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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cherry Hill Villas fire survivor looks on bright side

Donna Austin, shown here with neighbor and good friend, David Moon, is living each day to the fullest after her close call with lightning on July 1.
Donna Austin, shown here with neighbor and good friend, David Moon, is living each day to the fullest after her close call with lightning on July 1.

Cherry Hill Villas resident, Donna Austin, 82, has always looked on the bright side of life, even after losing her beloved husband some 20-or-so years ago. But now, after her close call when lightning struck her home on July 1, her attitude is even more positive.

Austin considers herself lucky to be alive — lightning could have just as likely struck her rather than her clothes closet a few feet away, when the fire all but destroyed her abode — and she treasures some very generous Village of Belvedere neighbors as well.

“I guess I could be traumatized by this ordeal,” she said, matter-of-factly, “if I were to sit and think about what happened. But I don’t do that. I prefer to concentrate on all the good things that have happened in my life.”

Although Austin feels frustration that the permitting process is taking so long, and except for interior cleanup, her villa is still boarded up. “It’s completely gutted in there. They got rid of all the soot and ash, the charred furniture, the soggy floors and walls — I lost just about everything.”

But crews are waiting for new roof trusses to be delivered, and the stormy weather to cooperate as well.

The interior of Donna Austin's charred villa has been cleaned up and stripped bare, in preparation for re-building.
The interior of Donna Austin’s charred villa has been cleaned up and stripped bare, in preparation for re-building.

Her snowbird neighbor, Judy Jaeger, who summers in Wisconsin, just said to Austin — “come live in my villa. I won’t be using it until October 1st.”

“People here are wonderful. I had met Judy at our monthly ladies’ lunches, but didn’t know her very well,” Austin smiled. “When she returns, I’m going to get to know her a lot better, that’s for sure.”

It isn’t likely Austin’s villa re-build will be completed by that date, so other neighbors, Dwight and Charlene Beatty, have invited her to stay with them until her home is habitable.

“In the meantime, I’m having a great time,” Austin, who volunteers at ‘Ye Old Thrift Shop,’ which benefits The Villages Hospital, said.

“I am buying all new clothes — that’s where the lightning burned first — my closet,” and there’s a shiny new car in the driveway. “I’m starting to look at new furniture, too.”

Donna Austin looks at the damage to her home shortly after the fire.
Donna Austin looks at the damage to her home shortly after the fire.

“I know it could have been so much worse,” Austin repeated. “I could have been burned or killed, or if I had been out, the fire could have burned the entire structure and spread to other homes too. I can’t help thinking — what if it happened in the middle of the night when I was sleeping.”

When Austin heard the loud noise and saw the flames, she ran out in the street, and nearby neighbor, Jackie Preston, called the fire department. Austin’s phones didn’t work.

“They came within a few minutes, and got everything contained.”

Neighbor David Moon and Austin walk and chat some mornings in the neighborhood and at the Polo Field. He and others have helped her adjust to her unsettling circumstances.

Austin has ordered a lightning rod system recommended by Villages expert Len Hathaway, and says that will make her feel safer.

“I’ll sleep better at night,” she said.

Before she had her family, Austin worked for Buick in Flint, Mich., in the auditing department; and later as a sales associate at Merrell Lynch. Her two  sons live in South Korea and Ohio.

Austin is busy planning a big party for all the people who helped her in her time of need.

“I’m going to wait until after the holidays, maybe around Valentine’s Day. I’m going to rent a rec center room, and do it up big,” she smiled. “Life is good and I want all my friends to share in a good time.”

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