Hurricane Irma has caused quite a disruption over the past few weeks. Student’s saw their breaks from class transferred from October and December into the month of September, and with two-and-a-half weeks of class time gone, many students are just looking forward to getting back into the swing of regular daily life. Here is Hurricane Irma by each letter of the alphabet (I’m can be very creative but I’m only so creative, so Q, X, Y, and Z had to be left out).

A for Airport

In order to get out of town, many people must go through the process of going to the airport. A place that is often pleasantly vibrant for me tuned into a crowed box with thousands of people desperate to escape. To make matters worse, all the extra flights fleeing South Florida caused huge lines to takeoff, making my connection extremely tight. I made it home, but next time this happens I'll plan farther in advance and fly directly home.

B for Boredom

Being at home for a week, make that two weeks, with little to do calls for some boring afternoons.

C for Car

Unfortunately, I do not have my luxury 2005 Honda CRV on campus, so it was nice I guess to get back in my hot rod and put the pedal to the metal.

D for Dad

It was great to see mine again. College has separated me from my family for longer than I've ever been separated from them. We make our own family on campus, but it is nice to see a familiar face again (Please don't laugh at what I looked like in like 7th grade lol).

E if for Eating Home Cooked Meals

The dining hall is nice but there is something special about mom’s shrimp pasta that I cannot get on campus.

F for Family

I have my #CanesFam and another fam at home. I love them both, but it’s nice to be able to be able to talk with my mother, brother and father in person, rather than over FaceTime.

G is for Gouging Prices

A disgusting part of natural disasters, many of my friends payed $500-1000 and more one-way to get out of harm’s way.

H for High School Football

It may not be Canes Football, but it was nice to see my old high school whoop up on the crosstown rival while I was back home.

I is for Ibis

The last animal to take shelter from the storm and the first one to return—nuff said

J is for Jim Cantore

America’s favorite meteorologist, but if he’s in your city, GTFO cause it’s going down.

K is for the Florida Keys

They took one in the gut from Irma. Please keep them in your thoughts.

L is for Later Final Exams

Not a popular change among the student body, but one that unfortunately has to be made with all this missed time.

M is for Moms

Like my dad, it was great to see her again

N is for Netflix

Not in TV debt anymore.

O is for Out of Harm’s Way

As much as it sucks to be away from school for so long, I don’t take my safety for granted, and made sure all the South Florida locals on and off my dorm floor were okay after the storm.

P is for Power Outages

Another unfortunate reality of hurricanes, as people go for days or a week or even longer without air, light or internet.

R is for Residential Colleges

Much to students dismay, an email was sent several days after the hurricane passed that dorms won’t open until Friday the 22^nd. That day got moved up a day due to a faster recovery, but it still couldn’t come fast enough for us.

S is for Shelters

Students without a way home or a cancelled flight home had to ride out the storm in a shelter, but after conditions improved they were rewarded by being put up in hotels until classes resumed.

T is for Traffic

A Hurricane evacuation is rush hour on steroids.

U si for UM Emails

Updated us on the closing, recovery and reopening of campus.

V is for Volunteering

A great way to help those less fortunate and those impacted worse than us. Seriously, do what you can to help those who weren’t so lucky during this ordeal and had to put up with a lot more than just missed classes. Opportunities to give back are being offered around campus, and at a minimum please consider donating non-perishable food items that will be collected throughout campus for at least the rest of month.