"Where are the cots? Where are the blankets? Where's the back-up?" These were some of the questions evacuees at the Miami Edison Senior High School shelter were asking after waiting more than 36 hours for the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Food was running out. One person attempted suicide. And quite a few people left before the storm was over.
WLRN reporter Kate Stein lived in an evacuation zone and found herself at the shelter doing more than just waiting out the storm. She recounts her experience staying at the hurricane shelter before, during and after Hurricane Irma. "The overall lack of supplies and preparedness was one problem," she said.
These are some of the tweets that Stein posted during her experience. You can see all of them here. You can also read more about life in Miami-Dade and Broward shelters here.
— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) September 10, 2017
.@MDCPS @MiamiEdisonSR security, cleaning & kitchen staff have been incredibly patient w a lot of frustrated, crabby ppl this weekend. @WLRN
— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) September 10, 2017
Atrium at Edison has pretty much cleared out. Woman -- an evacuee -- is picking up trash. @WLRN
— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) September 10, 2017
A man here attempted suicide this morning. Medics have been monitoring him all day; he's now outside. @WLRN 1/2
— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) September 10, 2017
Volunteer next to me just gave one of his shirts to elderly man whose sleeve's covered in blood after taking out insulin pump needle. @WLRN
— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) September 10, 2017
They are being asked over and over, where is FEMA? Red Cross? Cots? Water? Blankets? @WLRN
— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) September 10, 2017