September 2017 in photos: Hurricane Irma, Costa Rican president visits


By Joel Delgado ’12, MS ’17

The month of September for FIU and much of South Florida can be summed up in two words: Hurricane Irma.

From the preparation and panic that swept across the region in the days leading up to the storm’s arrival to the recovery efforts in the days after the winds and rains subsided, FIU played a vital role in helping the community get through Irma.

As we prepare for October, let’s take a look at some of our favorite moments of the month captured by our FIU photographers.

Nobody puts Baby in a corner! This blue crab took shelter from Hurricane Irma inside the Wolfe University Center at BBC but seemed to have some problems finding its way out. Photo by Eduardo Merille

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Repairs of the Aquarius Reef Base began just days after Hurricane Irma damaged equipment used for operations including this life support buoy which houses power supplies, wireless communications and other operational support. The buoy was separated from the underwater lab and sustained structural damage. The Aquarius crew had the buoy towed to a shipyard for repairs and they continue to conduct repairs underwater at the lab. Photo by Kristen Mayoral

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Gotta have more cowbell! Band director Barry Bernhardt led the FIU band as they recorded the musical introduction for beIN Sports network. Some of the band’s signature tunes will now be heard before live on-air broadcasts of Conference USA games aired on the network. Photo by Vince Rives

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Cleanup crews were at FIU shortly after Hurricane Irma to help clear all ground debris and right many of the felled or leaning trees around campus in an effort to save them. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois

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Two ficus trees which have stood between PC and DM for decades were felled by the hurricane, but have been righted by cleanup crews. The university’s arborist is confident that these, along with many other trees that fell, will survive. Photo by Ben Guzman

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The wait is almost over! It’s been a strange month for FIU football, and fans will finally be able to watch the Panthers play a home game Sept. 30 at Riccardo Silva Stadium. In fact, they will be the last college team in the country to play a home game on its own field this season. Photo by Vince Rives

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FIU’s Florida Advanced Surgical Transportation and State Medical Response teams brought the NeighborhoodHelp Mobile Health Center to Fishermans Community Hospital in Marathon, FL, in the Middle Keys, where Baptist Health opened a Field Hospital Sept. 23. Photo by Tim Long

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The FIU Wellness & Recreation Center at MMC served as a hurricane shelter for hundreds of Monroe County residents during Hurricane Irma. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois

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Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price traveled to FIU to visit a special needs shelter operated by the state and staffed in part by the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Price met with FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg to learn how FIU has been serving its local community by housing medical responders and patients in need. A number of other government officials came to FIU following Irma, including Governor Rick Scott and Congressman Carlos Curbelo. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois

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A group of FIU voice students under the direction of Vindhya Khare performed for Irma evacuees at the Fuchs Pavilion at Tamiami Park Sept. 18. The students led singalongs of Disney tunes like “Let It Go” with the children to help lift their spirits. Photo by Doug Garland

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FIU Police Chief Alexander Casas hands out police badge stickers and snow cones to Monroe County evacuees at Fuchs Pavilion shelter. Photo by Ben Guzman

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During his visit to FIU, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera surprised everyone by addressing the Costa Ricans in the room with a personal statement of gratitude in Spanish. To the delight of the audience, he then asked to take a photo with all the Costa Ricans, affectionately called “Ticos.” Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois


To view more of our favorite FIU images, visit our “Month in Photos” series page

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