Cynde Puckett
In Motion Staff Writer
With Hurricane Matthew pressing in toward the eastern coast of Florida, bikers across the country watched news reports to determine if their plans for a fun-filled weekend would have to be cancelled. In the aftermath of hurricane Matthew, many local residents who look forward to the event had questions about whether or not it would take place.
The day after the storm, Executive Director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Lori Campbell Baker, said, “We’re still on for Biketoberfest.”
News 13 reported, “Biketoberfest is a four-day event that draws about 120,000 motorcycle enthusiast to the Daytona Beach area. It also pumps an estimated $15 million into the economy.”
Was the decision to carry on with this event wise with so many residents devastated by the powerful storm? It might not have felt like it a day or two after the storm passed, but surprisingly most people felt the answer was yes. Getting back to normal routines is a good way to begin healing, they say. Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Guide to Recovering from Disaster recommends returning to routine as soon as possible.
Jeff Cooper, who has traveled from Nashville, Tenn. to Daytona Beach for bike events for the last 23 years, said, “The trip down this year was a little nerve-racking. When we left Nashville our hotel still didn’t have electricity. I was amazed at the amount of work that had been done prior to our arrival. We only encountered two roads closed that we were used to using. Other than that, it was Biketoberfest as usual.”
Paul Stinson, also from Nashville, said, “I just bought a new bike and didn’t want to miss Biketoberfest. There is just something about Daytona. It kinda feels like home.”
Located at 600 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach, The Plaza Resort & Spa, is right in the heart of the action during Biketoberfest. The resort’s parking lot was filled with Belfor Disaster Services and Property Restoration vehicles after the storm. Some hotels were without power and others could not honor reservations. Workers, however, were busy clearing debris and restoring power to get our community up and running again.
Daytona State College alumnus Marcus Ray was happy to be part of this year’s celebration. “I did go out for Biketoberfest. That Friday I went to Main Street and on Saturday I went to Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. The crowds, especially on Main St., were enormous. It was hard even to walk around. I was also surprised by the quick recovery that beachside did from the storm. There was little damage to be seen, and on Main St. none at all. Everyone was in good spirits and glad to have some reprieve after such an unfortunate event.”
While some are quick to leap back, others are left reeling from the after effects of a disaster, which could linger with them for some time.
For those still recovering, FEMA offers the following advice to ease disaster related stress: “talk with someone about your feelings; seek help from professional counselors who deal with post-disaster stress; do not hold yourself responsible for the disastrous event or be frustrated because you cannot help directly with rescue work; take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation and meditation; maintain a normal family and daily routine, limiting demanding responsibilities on yourself and your family; spend time with family and friends; ensure you are ready for future events by restocking your disaster supplies kits and updating your family disaster plan. Doing these positive actions can be comforting.”
For more information on recovering from disaster visit: https://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/recovering_from_disaster.pdf