By Larry Vaught

Hurricane Ian led to some anxious times but friends helped make sure it turned out okay

Posted: September 30, 2022
Vaughts Views

Candice Garrison Coad and her husband, Glenn, lost a papaya tree in the hurricane but also graciously welcomed us into her home during Hurricane Ian. (Larry Vaught Photo)

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Why would anyone come to Florida knowing Hurricane Ian was approaching?

Well, let me tell you.

We arrived Monday for a two-week getaway that had been planned for months. When we left Danville, Ian was projected to hit Florida’s gulf coast, not northeast Florida. However, about an hour before we got to St. Augustine, the resort contacted us offering to let us delay our trip a week but by then we had already driven 700 miles.

The weather on Monday was great. Same with Tuesday until late when a few clouds came our way. But Wednesday the forecast got a bit worse, the rain started and wind started howling a little bit more.

**Downtown St. Augustine had severe flooding in the historic district Thursday but Hurricane Ian’s impact here was nothing like what it was in southwest Florida.**

Next a mandatory evacuation was ordered on St. Augustine Beach where we were staying in large part because if winds reach a certain speed, the bridges are closed and you have no way off the island or no way for emergency services to reach you.

Locals told me not to worry, it would not be that bad where we were located. My friend, Candace Garrison Coad — a former Boyle County High School basketball player and huge UK fan — lives about 10 miles away in Elkton. We always visit with her when we are here. She told us if we were worried to just come stay with her and her husband, Glenn — so we did.

They also had two other friends coming over, so it kind of turned into our own hurricane party. Candace was the perfect host — she made roast, potatoes, carrots, green beans corn and chocolate pie for dinner. Bring on the hurricane.

Wednesday night, I woke up several times to hear the wind. By Thursday morning, it was raining steadily and the wind was constant and sometimes had some big gusts. But we got lucky. The hurricane veered a bit and where we were, there was no serious damage or issues other than Candace losing a papaya tree that was loaded with fruit.

**Candice Garrison Coad, a Boyle County native and UK fan now living in Elkton, Fla., was out early Thursday to see if wind and rain had damaged signs at the school where she works. (Larry Vaught Photo)**

I rode with her when she went to check on the private school where she works and then we drove downtown where the historic district was already experiencing flooding. By Thursday afternoon, it had a lot of water.

Glenn made the absolute best “pepperoni rolls” for lunch that included the bread he had baked.

The six of us had played cards Wednesday night and did again Thursday afternoon. It kind of reminded me of what people did 40 years ago when there was no internet, cell phone or cable TV to occupy your time. It was kind of fun in a weird way.

However, it was also educational because south of us the damage was horrendous. Almost 3 million people lost power and many could be for quite a while. Over 35,000 people stayed in evacuation shelters Wednesday night. Countless lives were lost.

Thanks to all of you who called, messaged or reached out in any way to check on us. It’s nice to know so many people care but we got lucky and now have what looks like a gorgeous week or so of weather coming up.

I may head to Jacksonville Saturday with Coad to join UK alumni there for a UK-Ole Miss watch party. Sunday I may get a chance to have lunch with friends from here I met at the Triple Crown 5K Trot at Ashford Stud in Versailles in August to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars — with Josh Allen and Luke Fortner — play.

But say a prayer for all those who Hurricane Ian impacted so much because our inconvenience/stress was tinting compared to what many others experienced.