cruise ship wind storm

Passengers hit by a storm on a Royal Caribbean cruise line cling to railings as intense gusts rock the ship and send debris flying, videos show

• A Royal Caribbean cruise was battered by gusts of rain and wind before its departure Friday.
• Passengers shared videos of patrons sliding along the deck during the storm.
• The cruise line says no serious injuries or damage occurred as a result of the storm.

Passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship ran for cover as umbrellas, chairs, and other furniture flew around them during a sudden, spectacular storm that struck Florida's Port Canaveral on Friday.

As the Independence of the Seas prepared to depart, strong winds and rain battered the 15-deck ship. In multiple videos posted to YouTube and Twitter , passengers are shown slipping and sliding across the decks while attempting to get safely inside.

The ship departed for the Bahamas despite the storm and arrived at CocoCay on time, according to a Royal Caribbean statement to Insider. The company called the storm "brief" and said there were no serious injuries to crewmembers or passengers.  

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Passengers took to the internet to describe their personal experiences. 

"Instead of telling people to come up to the top deck when we have a severe thunderstorm warning, maybe you should be more worried about your guests and employees and tell them to get inside," tweeted one passenger who filmed the storm .

Jerry Pike, a photographer and Florida local, told Insider he watched the storm hit the Independence of the Seas while sitting in a car in Jetty Park facing the port. Though the storm lasted only minutes, he said it was "exceptionally strong." 

—Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) June 16, 2023

Pike estimated winds reached between 40 and 50 miles per hour at the height of the storm, which he added was "terrifying" to watch. A meteorologist for Fox 35 reported winds reached from 55 to 60 miles an hour at their peak strength. 

"The Independence was just getting battered by winds as it was trying to push off the dock," Pike said. "Then [it] was covered by the gray cloud of rain and we couldn't see more than 20 yards out the window."  

The storm is just one of many expected to hit the Florida coast as hurricane season begins in the Atlantic Ocean, which runs from the beginning of June to November 30.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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Videos capture terrifying moments of Royal Caribbean cruise caught in bad weather

A spokesperson for royal caribbean said the turbulence did not last long and there were no serious injuries., by monica galarza and kaitlyn schwanemann • published june 23, 2023 • updated on june 26, 2023 at 7:27 am.

A sudden storm hit a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, sending passengers running for cover as furniture flew around the deck.

Passengers had just boarded the Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas docked in Port Canaveral in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and were about to depart for the Bahamas when gusts of hurricane-like winds hit the ship.

Videos shared on social media show lounge chairs and tables flying across the deck.

One video captured the terrifying moment when a lounge chair narrowly misses a woman carrying a small child and hitting her stroller. Fortunately, the stroller was empty.

Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.

Another video shows cruise guests running from the turbulent weather.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said the storm did not last long and there were no serious injuries reported.

The cruise was able depart for the Bahamas and arrived at CocoCay on time, the spokesperson said.

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@cornettahh Another angle from the 6/16/23 squall that hit #independenceofthesea while docked in #PortCanaveral around 4pm. It hit so fast and was gone in a matter of minutes! No ship announcements were made before or after so people on the lower pool deck were hit completely without warning. 😳 #hurricaneseason #floridaweather #cruiseship #royalcaribbean #chaos #ocean #sea #squall ♬ original sound - Cora Cornett

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Bonkers video footage shows chaos on cruise ship during intense storm, share this article.

An intense storm surprised passengers as they boarded a cruise ship in Florida and sent them scrambling for shelter as hurricane-like winds sent deck chairs and loungers, among other things, flying into the air in a chaotic scene some likened to the movie “Twister.”

The Independence of the Seas from Royal Caribbean was at the dock in Port Canaveral when the storm suddenly erupted with heavy rain and wind, sending many of the passengers into a panic as they sought safety. Some were hit by the flying debris.

Jenn Stancil captured video of the storm moving in and the passengers scrambling for safety as rain drenched the deck.

“It just turned crazy,” Stancil told FOX 35 Orlando . “It looked like a scene from the movie “Twister” is exactly what I thought, because you see these chairs flying up in the air.”

Lucas Sparrow, another eyewitness, told FOX 35 Orlando, “People were getting blown, losing their hats [and] towels.”

One lounger crashed down on an empty baby stroller as the woman pulled it. Fortunately the woman was carrying the baby and was not hit, as shown in footage posted on the Instagram account called Sunshine State of Mind 305 . (To view on some servers, you might have to click the link.)

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Sunshine State of Mind 305 (@305ssom)

Stancil’s video lasted only a bit over four minutes, showing how quickly a storm can move in. And how quickly, in this case, it can move on.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Video from fishing boat in high seas causes viewers to become ‘seasick’

Royal Caribbean responded to FOX 35’s request for comments, saying, “On Friday, June 16, while departing from Port Canaveral,  Independence of the Seas  encountered a sudden gust of high winds. This lasted for a brief period and there were no serious injuries to our guests or crew.  Independence of the Seas  continued its regularly scheduled 3-night itinerary, arriving to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, on Saturday morning, as scheduled.”

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Carnival passengers recount ‘nightmare’ cruise as storm floods ship

Videos showed the carnival sunshine cabins and hallways flooding and ceilings leaking.

Matthew Branham and his fiancée, Madison Davis, were lying by a Carnival Sunshine pool on Friday aboard a cruise returning to Charleston, S.C., from the Bahamas when an announcement came over the loudspeaker. The captain was expecting rougher weather that evening, but there was nothing to worry about. So Branham and Davis didn’t worry.

As the day went on, “We noticed it started getting cooler in the afternoon — much, much cooler,” said Branham, 25, of Castlewood, Va. “And then it was like a switch was flipped, and it literally turned into a nightmare.”

En route back to Charleston Friday night into Saturday, the Carnival Sunshine navigated into a strong storm system that battered the southeast over the holiday weekend. Videos emerged on social media showing cabins and hallways flooding, shop floors littered with destroyed merchandise and leaking ceilings . Passenger Brad Morrell snapped a photo of an automated instrument map reporting a 69 knot, or 79 mph, wind.

#CarnivalSunshine : Due to return to Charleston, South Carolina this Saturday, May 27, 2023, has been delayed due to severe weather. The ship is currently off the South Carolina coast and holding position, unable to return to the port because of high winds & rough seas. #cruise 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/2B6HlAn2yD — ∼Marietta (@MariettaDaviz) May 28, 2023

Carnival said in a statement that the weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecast, but that its fleet operations center team, which relies on outside meteorology resources for itinerary planning, “coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location.”

“Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous,” the statement continued. “The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear.”

Strong Southeast storm slams Carolinas

Carnival said the captain made “several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship.” Additionally, “some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe.”

The ship’s medical staff did help a “small number” of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance following the storm. Despite the significant damage and a delay in schedule, Carnival Sunshine embarked on its next five-day Bahama sailing on Saturday.

From their sea-view room, Branham and Davis watched as waves surged over their window and braced themselves as the 892-foot-long ship lurched in the storm.

“Waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor,” Branham said.

They were told to stay in their cabins. Meanwhile, Branham said, TVs were falling off walls, and glassware was sliding off shelves and shattering on the floor. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed.”

They packed up their belongings when their floor started to flood and took shelter in a main lobby area.

“All of the employees were sprinting downstairs with life vests,” Branham said. “There were little kids besides us screaming and crying and throwing fits.”

Throughout the storm, Branham wondered why there weren’t more announcements from Carnival staff. Besides the warning of rougher seas earlier Friday and one Saturday morning after they’d weathered the storm, Branham said they weren’t given any official updates on their situation. When he asked workers what was going on, they told him not to worry.

⁦⁦ @CarnivalCruise ⁩ #carnivalsunshine still 75mph winds at 9:25am. Sitting and spinning in the Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/NITCO2l9Ss — FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

“But you see rooms flooded, and you can pick up a handful of sand and you’re kind of like, ‘What in the world? Why is nobody telling us anything?’” Branham said.

Jim Walker, a maritime lawyer and cruise industry legal expert, says his firm has been contacted by some Carnival Sunshine passengers who were injured during the storm, including a man who says he was struck by a door and broke his foot. Others have asked him about the potential for a class-action lawsuit.

While Walker said passengers should make their complaints known to Carnival, he doesn’t believe filing a lawsuit would be an efficient next step. Instead, impacted passengers can ask Carnival for a refund or a credit for another cruise, although there’s no guarantee the cruise line will grant such requests.

Pete Peterson, owner of Storybook Cruises , which is affiliated with Cruise Planners, said cruise ships keep a close eye on weather developments and will adjust their itinerary depending on the severity of the storm.

“Cruise lines monitor the weather all the time. They’re not going to put their passengers in harm’s way,” said Peterson, who has been a cruise adviser for more than 20 years and has sailed on nearly 60 cruises. “Obviously, some cruise lines are better at doing this than others.”

In 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas returned to port after cruising into a “bomb cyclone,” which damaged the ship amid winds gusting to 100 mph. The ship sailed into the remnants of Hurricane Hermine seven months later, causing additional problems.

To ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, a cruise ship can alter its course and circumvent the rough weather system. In stormy conditions, the crew can deploy the stabilizers, which will prevent the ship from rolling and bucking.

“You don’t experience the up and down,” Peterson said. “It’s not as rough a ride.”

Both approaches can add to a cruise line’s expenditures, Peterson said. Stabilizers slow the vessel, thereby consuming more fuel. Sailing around the storm can take longer than the original route and disrupt the company’s cruise schedule, leading to delays or cancellations. The cruise line may have to reimburse passengers or provide them with future credits because of the inconvenience.

“When they do something like that, it’s going to cost them money,” Peterson said.

Craig Setzer , a meteorologist and hurricane preparedness specialist, said that even with the hurricane-like conditions and flooding, “I would never be in doubt of the vessel’s integrity,” he said. “Cruise ships are structurally very, very sound and can survive a lot. They’re really rugged.”

Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report.

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Watch CBS News

Carnival cruise ship battered by waves in storm off Charleston

By Aliza Chasan

Updated on: May 29, 2023 / 4:16 PM EDT / CBS News

A storm off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, battered a Carnival cruise ship for hours late Friday night before it docked, leaving passengers terrified.

Passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine described shattered glass, water pouring into rooms and hallways, the ship pitching about and a lack of communication from cruise staff. Some passengers and crew members needed "minor assistance" from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesman told CBS News. "Guests on board the ship were safe," the spokesman added. 

Carnival Sunshine, which was headed from the Bahamas to South Carolina, arrived in Charleston behind schedule, according to the spokesman. Some crew cabins needed to be temporarily taken out of service because of water damage. The ship's next voyage, on which it has since embarked, was also delayed.

The National Hurricane Center on Friday warned of a non-tropical area of low pressure off Florida that was set to move northward and inland over the Carolinas during the weekend. Forecasters said there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and rip current conditions along portions of the U.S.'s southeastern coast through Sunday.

Passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, tweeted Friday that the ship was rocking. She said that the only time passengers heard from the captain was in the afternoon, when he told them he had an experienced crew and would do everything he could to minimize discomfort as the ship encountered the storm. 

"They said it will get worse as we get closer to the storm," she tweeted. "@CarnivalCruise  is doing an EXCELLENT job!"

She tweeted again on Saturday afternoon, describing " 14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves ." 

"We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two," Tutrone tweeted.

Several passengers, including Brenda Goodwin Sherbert, posted on social media about broken glass on the ship . They also wrote about water coming in through balcony doors.

"We had a 40 foot wave hit our side of the ship,.. we almost fell out the bed.. things were crashing all around us and the carpet on my side of the bed was soaked bc water came in thru our balcony door," Goodwin Sherbert wrote.

Passenger Reid Overcash, who was on the cruise with his wife, said televisions on the ship displayed a message during the storm: "Public address announcement please standby." 

He said it was when winds had reached between 70-90 mph and the ship was tilting left that he truly feared for his life.

"Myself being in emergency services and retired, I knew nobody was going to come and rescue us with winds over 40 knots," Overcash said.

The trip marked Overcash's seventh cruise. He said he's not going to let the frightening experience stop him from going on more cruises in the future. 

"It's just one of them unlucky experiences that occurs once in a while," he said.

• South Carolina
• Cruise Ship

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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Passengers are sharing videos and speaking out after a cruise ship was hit by a storm while departing from a port in Florida. High winds caused by the storm sent items on the deck flying. The company said a sudden gust of winds hit the ship during its departure but no one was seriously injured. NBC News’ Guad Venegas reports. June 25, 2023

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Royal Caribbean cruise ship passengers run for cover as storm sends deck furniture flying

Videos show passengers scrambling to protect their children after strong winds from an unexpected storm, article bookmarked.

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Passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were forced to run for cover after unexpected, dangerously-high winds sent deck furniture flying.

Videos posted on social media showed chairs and tables flying across decks while people in swimsuits gripped onto walls.

One TikTok video showed a lounger narrowly miss a woman carrying a small child.

The Independence of the Seas ship was caught in a brief but intense rain storm as it prepared to leave Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida last week.

Passengers were lounging by the pool in the sunshine when strong winds and heavy rain suddenly rolled in.

Videos showed passengers running for cover and sliding across the slick decks, and ducking to avoid airborne chairs and umbrellas.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement that no passengers were seriously injured due to the flash storm.

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Two passengers aboard the ship complained on TikTok about the cruise line failing to notify passengers of the storm.

“Just a fun evening leaving Port Canaveral this past Friday,” TikTok user lucassparrow1110captioned his video.

“No announcement from the captain before or after, also no mention of what happened. Just pretend like it didn’t happen I guess,” he wrote.

“The sun was shining just 10 minutes before!” Cora Cornett captioned her video.

“We were on the top deck watching another boat in port get hit with rain when suddenly it DISAPPEARED in the rain so we ran down to the next deck but it was already on us.”

Ms Cornett said the weather passed over extremely quickly at around 4pm on 16 June.

“No ship announcements were made before or after so people on the lower pool deck were hit completely without warning,” Ms Cornett wrote.

The Independent has reached out to Royal Caribbean for comment.

In response to the incident, Royal Caribbean told Distractify : “On Friday, June 16, while departing from Port Canaveral, ‘Independence of the Seas’encountered a sudden gust of high winds. This latest for a brief period and there were no serious injuries to our guests or crew.”

The company said that the ship continued on its scheduled three-night itinerary and arrived in the Bahamas on Saturday.

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WATCH: Cruise Passengers Share Terrifying Videos from 'Nightmare' Storm at Sea

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship made it back to port safely on Saturday after being stuck in a storm between the Bahamas and Charleston, S.C. for 15 hours

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship made it back to port nine hours later than planned after sailing through a terrifying storm on Friday night.

The ship was on its way to Charleston, S.C. from the Bahamas when it got caught in severe weather, including nearly 80 mph winds. Passengers on board shared details and footage of the chaos and destruction caused by the storm on social media. Thankfully, Carnival told PEOPLE in a statement provided below that "no one was seriously injured."

Crew Center, a cruise ship information site, posted a video on Twitter showing a flooded hallway, torn-off doors and other debris and destruction on board.

"The aftermath aboard Carnival Sunshine after a severe storm," the post read. "The crew from Deck 0-4 evacuated to the theater, and anywhere they could rest… the crew bar destroyed."

brad morrell/storyful

Passenger Daniel Taylor told Newsweek that the captain made an announcement around 4:45 p.m. saying that they would be experiencing a delay due to "adverse weather conditions," expressing that they "would do everything they could to minimize discomfort.

By dinner time, public decks had been closed off, and plates and cups were flying off the buffet areas, he recalled.

By the early hours of Saturday morning, he said, "We were no longer able to see where we were going, how fast we were going, what the wind speed was, or anything. We were blind to what was going on." Swells were hitting the ship "over and over," said Taylor, who also recalled seeing crew members wearing life vests.

At that point, the internet was also out, so those on board couldn't get any additional information or reach loved ones.

Matthew Branham, who was also on board, told The Washington Post , that "waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor."

TVs were falling off walls and glasses shattering. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed."

Another passenger, RJ Whited, wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post cited by Newsweek , "Our cruise ship last night was literally sideways and slung everything in our room breaking, people in the hallways throwing up and sleeping on the stairs."

Added Whited, "We also found out that they knew about the storm and instead of us staying back to ride it out a few hours they hit it head-on so we could make it back for the other cruise to be on time."

Finally, the ship made it back to Charleston around 7:30 a.m., though it couldn't immediately dock due to continuing rough weather.

At 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, the ship was able to dock.

Summing up the "nightmare" experience, passenger Christa Seifert-Alicea told NBC News 4 : "What we endured is indescribable, not only to feel it yourself but to hear and see it set in on every single person around you from adult, child and the elderly is something I will never forget."

In a statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Carnival said: "Carnival Sunshine's return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday. The weather's prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship's arrival and as a result, the next voyage's embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests." The statement claims that "the ship's crew followed our protocols for rough weather" noting, "thankfully, no one was seriously injured."

"The weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecasted," the statement continues. "Given the circumstances as they were, the ship's officers and our Fleet Operations Center team using real time meteorology data coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location. Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous. The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear." The cruise line's statement also said that the captain "made several announcements about the weather and the delay" but noted "some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made."

The Carnival Sunshine is already on its next voyage, the cruise line confirmed.

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Video shows cruise passengers scrambling for safety as heavy rain and gusty winds battered Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas ship as it prepared to leave Port Canaveral, Florida. (Video courtesy of Jenn Stancil)

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Flood watches posted as powerful storm sets sights on northeast, mid-atlantic.

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After a warm start to the week across the Northeast, attention has now turned to the threat of more heavy rain that started Wednesday and brought the threat of flooding to millions of people across the region.

This latest threat comes from the same deadly system that blasted the South with severe weather on Wednesday, prompting numerous Tornado Warnings and Flash Flood Emergencies.

Powerful system to engulf eastern US

The intensifying low-pressure system is expected to track northeast toward the Great Lakes throughout the day on Thursday and into Thursday night.

As it does so, intensifying rain will engulf the eastern half of the US, with the heaviest rain falling near and along the track of the system as it spins off to the northeast.

The FOX Forecast Center said about 1-2 inches of rain could fall from the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes.

In addition, the size and strength of the system will bring the threat of high wind gusts across most of the eastern US, including the Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley and Northeast.

The FOX Forecast Center expects wind gusts up to 40 mph across the region from Buffalo in New York and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania through New York City and Boston.

Flooding possible despite lower rain totals

In terms of rainfall totals, the FOX Forecast Center really isn’t expecting blockbuster totals.

Most locations being impacted by this system will only see about 1-2 inches of rain through Saturday, with some locally higher amounts of 2-3 inches in parts of Pennsylvania, upstate New York and northern New England.

However, the ground is already extremely saturated from relentless rain that has been pounding the region since the start of the year.

In fact, Providence in Rhode Island, Wilmington in Delaware and Hartford in Connecticut are seeing some of the wettest starts to the year on record.

Providence has seen a whopping 26.07 inches of rain since Jan. 1, and Hartford has seen just over 20 inches.

Wilmington has seen nearly 19 inches.

Needless to say, even low precipitation totals could lead to flash flooding.

Because of that risk,  NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center  (WPC) has placed millions of people in a Level 2 out of 4 risk of excessive rainfall on Thursday from the Ohio Valley eastward into the mid-Atlantic and portions of the central Appalachian Mountains, which are still recovering from deadly flooding last week.

The risk of flooding due to rain and snowmelt continues to be possible across portions of New Hampshire and Maine in northern New England.

“Heavy rainfall along with warm temperatures will cause rapid melting of snowpack from the foothills northward,” the  National Weather Service said .

“This will increase the runoff into streams and rivers. Moderate to heavy rainfall over partially frozen ground will support the potential for flash flooding as well as river flooding.”

Flooding is also possible across portions of Ohio and Indiana, with the National Weather Service issuing a Flood Watch through Friday morning.

“Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible,” the  National Weather Service  said.

“A half-inch to an inch of rain has already fallen, and an additional half-inch to an inch of rain is expected between today and Friday morning.”

Coastal flood alerts have also been posted up and down the East Coast from the Carolinas in the mid-Atlantic to Massachusetts in New England.

Strong onshore winds, in combination with astronomically higher tides, are threatening to inundate communities along the shore.

Coastal Flood Warnings have been issued in several counties in Maryland, including cities such as Ocean City and Salisbury, where coastal communities could see about 2 feet of inundation.

“Widespread flooding of vulnerable areas will result in an elevated threat of property damage to homes and businesses near the waterfront and shoreline,” the  National Weather Service said .

That could force officials to close numerous roads and threaten structures. Flooding will also extend inland from the waterfront along tidal rivers and bays, resulting in more road closures and possibly even flooded vehicles.

The Coastal Flood Warnings also extend into northern Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, and western New Jersey.

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Pennsylvania Egg Farmer’s 40,000 Hens Saved from Culling by Plan Devised by Woman on Facebook

I n the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, nestled among the rolling hills and lush farmlands, lies Wind Crest Farm, home to 80,000 laying hens.

Josh Zimmerman, the farm’s owner, has been in the egg business for years, supplying bulk eggs to institutions like schools, hospitals, and cruise ships. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, Zimmerman found himself facing an unprecedented crisis.

The Pandemic’s Devastating Impact on the Egg Industry

As the nation shut down to slow the spread of the virus, Zimmerman’s bulk-egg processor ran out of storage space and demand. Schools closed their doors, hospitals reduced elective procedures, and cruise ships sat idle in ports.

The once-thriving market for liquid eggs had vanished overnight, leaving Zimmerman with a staggering surplus of 60,000 eggs per day.

The egg industry was not alone in its struggle. Across the country, farmers faced similar challenges as supply chains were disrupted and demand patterns shifted dramatically.

Many were forced to dump milk, plow under crops, and euthanize livestock. The pandemic had exposed the fragility of our food system and the vulnerability of the farmers who form its backbone.

A Heartbreaking Decision

With no end to the pandemic in sight and mounting financial losses, Zimmerman was faced with a heartbreaking decision. He contemplated killing half his flock to cut his losses.

The thought of euthanizing 40,000 healthy, productive hens weighed heavily on his mind. These were not just units of production; they were living creatures that he had raised and cared for.

As word of Zimmerman’s plight spread, the community rallied around him. Local news outlets covered the story, and social media buzzed with concern for the farm and its hens.

People wanted to help, but in a time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, traditional methods of support seemed out of reach.

A Facebook Plan Hatches

Enter Timi Bauscher, a local businesswoman who runs the Nesting Box Farm Market and Creamery. When she heard about Zimmerman’s situation, she knew she had to do something.

Bauscher took to Facebook ( ref ) with a plan: a contactless, drive-through egg sale. She would sell Zimmerman’s eggs for $2 per dozen, with all proceeds going directly to the farm.

The response was overwhelming. The first sale moved 18,000 dozen eggs and generated $36,000, enough to cover Zimmerman’s costs and keep his hens alive.

Customers drove from miles around to support the farm, some waiting in line for over an hour to buy eggs.

Community Support Saves the Day

In the weeks that followed, Bauscher organized additional sales, moving 22,000-25,000 dozen eggs per week. The community’s support provided a lifeline for Wind Crest Farm, allowing Zimmerman to weather the storm of the pandemic.

The story of Wind Crest Farm is a testament to the power of community in times of crisis. When faced with the unthinkable, people came together to support a local farmer and prevent the needless waste of food and life.

It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is hope to be found in the kindness and generosity of others.

Lessons for the Future

As we reflect on the challenges of the past year, it’s clear that our food system needs to be more resilient and adaptable. We must find ways to support farmers and ensure that the food they produce reaches those who need it, even in the face of disruptions like a global pandemic.

The story of Wind Crest Farm and the community that rallied around it offers valuable lessons for the future. It shows us that by working together, we can overcome even the most daunting of challenges.

Let us work towards a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system, one that values the hard work and dedication of farmers like Josh Zimmerman. For in their stories, we find hope for a better future.

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• Don’t Miss: 10 Most Expensive Chicken Breeds in the World
• inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-eggs-farming-20200511.html

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Few weekend showers

WEEKEND IN VIEW

We are starting the day off with sunshine and temperatures in the low 50s. Soak up the sun while it lasts, clouds eventually take over this afternoon with a few passing showers. Rain isn’t a guarantee, and it won’t add up to much. We will still squeeze in plenty of dry times today with temperatures in the mid 50s.

Sunday will be a dry start with some sunshine, it will be warmer with highs reaching 60 degrees. Clouds take over in the afternoon with some rain passing through along an approaching boundary. Rain won’t add up to much, with most seeing less than 1/4″.

SCHOOL VACATION WEEK

Marathon Monday is shaping up to be nice and bright! The day will begin in the upper 40s with plenty of sunshine. We’ll warm quickly during the day with temperatures reaching the mid 60s. While the forecast is picture-perfect for spectators, it will feel a little warmer for runners toward the end of the marathon.

Tuesday will be another nice one with sunshine and mid 60s. Soak up the sunshine while it lasts, clouds and rain chances return Wednesday and will linger through at least Friday.

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Windstar Cruises Welcomes Two New Ships to Fleet

• April 10, 2024

Windstar Cruises has announced the expansion of its fleet with the addition of the Star Seeker and Star Explorer.

The first of the two ships, the newbuild Star Seeker, is currently being constructed in the WestSEA shipyard and is expected to be delivered in December of 2025, followed by Star Explorer in December 2026.

The Star Seeker was originally ordered by Mystic and slated for its Atlas brand, while the 2019-built Star Explorer is currently operating for Quark Expeditions on a charter from Mystic.

“Our goal was to ensure these ships are unmistakably Windstar, and a significant amount of effort has gone into achieving this,” says Windstar Cruises’ President Christopher Prelog.

“We are thrilled for this expansion, building on the success of our game-changing Star Class in small-ship cruising with guests and travel partners, while offering new experiences. This growth reflects the dedication of our incredible crew and team, allowing us to broaden our destination portfolio and even bring one of our Wind Class sail ships back to Tahiti.”

Each ship has 112 suites, featuring full private verandas and infinity windows, ensuring unparalleled views for every guest onboard. Additionally, two new Owner’s Suites with wrap-around balconies have been added to the aft of the ship, perfect for evening cocktails or a private dinner. With a capacity for 224 guests and a staff to guest ratio of 1:2, the ships maintain an intimate atmosphere, ensuring personalized service at every turn.

Guests will also enjoy access to several newly added Windstar guest favorites, including the brand’s iconic Watersports Platform with all-new staircase access, the cozy Yacht Club café and lounge, a two-story spa and fitness facility, an intimate forward whirlpool on the bow, and a spacious open deck perfect for sunbathing and Windstar’s famous deck barbeques.

Andrew N. Todd, President & CEO of parent company Xanterra Travel Collection said, “As part of our company’s expanding portfolio, Windstar Cruises is poised for remarkable growth and an exciting future ahead. We’re excited about the possibilities of where Windstar will sail and the opportunities it brings our officers, crew and staff, and our guests.”

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