Jamestown resident rescued In Hurricane Ian | Information, Sports activities, Jobs

Jay Stoddard and his spouse Marcia lived in West Ellicott for a few years. Marcia Stoddard used to show at Cassadaga Valley. Each are retired and spent their winters at Fort Myers Seaside in Florida at Snook Bight Marina on their boat. They have been there on Sept 28 when Class four Hurricane Ian struck Florida.

“Because the storm moved nearer it was initially indicated that it was headed in the direction of Tampa,” Stoddard stated. “The docks on the Marina have been floating and in a position to float above the waves and the storm so we thought at first we might be okay.”

When the storm hit, the Stoddards have been contained in the Marina. The boat subsequent to theirs had its strains snap and it began bumping into their boat. That’s when Stoddard left the Marina to attempt to safe their boat higher.

“After I was out on the boat the wind picked up and the dock snapped,” Stoddard stated. “I used to be trapped. There was a VHF radio within the boat and I used to be in a position to talk with my spouse who was nonetheless within the constructing. Then the hurricane took a flip to the east and the waves obtained increased and better so the boats and docks began floating to the center of the bay.”

Submitted Photograph
The Stoddard’s boat now, within the mangroves.

Stoddard dropped the anchor on his boat to attempt to cease himself from floating farther away. The anchor caught for about two minutes after which snapped. The boat was freed from the dock and Stoddard was on his personal.

“I didn’t know the place I used to be going,” Stoddard stated. “Outdoors the whole lot was largely white.”

At one time as Stoddard was left floating away from the Marina, your complete boat flipped sideways onto its port facet.

“At the moment, I assumed I wouldn’t make it,” Stoddard stated.

With luck, Stoddard’s boat ended up turning again upright because it hit the sting of the mangroves – a sort of shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. At that time, Stoddard fearful concerning the extraordinarily sharp branches of the mangroves coming by means of the window and hitting him, so he needed to lay flat on the ground of the boat.

Submitted Photograph
Jay and Marcia Stoddard, Jamestown residents who have been stranded in Florida throughout Hurricane Ian final week.

Finally the boat lastly got here to relaxation as soon as the storm subsided and Stoddard was in a position to ship a misery name out to the Coast Guard by means of the VHF radio.

“There’s a misery name button on the radio that alerts the Coast Guard,” Stoddard stated. “The emergency contact for when that decision goes out is my spouse. I hit the misery name a couple of instances and so they couldn’t attain me, however they did get her. She was then in a position to attain me by means of the radio and inform me the Coast Guard couldn’t get to my location till morning.”

Stoddard slept on the boat as finest he may, because the generator had additionally gone out. Within the morning he discovered he was a few mile or a mile and a half from the marina. The mangroves round him have been stuffed with particles from the storm, which included a paddleboard. As he had not heard something from the Coast Guard but and was unsure that he would, Stoddard determined to decrease the swim plank on the boat to attempt to attain the paddleboard and attempt to paddle himself again to Marcia.

“I duct taped my sneakers to my ft to keep away from shedding a shoe so I wouldn’t get reduce on the mangroves,” Stoddard stated. “I managed to get the board again to the boat, after which I heard the Coast Guard on the radio saying they have been about two minutes away to have the ability to extract me.”

Inside minutes they have been above the boat. They allowed him to seize two luggage of garments from the boat to deliver with him, and Stoddard grabbed two luggage of his spouse’s. The Coast Guard obtained him up on the helicopter and stated they’d deliver him again to the seashore throughout the road from the place his spouse was after they made two extra extractions. Each extractions have been girls on the roof with their canines.

“After that they have been ordered to drop us all off on the airport in Punta Gorda,” Stoddard stated. “I had no cash, no bank card, no telephone, no option to contact my spouse. One of many rescued women had a telephone and I used to be in a position to name considered one of our associates there and inform him what had occurred. He stated I may go to his home.”

Stoddard was taken there by an airport employee who on the time was ready for the Governor of Florida to reach. Even with that, he nonetheless took the time to drive Stoddard to his good friend’s home. The person gave Stoddard $50 earlier than returning to work. The neighbor then opened the home for him.

“I sat there for about 5 minutes after which stated, ‘I can’t keep right here, my spouse doesn’t know the place I’m’,” Stoddard stated. “I discovered later she thought I used to be within the hospital as a result of the Coast Guard advised her that’s the place I had been dropped off. I requested the neighbor if I may borrow considered one of his two vehicles to attempt to get again to her. He had his household there so he stated I couldn’t borrow one however that he would drive me there himself. So, he left his household and with a complete stranger drove me to the bridge on the sting of the island the place my spouse was. He additionally gave me $100 earlier than he went house.”

When Stoddard arrived the police weren’t letting folks over the bridge and again to the marina. Stoddard was stopped by police however as soon as he advised them what had occurred he was allowed to undergo. Stoddard went over the bridge and again to the seashore.

“I discovered a motorcycle that had been buried within the sand,” Stoddard stated. “I obtained it out and rode the final three miles again to the marina.”

Stoddard had been taken away from the marina at 2 p.m. on Wednesday Sept. 28. He was reunited with Marcia on Thursday at 5 p.m.

“She gave me an enormous hug after which instantly punched me for leaving and going out on the boat,” Stoddard stated.

The Stoddards spent the subsequent few days on the marina, considering their scenario. At this level, they’re homeless and looters after going into a close-by grocery retailer which was torn open and the place a couple of different folks have been already. They managed to get water, ice, and meals. In addition they uncovered a grill on the marina that they have been in a position to clear off and use so for a couple of days they have been in a position to eat.

Just a few days later they took what they might in a procuring cart to satisfy their associates from St. Petersburg, Florida who got here and rescued them. They returned to the home in Punta Gorda, the place they continue to be proper now.

Finally they are going to go to their kids in Cleveland after which again house to Jamestown. Their solely possessions in the meanwhile are the few luggage of garments from the boat.

“We’re in limbo proper now,” Stoddard stated. “It’s been a tough week.”

Stoddard would come to find that his rescue and evacuation can be throughout a number of information channels, leading to over 300 folks calling or texting to verify they have been alright.

“Most of those folks have been associates from Chautauqua County,” Stoddard stated. “Some have been even simply acquaintances that we barely knew. They have been all providing to assist. The outpouring of humanity is a bit overwhelming. The folks in Jamestown are simply so supportive. It’s gratifying to see how supportive they’re. I simply needed to say a particular because of everybody.”