Cheers went up throughout Ave Maria shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday as electric power began to be restored to the homes and businesses in town.
Residents and business owners now are looking forward to a gradual return to more normal operations in the days ahead.
Most of Ave Maria had been without power since Hurricane Irma began moving through Saturday night. Ave Maria University had backup power for the first day or so, until diesel fuel for its generators ran out Monday. The university received a delivery of fuel earlier Tuesday – about five hours before power was restored to the rest of the town.
AMU and the Donahue Academy have canceled classes for the remainder of the week and are planning to reopen Monday.
Earlier Tuesday the Publix supermarket in Ave Maria reopened using emergency power that had stayed on throughout the storm, preserving food in coolers and freezers. (Collier sheriff's deputies were on hand as a large crowd of people lined up Tuesday when the Publix in Ave Maria reopened. - Photo by Monica Dix)
Most of Ave Maria had been without power since Hurricane Irma began moving through Saturday night. Ave Maria University had backup power for the first day or so, until diesel fuel for its generators ran out Monday. The university received a delivery of fuel earlier Tuesday – about five hours before power was restored to the rest of the town.