Ex-Valley resident describes hurricanes' destruction in Fla.

Loss of homes and jobs has been devastating, the Florida resident says.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN -- Betty Fritzinger has a message for people in Lisbon and other parts of the Mahoning Valley who are struggling as a result of recent flooding: She understands what you are going through.
Fritzinger, of DeLand, Fla., and formerly of Youngstown, has seen her share of damage in recent weeks. Fritzinger, who arrived recently at her mother's Austintown residence from her home in Volusia County, said her property is still flooded and that she had no power or water after Hurricanes Charley and Frances devastated parts of that and other Florida counties.
"It was massive, extensive and incredibly long," Fritzinger said of Hurricane Frances. "We were just cleaning up from Charley, which flooded my road and flooded my [next-door] neighbor's house," destroying it, she said.
Damage to roads, bridges and property in Columbiana County was estimated at around $5 million after thunderstorms dropped nearly 7 inches of rain on the area Aug. 27 and 28, overflowing streams and creeks. Lisbon was one of the hardest-hit areas.
Insurance experts say the combined estimated damage from Charley and Frances statewide was between $11 billion and $13 billion, and Fritzinger said that damage in Volusia County has been estimated at $337 million.
Extreme difficulties
Fritzinger described the toll that two hurricanes hitting less than a month apart has had on some Florida residents, including several friends. Many people are trying to figure out what to do after losing their homes and/or jobs, while others have suffered extensive property damage and are trying to protect their belongings. Some communities are still on lockdown after imposing a mandatory curfew to guard against looting, she said.
Compounding the difficulty for many people, she noted, has been an inability to buy batteries, plywood and gasoline. At some gas stations, lines up to "80 cars in every direction" were a common sight and some people arrived only to discover that gasoline was no longer available at their pump, Fritzinger said, adding that despite the long lines, people stayed calm and treated one another kindly.
Many residents also found it nearly impossible to stock up on other essential items. Kmart and other large stores quickly sold out of plastic foam coolers, nonelectric can openers, small radios, flashlights and insect repellent, she continued.
"We went to five stores to buy batteries for a family friend. We finally found them at a grocery store," she recalled.
Fritzinger, who travels with and takes care of her 88-year-old mother, Virginia Schialdone, said she's worried about the long-term effects of the disasters. Many residents have contaminated water, as well as no air conditioning to protect them from the heat and humidity. Standing water could increase the chances of an alligator attack and has created a breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to fears of the spread of the West Nile virus, she pointed out.
Costs pile up
Though some effects of the storms are obvious -- such as the flooding and damage to much of the state's citrus crop and numerous fern trees -- others may be incremental and, after the water recedes, prove harder for some to bear financially. Fritzinger said county residents are being required to pay a deductible of 2 percent of the value their insurance company places on their land and structures based upon their condition at the beginning of the calendar year.
After driving her to Youngstown, Fritzinger's husband, James, a technician for Bell South Co., returned to clean up and help restore phone service to residents.
Fritzinger, whose own house escaped major damage, praised President Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for quickly organizing and activating trucks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deliver ice and other items. The president and governor also helped to ensure that shelters were set up and volunteers were in place, she added. She also praised 70 people from Akron who volunteered to assist with the cleanup.
Some good emerges
Like many disasters, the hurricanes brought devastation and hardship, but countless acts of kindness too, Fritzinger said. These and other disasters should also reinforce certain important lessons, she added.
"I hope we learn to be more self-sufficient, less dependent on creature comforts, to be more kind to one another and to care about our neighbor. Out of bad comes good. You prepare for the worst and pray for the best," she said.