Update - Island Dunes Oceanside I-- Monday, Oct. 04

Donna Draper provides this update:

We spent a few hours at Island Dunes yesterday. The building above the first floor looks fine except for 1401 which must not have secured the shutters very well. There may be a couple of others that have minor damage, dents, etc., but overall our building looks OK. Sunday it was quiet and nobody was really around. The parking lot has a couple of cars sideways and is dirty, so the entry looks far less inviting that it did! "Kinda napalmed" as my husband puts it. We went through Andrew in Miami, and it looks very much the same but this is not as bad. The good news is that things really do return to normal; it just takes time...and money.

The first floor common area is pretty much blown out and all torn up but has been cleared of most of the mud and sand. The surge took out the wall to the south storage area (mine) and bent the cages in that first row. There must have been at least 2 ft. of wet sand and water in both storage area cages at one point. The north storage area is still wet and muddy but the floor is visible. You can walk in there but will get muddy feet. Upon entry to the lobby, there is a lovely breeze coming through the social room and a clear shot of the beach. It would be wonderful were it not for all the destruction that first meets your eyes.

All power was on yesterday but there is a "use at your own risk" sign in the elevators. The pools are cleared out with huge mounds of sand all around the edges. The little room where they store the patio furniture is full of sand. Nevertheless, it is apparent that there has been lots of work going on in Bldg. 1 in comparison with Bldg. 2 which is a disaster on the first floor. They also have more damage to shutters and balconies it looks like. We are lucky in that regard, and I think Ted and Barbara as well as others have been working hard.

Basically, it looks like we are undergoing a massive renovation, which we are--just not elected, I guess, and we can only assume that "special assessment" is coming down the pike to cover the deductible.

They were checking ID at the Stuart bridge and again at the entry to St. Lucie county, so bring an electric bill in case they're still there.

Donna