Travellistics

Orlando Conference – Bahamas Side Trip: Flight and Plight Part II

By Kay Trotman

Continued from part I.

My girlfriend and I had taken a little side trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas, a small island in the Bahamas, while killing a few days waiting for our conference in Orlando. We were really enjoying ourselves. The next morning when I asked the hotel manager why they were boarding up the windows is when I found out that apparently the hurricane, Hurricane Andrew, was fast approaching our island and we didn’t know it.

The hotel manager said “You are the only travel agent on property so if you want to leave the Bahamas, you will have to get to the airport and list the first twenty passengers on the list to be evacuated.” Was I hearing correctly? We had to be evacuated? We had to get off this island? We were right in the midst, in the path of an oncoming hurricane! And on top of all of this, I was to be in charge of those leaving the island. How could this impossible situation have occurred, and so fast?

I quickly thought why was I not in Orlando? How could I be in the mist of a hurricane here in this Bahama paradise? There must be some mistake. As I ran back to the restaurant to get my friend and update her on what was going on, we headed back to the room, to make that five minute deadline to pack. First thing to do was to contact the taxi driver to let him know of the situation.

The end of the island where he lived was closed, the airport was closed. I could not deliver his car. We had to evacuate from the only other airport and I was on my way there. He was very perturbed. After all the fare due him at the end of our stay would have been over $200.00, maybe more than he made in a week, maybe even a month.

Obviously, he was very upset. So I told him I could drive the car to the airport, lock the keys inside. He agreed, as that was the only thing we could do. It took all of the five minutes we had to get our things together and rush to the airport. It was pitch black. No rain, just dark.

The airport was a mad house. Tourists from all over were there, Austria, Germany, Australia, France, US, you name it. Every language imaginable was heard. I began by taking names of the guests of Cotton Bay. As I began, everyone there ran up to me trying to bribe me to put their name on the list. I had never been in this position before and I really didn’t like it. How I wish I was safe and secure in Orlando. Surely the hurricane couldn’t be there if it was about to strike here.

I had to separate out those guests from Cotton Bay from guests of other properties. I heard all types of stories, from people who begged to get back home to their kids, to people I did not understand. Ultimately, after my name and my girlfriend’s name topped the list, I had eighteen spaces to fill. I sent my girlfriend on the plane first to save my seat and make sure all eighteen people got on the plane.

Once on, the door closed and off we went. It was about 12:30 in the afternoon. The hurricane was predicted to hit land at about 1:00 p.m. After a few moments in the air, the captain announced “…ladies and gentlemen, if you look out the left side of the plane, you can see the hurricane squall” – it was a sight to behold. I was so thankful we weren’t in it as I thought Eleuthera, Bahamas may not be such a beautiful paradise after the hurricane had passed.

When we left we didn’t know where the navy plane was heading, we were just on it. En route we found out we were heading for Fort Lauderdale Florida. When we got there, the airport was closing down. We hurried out to see if we could find a ride to Miami airport so we could get to our conference in Orlando. We hitched a ride in a limo with several others trying to get to Miami.

In Miami airport, we could barely make it inside without stepping over people sleeping on the floor. There were thousands of people in every corner of the airport. We made our way to an Airlines Club. There we took solace as we watched the monitors where flight after flight was being cancelled.

It was touch and go whether our flight would get out or not. As we continued to watch the lines of traffic leaving the city, it became clear that we might have to move to the center of the club, away from the window and sleep like everyone was doing downstairs. We remained at the club for almost seven hours, prepared to stay the night.

After a long wait it was announced that our flight, the last one out, was boarding. We made a mad dash for the flight. Safely aboard and in the air, the captain again announced, …”ladies and gentlemen, if you look out the left side of the plane you can see the hurricane squall” behind us.

That was the second time I’d heard that same dialogue, and the first time I’d heard it at all. It was a deep and dark gray cloud covering the sky, the darkest I’d ever seen, the scariest I’d ever seen, and something I never hope to see again.

That was in August 1992. Hurricane Andrew was one of the most destructive hurricanes to ever hit the United States. While everyone remembers the damage to Florida, few know the devastation it caused in the Bahamas. As it turned out, once I was safely at my conference in Orlando, I finally contacted the taxi driver. I had tried to reach for several days but could not get through.

He told me the best thing that happened from the hurricane was that his car was alive and well at the airport where I left it, because he had lost his home in the hurricane. The $250.00 that we left in the glove compartment was a god-send. He hadn’t thought we would leave the money. My friends also, had lost a lot, so I sent what I could to all of them. I was grateful they all came through it alive.

We made it to the conference ok. After the Orlando conference we arrived safely back home with no further incidents. Our Bahama Island side trip had been the scariest experience I ever went through. I never want to get caught in a hurricane if I can help it. Although the prospects could be just as bad, I’d rather suffer through a California earthquake, than face the impending threat of a monster hurricane like hurricane Andrew.

I felt so relieved that it turned out so good for us and my friends survived it ok. I really felt sorry for the taxi driver on Eleuthera in the Bahamas, but was so glad the money we left was still there and was a great help for him in a real time of need.

Copyright © 2007 Kay L Trotman

Kay is an avid safari photographer. She writes many articles, including magazine articles. One of her favorite interests is traveling, especially on safaris. Kay also likes gardening in her Southern California backyard garden. Kay can be reached from the Contact form at her travel website.