We've seen the dramatic footage. High, turbulent seas. Incredible winds that peel apart houses, splinter trees and throw debris everywhere.

The national media does a decent job of showing us all the drama as a hurricane approaches and as it strikes.

But too often the national spotlight moves on to the news du jour the minute the winds are calm and the standard devastation footage is aired.

As Florida braces for the possibility of a third hurricane strike in a few weeks, many people do not realize that residents there are still struggling to get things back together after the first two.

Former Ironton area resident Irma Evans-Gibson sent an e-mail this week that sheds a bit of light onto what life is like in the days and weeks after the storm.

Gibson lives in Port St. Lucie. During the storm, she sought refuge at the home of her son and his family who live in Orlando.

Upon returning she learned she was one of the lucky ones.

"We have some damage, but so minor in comparison with others that they are hardly worth mentioning," she wrote. "I look around Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce, Florida and see total devastation.

"This community looks like a war zone. The power of nature is beyond my comprehension.

"The basic needs such as food, water, and ice, are in such limited supply that the police and National Guard are in charge of distribution," she wrote.

Grocery store shelves are empty, she wrote. The gas stations that were not damaged are swamped with long lines. She e-mailed her note using a small generator her resourceful son, Robert, managed to locate. Generators in the aftermath of storms are highly sought after.

" I listen to pleas from mothers for baby food on my battery operated radio," she wrote. "I always thought that when a disaster such as (Hurricane) Frances occurred that help descended in abundance from numerous sources, especially our government, but that is not true. The help is so scarce that unless one has transportation to search for hours they are in deep trouble.

If help does not arrive soon, Gibson wrote, the situation could become life threatening.

"I am one of the more fortunate ones.

My pantry is filled with non-perishable food, milk, and batteries that I use to fill boxes to send to my brother, Scott, serving in Iraq. My little boy and I are just fine, but my concern is for the thousands of families that are not," she wrote.

"… Remind your readers of the seriousness of the problems that exist here so that they might make a donation to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army or the churches in this community that are helping so many people.

"One thing I have learned over the last few days is that we must take care of each other."

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Ironton Tribune. He can be reached at (740) 532-1445 ext. 12 or by e-mail to kevin.cooper@irontontribune.com.