John Cassidy
Professor Andrew Golden
ENC 1930 U23B
“Walking Tour of Southwest Ranches 170th Avenue Neighborhood”
Welcome to sunny South Florida. Right now you’re standing in the community of
Southwest Ranches on 170th Avenue, and are enjoying some of the most beautiful atmosphere
South Florida has to offer. Today you’ll journey down this long stretched asphalt road lined with
palm trees brushing across the clear blue sky, as you witness some of hardest hit areas of
Hurricane Katrina. This neighborhood endured through some of the most brutal waves of the
storm; that I as a child experienced first-hand. Look out for the eroded tree stumps where once
hulking ever green pine trees stood in the sky, and came crashing down into resident’s houses
during the Hurricane. One family of five was trapped after almost being crushed underneath
these giant pine trees. Another family woke up the one morning to a monstrous seventy five foot
pine tree sleeping next to them in bed. Families were stranded inside their homes for days,
frightened as they huddled close together awaiting the storms passing. Now walk south and then
turn to the west, while you take a brisk walk down the avenue and stop when you arrive at the
first stop; located on the map.
This venue stands as an exceptional beginning point in our walking tour. Down off the
main stretch of 170th Avenue lays this diverged alley way of 48th Street. The amber painted
house is home to the Menendez residence, a family of six. But most importantly my best friend
Nick lives here. After the passing of the storm together we ventured through the wreckage left in
its wake. We explored through the newfound land of fallen trees and mountains of debris. After
our hours of play and exploration we would help neighbors mend their broken homes. Notice the
arced drive way wrapped around the oak tree; and watch as the sun irradiates through the bristled
leaves causing a cast of shadows. Go on ahead and venture over to the left side of the house; and
peak over the aged brown brushed wooden fence to take view of the dirt desert in their back
yard. Over towards the far right end corner you can see the horse stable, and watch the majestic
horse roam the dirt passage. When the Hurricane approached, to shield the horses from the storm
they were outfitted with blinkers and ear muffs. Without the ear muffs to muffle the storms
sound, and the blinkers to shield the horses eyes they would have panicked. Horses are easily
startled and would have bucked and kicked trying to escape from the stable. However, most
animals weren’t as fortunate as these horses; approximately 600,000 animals1 were left by their
owners or killed as a result of the Hurricane. Now as you finish your site seeing walk back to the
road heading towards the stop sign and make a right. Stop at the next designated stop located on
the map.
This grey house, with a glowing aqua trim, belongs to one of the neighborhoods most
kind-hearted and generous neighbors, Bill. Take note of Bills long-stretched lush green grass that
reaches against the street marked by the bordering white rocks. The former Army Colonel’s roots
still shine through as he keeps a regimented order on cutting his grass. This so much so that the
neighborhood secretly thinks at night he comes out and cuts it with a pair of barber scissors and a
ruler. However, having such a hardnosed, strictly regimented neighbor played a crucial role in
aiding in the cleanup of our neighborhood. Bill joined alongside my father, and together they
used their chainsaws to slice through the monumental Australian pine tree that laid waste in my
front yard. After these hard days of labor my family would join in his back yard to cook a
barbequed meal together. We enjoyed these meals with many other neighbors and shared so
much more than just food. Now travel a little further down the street until you reach the stop sign
at the four-way intersection.
Here lies an eroded tree stump, a remnant of what once stood before Hurricane Katrina.
Before the storm a hulking ever green Australian pine tree stood in the sky at seventy-five feet.
On the second night of the storm, the tree trunk splintered as the storms violent eighty mile-anhour wind2 and rain brought the tree onto its last leg. In the midst of the night the tree ripped
through the midnight air colliding against the ground. The shattering of the tree echoed
throughout the neighborhood, shaking the nearby homes foundations. In this very front yard laid
the severed body of the Australian pine tree; my family was nearly crushed during the raging of
Hurricane Katrina. I lived in that very house through this Hurricane and the terror this event
cause me was unparallel to anything I had ever experienced. My imagination ran wild as the
sights and sounds of the storm seemed as a monster beating on my front door.
Now, if you turn around and look directly at the residence behind you it may not seem
evident, but the exact same situation unfolded there. During the early morning hours a husband
awoke, leaving his wife behind to continue resting in bed. Ambushed from behind a seventy five
foot pine tree tore through the roof of their home. She was nearly trampled underneath the
massive pine tree as it landed only feet away from her. The falling of Australian pine trees killed
two people, and injured a third during the onset of Hurricane Katrina3. These pine trees are non
native inhabitants of Florida; brought here in the 1890’s to soak up the swamps and stabilize
canals4 have proven to be a nightmare for Florida residents. This ecological disruptive tree hurts
native plants and animals trying to thrive, as they impede other wildlife from growing around
them5. With the ability to grow five to ten feet a year stretching as high as 100 feet6, the shallow
rooted7 trees were no match for Katrina’s devastating winds. Now walk back towards Bill’s
house but stop in the middle of the field right before his property.
On the 25th of August 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in South Florida8 and
ruptured through this state for three days, ending on the 28th. Two weeks later as the power
returned lighting up the rows of residences; this Southwest Ranches community celebrated the
passing of the storm with a ceremonial bon-fire pit. The severed pine trees and scraps of debris
that once laid as wreckage in our yards were now pieces of commemorative firewood
illuminating the smiles of a united community.
In Florida, Hurricane Katrina caused an estimated 625 million dollars in damage9 and
took the lives of fourteen people10. This category five Hurricane left 1.45 million Floridians
without power11 including leaving this Southwest Ranches community without power for two
weeks. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina’s damage was much more widespread and devastating
as it was the most costly Hurricanes in United States history12; as the total property damage in its
entirety is estimated at 108 billion dollars13. Much more mournfully the storm ranks in the top
five deadliest hurricanes14 in United States with almost 2,000 lives lost15. However, through this
tragedy the United States banded together to overcome the obstacles left in the wake of the
storm. Through the National Response Plan 33,500 of the 60,000 people stranded in New
Orleans were rescued by the Coast Guard16. Additionally Congress authorized 62.3 billion
dollars17 to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina, allowing FEMA to provide housing assistance
to over 700,000 people18. Four-weeks after the storm evacuees had registered in a provided
shelter in all 50 states19; support for these victims stretched across the entirety of the nation truly
unifying this great nation as one.
Endnotes:
1. “Social effects of Hurricane Katrina – Animal Issues.” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia
Foundation Inc.
2. “Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida - Winds” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia
Foundation Inc.
3. “Articles - Ficus, Pine At Root Of Growing Storm Woes”Sun-Sentinel.com, Tribune
Publishing
4. “Australian Pine: One of Florida's Least Wanted” fnpsblog.blogspot.com, Florida Native
Plant Society
5. “Australian Pine: One of Florida's Least Wanted” fnpsblog.blogspot.com, Florida Native
Plant Society
6. “Australian Pine: One of Florida's Least Wanted” fnpsblog.blogspot.com, Florida Native
Plant Society
7. “Australian Pine: One of Florida's Least Wanted” fnpsblog.blogspot.com, Florida Native
Plant Society
8. “Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida - Background” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia
Foundation Inc.
9. “Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida - Impact” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia
Foundation Inc.
10. “Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida - Impact” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia
Foundation Inc.
11. “Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida - Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Florida”
Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation Inc.
12. “Hurricane Katrina – Hurricane Katrina” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation Inc.
13. “Hurricane Katrina – Hurricane Katrina” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation Inc.
14. “Hurricane Katrina – Hurricane Katrina” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation Inc.
15. “Hurricane Katrina – Fatalities” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation Inc.
16. “Hurricane Katrina – Government Response” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation
Inc.
17. “Hurricane Katrina – Government Response” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation
Inc.
18. “Hurricane Katrina – Government Response” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation
Inc.
19. “Hurricane Katrina – Government Response” Wikipedia.com, Wikimedia Foundation
Inc.