The Deering Estate at Cutler, down the road a few miles from our brother-property, Vizcaya, also was hit by Hurricane Wilma.  Luckily, except for a bent weather-vane, broken roof tiles, and torn screens, our historic buildings are in tact.  During Hurricane Katrina, our submarine doors did not hold the water, but interior drains took care of removing the incoming water.  Also during Katrina, we had water damage in both building's interiors.

Most damaged during Wilma was our landscaped areas and the over 350 acres of natural areas.  The historic mango and avocado groves nurtured by Charles Deering and revived after Hurricane Andrew were once again hard hit.  Among the larger trees toppled were the sausage tree and a significant black olive on the main grounds and one of three old native gumbo limbo trees on the hammock trail.

Our staff with assistance from the County's Natural Areas Management team have broken their backs all week clearing the public areas.  Areas outside of the Estate have been made accessible to the homebound (all schools and many offices have been closed all week because of lack of infrastructure) public.  Our Cutler Days, Heritage Celebration, was postponed til a spring date.

We've been powered by generators all week.  That allowed us to use the phones.  Today was a pleasure to come to the property and find the electricity and access to computers!

Much of the Deering staff have slowly had their power in their homes restored (except me!). 


Annette B. Fromm

3060 Alton Road Miami Beach, Fl 33140 305-532-3530