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Refuge after the storm

Jesse Hollett
Posted 9/20/17

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Hurricane Irma plowed through Florida Sept. 11 and left thousands without power.

While Clay Electric Cooperative worked diligently to restore power in the aftermath of the …

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Refuge after the storm


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Hurricane Irma plowed through Florida Sept. 11 and left thousands without power.

While Clay Electric Cooperative worked diligently to restore power in the aftermath of the storm, thousands of Clay County residents scurried about glued to social media wondering when life would return to normal. They wanted hot meals and a respite from the worry.

Fortunately, there were a number of places in the county that opened up for those without power or a home to go, take a hot shower, cook a hot meal and recharge their batteries literally and figuratively.

The Clay County Fairgrounds opened their doors Sept. 13 for residents to cook meals in their main office’s kitchen. Fair board members also opened the Recreational Vehicle Park on the fairgrounds for residents to shower and camp if their homes were destroyed during the hurricane.

“It’s the right thing to do. I know our community would come to our help if we ever needed it,” said Tasha Hyder, general manager of the Clay County Agricultural Fair. “We’re the Clay County Fair. We’re the heart of the community – it’s what we do.”

Displaced residents who own a camper or a tent were allowed stay in the campgrounds free for two days while they waited for power to come back on at their homes. After two days, Hyder said, the fair would charge campers.

Also offering hot showers and open outlets was the Steel Mill CrossFit gym on Fleming Island.

“I know what taking cold showers feels like, so I didn’t think anything of it and I made a quick post and I said ‘shoot, I bet you a lot of people want to charge their phones or use some hot water,”’ said Bill Davis, gym owner.

Davis said CrossFit gyms differ from normal gyms because trainers lead each workout, which lends itself well to creating a strong sense of community to those who attend and work at the gym.

Therefore, Davis said, the decision to open up his business, which was undamaged by Hurricane Irma, came naturally.

“We feel like we’re part of the community, we’re part of the Fleming Island community and we have been for four years,” Davis said. “That’s what we feel like, and why we want to do this, we feel like we can directly impact Clay County, that’s our job. That’s what we wanted to do. Honestly I think probably a lot of other people in the CrossFit community would have done the same.”

Davis’ gym also has volunteers to watch children while parents workout or shower.

Both Hyder and Davis offered the services to those affected by Hurricane Irma until they were no longer needed.

Neither Hyder nor Davis are sure how long that will be, considering storm surges in excess of three feet submerged homes in some parts of the county.

Still, it’s necessary, Hyder said.

“The generosity of this community has just overwhelmed me, it brings tears to your eyes. Everyone is reaching out to help,” she said.

As of Sept. 18, Hyder said the fairgrounds needed cleaning supplies, breakfast items, laundry detergent, school supplies, peanut butter and jelly and bread.