In the wake of Hurricane Ian, many people have been left homeless and jobless as a result of the devastation. In Fort Myers, Florida, some shrimpers have found themselves out of work, and they don’t know when this period of unemployment will end.
Oriel Martinez Alvarado and Javier Allan Lopez are two shrimpers who rode out the hurricane aboard shrimping boats. They chose to do so because evacuating the area would be challenging, as there was heavy traffic on the roads and a lack of transportation choices. The men believed their best bet was to stay on the boats. But that experience was daunting, too. During the storm, they were forced to move between boats as some filled with storm water.
In the wake of Ian, many shrimp boats are now beached along the coast. Alvarado, Lopez and their coworkers have not heard from their employers about future jobs, but they’re still hoping to find work. In an interview with the Palm Beach Post Lopez said, “We want to at least work ashore. Whatever it may be. If we can, we’re there.” — Lidia Goldberg
