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Hurricane survivor turns pain into profit
Gulf Breeze graphic artist Steve Blair is an expert on surviving the aftermath of Hurricanes Dennis and Ivan.
Like so many other area residents, he’s been jumping back and forth through all the hoops –insurance, FEMA, SBA and contractors – trying to repair his Whisper Bay home that was flooded and hammered during Ivan and bruised by Dennis.
Just as the stress was taking a toll, the 42-year-old artist decided to vent his frustration the only way he knew how; he illustrated his woes in a T-shirt design dubbed “The Ultimate Survivors.”
The design depicts all the icons associated with the aftermath including a FEMA trailer, MREs, blue roof and mountains of paperwork. And it shows a couple in the throes of “Post Ivan Stress Syndrome,” or PISS for short, trying to navigate the confusing, difficult and expensive road to recovery.
Just before Currin Graphics in Ellyson Field printed the shirts, Dennis hit. So Blair updated the design with a sign that says, “Go away, Arlene, Cindy and Dennis.”
The shirts cost $15 and are available in Gulf Breeze at: The Club on Crane Cove Boulevard; Sals T-Shirt Company on Gulf Breeze Parkway; Mikes Garden on U.S. 98 at the corner of Garcon Point Bridge; New Attitude Hair, 3272 Fordham Parkway, near College Parkway and U.S. 98.
In Navarre, pick up your copy of the t-shirt at Papillon’s in the Publix strip center.
In Pensacola: Angel’s Garden Unique Gifts on 12th Avenue; The Mole Hole on Zarragossa St.; and The Hair Do on Wright St. will be taking orders.
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