Ex-‘Bula travel agent witnessed Irma’s wrath

Travel expert Jayne Colin, formerly of Ashtabula County, can talk knowingly about the impact Hurricane Irma will have on Florida tourism — she resides in the state and witnessed the devastation first-hand.

Colin, who lives in Leesburg, Florida, said Wednesday the storm caused heavy damage across the state, but expected a relatively quick rebound, reassuring news for people who plan to visit in the near future.

Local folks planning an ocean voyage to some eastern Caribbean islands may be disappointed, Colin said. Popular cruise destinations, such as St. Thomas, were nearly obliterated by Irma and recovery will be a long time coming, Colin said.

Colin moved to Leesburg, about 30 miles north of Orlando, about four years ago.

“I always thought it would be a safe location,” she said. “We’ve been here four years and seen two hurricanes.”

On Thursday, Colin and millions of others heeded authorities’ advice and evacuated the area. The closest location with an available hotel room was Atlanta, she said. “Everything was sold out,” she said.

Once situated in Atlanta, Colin awaited the storm’s impact on Florida. “It was more stressful waiting for it to hit,” she said.

The recent return trip back home was eerie, Colin said. A portion of the journey was at night, and the widespread power outages and lack of people along the route were very unnerving, she said.

“It was like a movie,” Colin said. “Everything was dark and boarded up. It’s one of the scariest things I’ve seen in my life.”

On the way south, she passed convoy after convoy of electric company repair trucks from many states — including Ohio. “I gave them a big thumbs up,” she said.

Gasoline is nearly impossible to find, Colin said. Stations that do have fuel are guarded by police and the National Guard, she said.

Colin’s home sustained some roof damage but nothing catastrophic, she said. Some of her neighbors were not so fortunate.

“We’re OK, but we’re one of the lucky few in the area,” she said. “We have power.”

Colin, who has worked 47 years in the travel business, said she was most upset about the damage to some Caribbean islands, some she has visited dozens of times with tour groups she organized.

“St. Thomas is reportedly 70 percent gone,” she said. “I must have been there 50 times. I have friends there. It’s breaking my heart.”

Colin said she anticipates many cruise lines will steer clear of the region for quite some time. “They will probably divert their itineraries to the western and southern Caribbean.”

The Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday that nearly all of Florida’s cruise ports have reopened. The Associated Press reported some travelers may find it difficult to obtain refunds if their cruise is altered. If the ship sails, even on a revised course, the cruise may be considered valid, according to the AP.

In selecting Caribbean cruises, travelers will have more success considering the southern islands, Colin said. “Pick the deep, southern Caribbean,” she said.

Ashtabula County residents planning to spend some time in Florida should be more optimistic, Colin said. Florida will regain its footing more quickly, she said.

“(The state) will bounce back faster,” she said. “Our damage is more repairable. It’s not as devastating.”

Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in the Orlando area have already reopened after sustaining relatively minor damage, although the city is still suffering due to flooding. “Orlando is still without power,” Colin said.

Irma hung around longer than expected around Cuba, which caused it to lose some of its fearful force, Colin said.

“Cuba saved our lives,” she said. “It lingered, and that took away a lot of (Irma’s) generated speed when it turned north.”

Traditionally, the hurricane season in the Caribbean stretches from June 1-Nov. 30, but the eastern islands — along with the

East Coast of the United States — see more activity from mid-August to mid-September, according to cruisecritic.com. Storms

like Irma are the reason her company, The Travel Centre, keeps a careful eye on the calendar.

“We do not book anything in the Caribbean until after Nov. 15,” she said.

Irma delivered a wallop, but it shouldn’t deter anyone from considering a visit to the Sunshine State.

“Please come back to Florida,” she said. “We need your dollars.”