How Could This Happen? No Electric for 15 years!
By samsonskola
@samsonskola (3357)
United States
February 20, 2007 5:57am CST
I saw on the news this morning about an older lady in Florida that just now, thanks to some wonderful people, got her electricity back after the hurricane....Hurricane Andrew..15 years ago! Since Andrew, she has used 2 extension cords from a pole outside her house to run 1 small lamp, a mini fridge and a hot plate. NO ONE EVER NOTICED that 1 small light was the only one coming from her home. She's taken cold showers every day. She's lived with no heat and no A/C. Obviously, she has no family, at least none that ever came to visit, and no friends who came to visit or someone would have noticed. Thanks to some wonderful people, she now has electric through her home. I think it's very sad that obviously not one person in 15 years has had any contact with this woman who didn't have the money to get her house re-wired.
6 people like this
21 responses
@princeworthy (1909)
• United States
21 Feb 07
That is horrible! I have lived without electric for a whole year before. I had to live by the light of oil lamps and candles. I showered and did laundry at families houses. I hated it. I can't imagine that times 15.
2 people like this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Neither can I. She must have been so lonely all that time. Thanks for responding
@mommy2jason922 (529)
• United States
21 Feb 07
that is sad! i could not do without my eletric. especially in Florida with that heat!! at least she go to take cold showers in the summer months when it was hot.
2 people like this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yes, I imagine that must have felt pretty good at times. It is very sad, though. Thanks
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
21 Feb 07
I am glad that finally someone noticed but wonder why and how it took so long for people to notice or to do something to help this lady be able to live comfortably. I could not go that long without electricity. I am amazed that she managed to live that long and do without those necessities. She certainly was smart enough to make do with a few things. She must know someone that could have helped her sooner. Hopefully she will never have to go through that again.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
It is an amazing story of strength and determination, and one of sadness that this went on this long unnoticed. Thank you.
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
20 Feb 07
well i certainly couldnt manage for more than 15 days without electricity, never mind 15 months. However I do think it is a very sad testament to the state of both community and society that this was allowed to go on for so long
blessed be
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
20 Feb 07
yes,it is a lesson to be learned by all to take a little time with those you know have no family. it might make a difference. thank you
@newtopwin (103)
• China
20 Feb 07
oh,i can't image that thing:in 15 years not one person has had any contact with the poor man.take cold shower even in freazon winter,it's unbelievable.but ,yes,we should thank that wonderful people who help her get her electricity back again.after all have a happy ending.
2 people like this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
20 Feb 07
yes, it's unimaginable that such a thing could happen. it really should teach us all a lesson. thank you
@Akbary (44)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Wow. Extremely sad but true story. I probably can go without elctricity for a good 2 weeks but thats probably it. And there is a good side to this. Its a good thing she lived in Florida because she would have frozen but the warm temperatures supported her. And I think I know why no one vistited. Its because she had no phone or esle she would have called for help a long time ago dont you agree?
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I think she was too proud to ask for help. Yes, very sad. I am very thankful for my family and friends that I know look after me when I need it. Thank you.
@ArsonCuff (3114)
• United States
21 Feb 07
It sounds like she was smart enough to use the cord system why wasn't she smart enough to get help?...who brought her groceries?...this sounds ludicrous
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
After having been ripped off by the contractor, I guess she was too proud to ask for help. She gets a check each month, but we all know just how far that goes.
@jolanda33 (720)
• Netherlands
21 Feb 07
wow, this must be a strong lady don't you think?
i mean in winter without heat brrrrrr!
but maybe people visit her but didn't notice she had no good power! strange she never mentioned it to someone!
but i guess she did now and thank god she has electricity!
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yes, a very strong lady, much stronger than I would be. Thank you.
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yes, she is a much stronger woman than I would be. Thank you.
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Some people are just too proud to ask for help, no matter what. It is very sad. Thank you for the response.
@ailene713 (97)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
i cant imagine living without electricity!! never!! life would be so so boring! i couldnt imagine how this lady survived those 15 years of her life...
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
She has to be an extremely tough woman. Much better than I would be. Thanks
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I hope so, too. Such a shame. Thank you for responding
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
21 Feb 07
I am very surpised at this story as the electric company would allow her to have her electric running into her home like that . I know here in NW Florida where I live the electric company would not turn our electric back on until it was inspected if the huriicanes had damaged the poles or the lines coming into the house... someone has not been doing there job ...that was a very danderous situation for her...
The sad part is really no one seeing if she was ok or had electric ...poor thing ...I am so glad to hear that she noww has electric... you have to wonder where were all these so called "churches of god " ...they are the ones that should be trying to help people like her ...to me thats what being in a church is for ....
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I completely agree with you. It is amazing that there wasn't a fire. As far as the churches go, I have to agree with you. Someone should have noticed this long before now. However, I once went to a church in my area for help, and was told that they couldn't help me because I was not a member of their church. So much for that. Thank you.
@cxfzjlljjwlh (1)
• China
21 Feb 07
i saw many people`s opinion.i agree with all of them.
i also think the society system,the social security,the care from neighbourhood....
and so on were affect and result in the evenment.
i should take more care of my neighbourhood and some lonely person.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I think this should be a lesson to all of us to think a little more about people, specially those that we know live alone. Thank you so much.
@Lillith (774)
• United States
20 Feb 07
This is a very sad testimony to the fact that so many people in our country are just ALONE. It is very difficult for me to understand how NO ONE checked on this woman in 15 years to make sure she was ok. Obviously she is a very creative woman, as she has managed to live this way for so long. I almost hope she does NOT have family somewhere because THOSE people would just need to be shot.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
20 Feb 07
i agree....to have family that you know never once checked on you in all that time, would be disgraceful. it is very sad, indeed, that this could happen. thank you for the response.
@unisis (1673)
• Indonesia
21 Feb 07
i can not understand that htey can survive without electricity for 15 years,how is the city grown up without the electricity the factory will be stopped to produce,in their house a lot of equipment need the electricity to operate such like washing machine,cooker machine,refrigation,warmer heater,it is incredible.
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
20 Feb 07
That is really a sad story.ut a good ending.Good thing she lives in Florida where it does not get that cold!I wonder why she did not notify anyone or no one knew about it.I bet if people would stop worrying about theirselves and start paying attention to other people we would see more people helping others.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yes, if someone had just bothered to visit, they would have known about her situation. Thankfully she lives in Florida and not somewhere else. THank you
@superchook (1786)
• Australia
20 Feb 07
This is a sad story and I wonder how many other people have gone through the same sort of thing before. The poor lady having to put up with that for so long. She must be a very strong woman to have gone through that for so long.
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yes, a much stronger woman than I think I would have been. A very proud lady, as she did not even allow her face to be shown on camera. It does make you wonder how many people may be going through the same thing. Thank you
@Laydee83 (275)
• Atlanta, Georgia
20 Feb 07
Wow, is this true? Where did you read this article at because I want to read it for myself. 15 years and no one knew or noticed a thing? Something doesn't seem right about that. But if it is true, then it's good that she finally gets to have a warm bath and a real home again. I just can't believe someone would sit in a house like that and not ask ANYONE for help. Just crazy!
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Yes, it is true. I did not read it, they had a news story about it on tv and interviewed her. She had actually gotten ripped off by a contractor that was supposed to fix her electricity after the hurricane, took all her money and left. I imagine that if that happened to me, I would be told probably the same thing she would have been told...hire another contractor, the city will not provide for that.
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
20 Feb 07
Oh thats so terrible!! Poor poor lady.
I'm so glad that some kind people came to her rescue.
15 years is a very long time to go without Electricity under any circumstances and it makes me wonder why nobody noticed before. She must have suffered terribly every summer, because I know the summers in Florida can get extremely hot.
I find it sad that she had no friends or family that ever came to visit who could have helped her out before now. Did the news people say who it was that actually found out and helped her out?
1 person likes this
@samsonskola (3357)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I'm not sure, but I think someone from the county found out when they were doing work in the area...must have noticed the extension cord and started investigating. Very sad that this situation was allowed to go on for that long.
