastered. We’re going to be safe here.”
Here in Lake City, Florida, we appear to be the exception to the rule. For such a small town, we have been the home of more news-worthy disasters that the Irwin Allen film collection. Consider:
Summer 2004: Hurricanes Charley and Jeanne pass near by, knocking out electricity for days, floods all the nearby rivers and streams, and creates an over-supply in the local firewood industry.
May 2005: a large sinkhole threatens a home, a nearby trailer park and a state highway.
Christmas 2006: a tornado destroys several houses, a furniture factory and a convenience store on the west and north sides of the town.
May 2007: a major brush fire in the Osceola National Forest (over 120,000 acres) closes about 80 miles of Interstates 75 and 10 surrounding Lake City, forcing the evacuation of several neighborhoods threatened by the advancing flames.
March 2008: another tornado destroys several houses and two businesses, damaging many others in downtown Lake City.
There’s no need to rush up to North Florida, looking for a patch collection strewn along the countryside. All is well where my wife and I live. For the time being. Until the next storm/ fire/ sinkhole/ locusts/ tidal wave.
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