everglades city fla. hurricane irma rag everglades city tiny fish village vast alligator-infested swamp howie grimm hunker inside house 88-year-old mother useless cell phone new job title act mayor less week wind start wane jump truck move mother high perch trailer stilts know storm surge would follow eye storm watch trailer surge swallow truck start call mayorism recall laugh monday lean flood forklift front business grimm seafood south florida spar bad dangerous storm remote hamlet 400 residents southwest part state felt full wrath irma wind wave yet residents seem take stride survey damage good humor shrug shoulder little help arrive outside world day storm one seem ask much help either town surround marshlands storm flood part deal residents remain outpost irma landfall sunday watch surge eight feet high inundate roughly half home businesses ones stilts cake town gray swamp slime sammy hamilton 83 city mayor 22 years last week lose two build house tourism businesses along several vessels one 55-foot tour boat end tree ornament sort decorate christmas say hamilton step handle town sewer plant fall compliance state environmental regulations face major overhaul florida department environmental protection sue city 2015 inspectors catch plant pump sewage nearby mangroves residents express much anger hamilton sewer plant resignation days major flood love old mayor say grimm act mayor criticize hamilton handle sewer debacle do lot good decide enough everglades city isolate geographically culturally rest south florida 1.5 million ace preserve wetlands found late 1800s late become last stop atlantic coast line railroad historic rod gun club host half dozen u.s. presidents include harry truman dedicate swampland surround city national park 1947. today city economy rest three main commodities stone crab alligator airboats commercial catch stone crab play big role tourism primarily involve scout alligator airboats mix change say vicky well fifth-generation resident brother among happily make switch process crab tot tourists around airboats lot money lot easy work well say people whatever need fee family many whatever need protect family wind water weather many storm well family build home decade ago withstand major hurricane vicky husband bob well 72 drive pile 23 feet grind use rebar reinforce concrete foundation every two feet encase windows concrete build thing stay stay bob say across street well home ricky collins 68-year-old everglades city native wash muck driveway grandson push house broom flood rattle think would change neighbor even new arrivals view live difference town lot foreigners mean people state say stay probably good good insurance everything among newcomers marlene sassaman 69 move four years ago stay storm spend next day mop mud first floor strong house fine sassaman say departure old mayor say prefer steer clear controversy let say retire want go say bear breed pappy bear breed really love place one last small towns country drain swamp hard-hit everglades town mop irma