Residents Get Airboat Rides Home

Peace Creek residents needed help getting home. When Hurricane Jeanne blew into Lake Wales and flooded the Peace Creek RV and Mobile Home Park, residents of the park didn't know how they would get back home.

(PRWEB) October 15, 2004 -- When Hurricane Jeanne blew into Lake Wales and flooded the Peace Creek RV and Mobile Home Park, residents of the park didn't know how they would get back home.

The 8-10 inches of rain brought by Jeanne left residents, who had evacuated prior to the storm, standing at the park's entrance, observing the "island" that had once been their small community.

Passing by on US Hwy. 27 and noticing the park's condition, Robert Dummett saw a situation where he could help.

"Those people really had a problem out there," said Dummett, chairman of the Florida Airboat Association's safety committee. "But we knew that we could get out there to provide them access to their homes."

Less than a week after Jeanne, Dummett and Airboat Association members headed to the park with their watercraft. They served as an impromptu ferry service, shuttling park residents nearly one mile across the contaminated water to their homes.

Dummett said the residents were grateful for the help, but also apprehensive about what they would find once they arrived back home. For him, however, the volunteer effort came naturally.

"I'm a firefighter and a paramedic myself, so I have a specific interest in these people. But I thought this would be a good thing for our group to get involved with," Dummett said.

In addition to residents, Dummett said the airboaters helped transport insurance adjusters and representatives from FEMA and the Polk County Property Appraiser's Office to the mobile home park.

Last week, Dummett said that water at the park had still not receded completely. Accordingly, the airboaters plan to stay involved at the site, he said.

"The water is remaining relatively the same," he said Thursday. "We'll still meet people out there and give them any rides they need."

Robin Glasure, who lives at the park, said she had never been on an airboat until she needed one to inspect her property. She described it as "the most exciting experience to come out of a disaster."

Robin's husband, Jim, said he felt the same way.

"If you have to experience a disaster, a ride on an airboat is the way to do it," he said.

By KYLE KENNEDY
kyle.kennedy@newschief.com

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