Abaco: Dorian and the Virus

What I thought would be the last installment of this story, I have decided there is much more to be told and it will be concluded next week. This is a very accurate account given to me by Linda Wiltfang of Crawfordsville, who with her husband, Dan had lived on the island of Abaco, Bahamas since 1975. They moved back to Crawfordsville in 2011. I must make one correction, probably should be many more, but their home was built in 1960, not as previously reported.

The first Linda heard of the virus was when her friend's son canceled plans to travel to Abaco for his business. From California, he told her about the virus, painted a dire picture of the future of the economy and warned her about a number of things that seemed totally impossible to her then, but have since come to pass. She was scheduled to meet her son Jason's family and his in-laws in Nassau at Atlantis on March 5. Since Abaco was out of the question for their vacation, they decided to go to Atlantis, and generously invited her to join them. Spring break was just beginning and Atlantis was crowded. The alarms and news reports didn't sound terribly serious before she left for Nassau. She had internet and it all still seemed very remote. While in Atlantis, more and more information was being shared. By the time Linda was flying to Florida, on March 11, she overheard students in line at the airport, speculating on whether to head home or to their dorms, discussing schools closing, online classes and wondering if there would be graduations. At that time she only saw one or two people wearing gloves and masks. Social distancing was not a thing, but quarantine was being discussed. She was staying in Florida with owners of an organic farm. They worked at the farm and limited their activity in public places to those necessary. Saturday, April 4, all that changed when Florida made their Shelter in Place order more strongly worded.

Linda had planned to spend some time in Florida, working on the farm, thinking the weather would improve in Iowa and the virus curve would flatten. When her friend in Government service was told she would not be going anywhere before the end of May, she opted to buy a ticket and fly back home to Iowa, immediately. She arrived home on April 5.

Life in quarantine whether in Florida or Iowa, she found not to be a really big deal! Not convenient, kind of boring, but not really uncomfortable.

Her friends and family in Abaco are currently in a mandatory lock down. Last weekend they were locked down from Friday, 8 p.m. until the next Tuesday morning at 6 a.m.

As the new lockdown began on April 9, it was from Friday 8 p.m., until Monday at 6 a.m. there was no unnecessary travel. Everyone stays inside, or in their yards. If one must leave their home for any reason, they are required to wear a mask or face covering. People are allowed to purchase fuel for generators or food during limited hours of business. Current orders, allow no children in food stores and everyone must wear a mask to enter. All the NGOs pulled their people from service several weeks ago. The lumberyards and construction companies are all closed. Air travel in and out of the country is terminated, marinas are closed as well. That means families are in homes with no electricity, many with no running water. Not everyone has their home dried and there is more than one family living in a tent erected inside a building that is not currently occupied.

Many people have barely rudimentary living conditions. There are still people living in their cars or in tents. Imagine keeping food cold, cooking, bathing, personal hygiene and laundry, let alone filling days and days of boredom in isolation.

The beaches are off limit and these rules are being enforced with stiff fines and jail time.

The final chapter will really take place next week.

The Second Great Scavenger Hunt will take place in northern Washington County, Sunday, May 17 beginning at 1 p.m. There a 20 spots to fill.

Register your teams with Anna Weldon Gillis, Karen Dennler or Sonya Love-Smith. You will leave your home and receive your clues by FB Messenger. Once you find your first place you will take a picture of your group and get your next clue and move on to the second place.