NationStates Jolt Archive

I live right where the black line first touches Florida. (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics/AT03/refresh/AL0304W+GIF/112118W.gif)

Had to bring in ALL of the crap off the yard, furniture, decorations, etc. My Brother-in-law is out of town so I get to put up his storm shutters (even though a cat 1 they are really not necessary) I am not putting them up in my house - windows rated at 120 MPH and I live far from and debris.

The biggest part that will suck is when the power goes off. Imagine 100% humidity and 85F outside.

THIS IS SOOOO GOING TO SUCK!

The roads will flood, and there is noplace to go anyway.

I'll post so long as I have power + DSL if anyone is interested. I don't expect the storm to be much more than alot of wind and rain.

For now I have more preparations to make.

Hey there... Hang in there I know what you will be going through. We are in the Tampa Bay area in Polk County. The schools are closed but I work at a medical facility and have to work for at least half a day so I will have to be out in it!!!

Lets hope Charlie decides to go back out in the Gulf...

Good Luck Bozzy! A friend of mine is in the boat!

Chuck seems headed towards Tampa, though there is likely to be storm-surge from Ft. Myers up to Tampa. Storm surge means water levels from 6-12 feet above normal. My house is 10 ft abouve normal... and I live on a canal very near the bay. Eek!

Trouble is, there is noplace really to go. All hotels inland are booked (and there are very few to begin with - who vacations in Arcadia?)

So we just sit around wearing our galoshes and watch the storm. I only hope the power does not go out.

Hey Bozzy,,

I hear Charlies wind speeds have increased... looks like we are in for a bad time. I hope you and your family are ok... are all the places in Lakeland and over towards Orlando booked?? Just a thought... my family and I are in Lakeland and have outside dogs so we will be sticking it out... we are worried as we have a lot of big old trees around our house and a canal in the back as well.....

Put a post up when its over to let us all know how you are....

Thatnks for the happy thoughts.

t this point it looks like we'll get some high water, but not too high. They said to expect gusts over 75 mph. Sounds high but most homes here are built to withstand 120 mph. The only real danger is flying debris. It can smash a window causing all sorts of trouble, including losing the roof if the right gust comes along. My house is pretty far from anything that could cause that damage. I'd post a pic here if I knew how - real nice sunset on the way tonight and my view is quite spectacular. I live on a canal across from a nature preserve in a reverse 2-story (livingspace upstairs, bedrooms downstairs)

Low lying areas, RV parks and mobile homes have a mandatory evacuation right now.

The mot anyone can do right now is pray and, well, it is a long shot, but if everyone goes outsides and blows west real hard....

Well, good luck. At least all we are gonna get up here in NC is a bunch of rain.

I live in the extreme south of South Carolina, near the border with Savannah, in Georgia (in a town called Beaufort). We are expected to get a lot of rain and up to 70 MPH winds, and tornados. I would hate to be in Florida when this one hits.

Hey man,
I live in panama city in the middle of the panhandle. We were let out of school today because of hurricane Bonny. Oh well, here I am sitting at home enjoying the sun through the shutters. Gosh I love false alarms.... Anyways Charlie is supposed to reach Panama City sometime this week... You'll be okay it can't be worse than Opel.

If I lived in Florida, I'd be very greatful that Bonnie and Charlie aren't catagory 5 hurricanes. But if anyone reads this and thinks I'm a bitch, don't worry. I'm punished with my own share of bad weather: blizzards and ice storms.
In the meantime, good luck riding out the storms.

I live in the extreme south of South Carolina, near the border with Savannah, in Georgia (in a town called Beaufort). We are expected to get a lot of rain and up to 70 MPH winds, and tornados. I would hate to be in Florida when this one hits.


Beaufort is beautiful!!! I have an aunt that lives in Bluffton. I couldn't get through to her tonight so I hope she has gotten ready. I hope you and your family don't get to much damage from Charlie.

If I lived in Florida, I'd be very greatful that Bonnie and Charlie aren't catagory 5 hurricanes. But if anyone reads this and thinks I'm a bitch, don't worry. I'm punished with my own share of bad weather: blizzards and ice storms.
In the meantime, good luck riding out the storms.


I don't think you are a bitch, I am greatful as you say its not a category 5, check out the weatherchannel.com, there is a link on there about cities at risk or something like that... it tells you what would happen here if we had a category 5.

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania so I know about blizzards and ice storms... I hope your winter is better than our hurricane season is turning out.

Well, good luck. At least all we are gonna get up here in NC is a bunch of rain.


My inlaws live in New Bern and they said it was raining off and on today from Bonnie but they were expecting worse from Charlie... good luck!

Thatnks for the happy thoughts.

t this point it looks like we'll get some high water, but not too high. They said to expect gusts over 75 mph. Sounds high but most homes here are built to withstand 120 mph. The only real danger is flying debris. It can smash a window causing all sorts of trouble, including losing the roof if the right gust comes along. My house is pretty far from anything that could cause that damage. I'd post a pic here if I knew how - real nice sunset on the way tonight and my view is quite spectacular. I live on a canal across from a nature preserve in a reverse 2-story (livingspace upstairs, bedrooms downstairs)

Low lying areas, RV parks and mobile homes have a mandatory evacuation right now.

The mot anyone can do right now is pray and, well, it is a long shot, but if everyone goes outsides and blows west real hard....


Your home sounds beautiful... I hope Charlie doesn't cause to much damage. I am so hoping the power doesn't go out to soon.. it sure will be hot and miserable. We have gotten everything tied down and locked up so we are ready to go here in Lakeland.

I know this sounds stupid to all of you, but I live in MA and would love for a hurricane to reach us. Ghads, it's been so long since I've seen a hurricane. It's always cool to just go out to the beach just as it hits and watch the waves. (I live not too far from the coast but more than far enough to not have to worry)

But that's just me.

I don't think you are a bitch, I am greatful as you say its not a category 5, check out the weatherchannel.com, there is a link on there about cities at risk or something like that... it tells you what would happen here if we had a category 5.

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania so I know about blizzards and ice storms... I hope your winter is better than our hurricane season is turning out.
Don't count on it. We've had a rainy summer, and historically, they have preceded a March blizzard. But we're used to it. In Upstate NY, we've come to expect at least one day of power outages and mass pipe bursts. On the bright side, it'll be a snowday :).

i live in st pete fl which is right across the bridge from tampa. notice the word bridge, which means water. if it weren't for the fact that my house is on a 10 ft hill and 18 ft above see level i might be worried. 120 mph gusts? I think i'll go fly my kite or fly a model airplane. sounds fun. at least its only a cat 3 but its going to be a whole lot worse then opal. got 2 go finish filling sandbags.

Hay Ho

I live in the UK and will be flying in to Tampa on Saturday afternoon for 2 weeks vacation, the first week we will be down on Sanibel Island if it is still there, from the forecasts it looks like Charley will pass right over the island!

Any way hope all goes well for you, our thoughts are with you.

If I lived in Florida, I'd be very greatful that Bonnie and Charlie aren't catagory 5 hurricanes. But if anyone reads this and thinks I'm a bitch, don't worry. I'm punished with my own share of bad weather: blizzards and ice storms.
In the meantime, good luck riding out the storms.

A cat 5 is bad, but don't underestimate a cat 3, it is no picnic.

Well it look slike the storm is going to graze my home, but the storm suge is going right up my canal. Up to ten feet.

My house is built up about 9 1/2 feet. This promises to be interesting.

I was woken at 3AM today by a pretty strong storm. Sounded like someone spraying a garden hoze on the window. Right now it is calm again. Actually a fairly pleasant morning.

It looks like it may be a category 3 storm. That is real bad news. A Cat 2 is full of sound and fury, but a cat 3 starts opening the gates of hell...

Pictures of conditions. Updated 8:30 AM (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/a567019/detail?.dir=/d91c&.dnm=9012.jpg)

These were taken from the upstairs of my house, which is our main living area (kitchen, livingroom, diningroom) We have two different decks I took the photos from.

The canal will go over it's banks and creep towards my house. At a 6 foot level it will get about 3/4 of the way to my house. At 9 ft it will be inches from my house. At 10 ft it will be in my house.

I didn't include any photos from the front porch, though I may later.

added a pic to some links

Hay Ho

I live in the UK and will be flying in to Tampa on Saturday afternoon for 2 weeks vacation, the first week we will be down on Sanibel Island if it is still there, from the forecasts it looks like Charley will pass right over the island!

Any way hope all goes well for you, our thoughts are with you.

Check that flight....but you should be ok by Sat. Things will be VERY busy then though. Traffic will be the worst thing. Over a million people returning home will jam the roads...plus power might be out in many areas too.

my friend is on a cruise in florida and the carribian and he's in the path

my friend is on a cruise in florida and the carribian and he's in the path
Cruise ships have all been re-routed.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/wplg/20040812/lo_wplg/2326802

With all the news on TV lately about the extreme weather conditions
affecting the East Coast of the US, the mud slides in the Middle East and
South America, along with the dire predictions made by such films as The
Day After Tomorrow, we shouldn't forget that England has its share of
devastating weather too. I've attached a photo illustrating the damage
caused to a friend's home from a storm that passed through Southern
England last night. It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds
us not to take things for granted.

I live on the Space Coast (East Coast) of Florida. Depending on if it goes 5 degrees to the east or not, we could get hit pretty badly also. Unfortunately, no one here is preparing for it. They did close the schools because of tornadoes.
I hope everyone stays safe through the storm. Remember, loss of property is a lot better than loss of life.

what's the big deal about hurricanes, really? i can't WAIT for a hurricane to strike.

what's the big deal about hurricanes, really? i can't WAIT for a hurricane to strike.

Have you lived through one? Ever see what winds can do during a hurricane?

Have you lived through one? Ever see what winds can do during a hurricane?

of course i have! lov'em! the thrill and excitement banging on my window...oooh....

of course i have! lov'em! the thrill and excitement banging on my window...oooh....

What if a Category Five storm slammed into where your at? I sure hope your life insurance is paid up because odds are you won't be around.

With all the news on TV lately about the extreme weather conditions
affecting the East Coast of the US, the mud slides in the Middle East and
South America, along with the dire predictions made by such films as The
Day After Tomorrow, we shouldn't forget that England has its share of
devastating weather too. I've attached a photo illustrating the damage
caused to a friend's home from a storm that passed through Southern
England last night. It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds
us not to take things for granted.
That's terrible! I hope your friend wasn't sitting in it when that happened!

:)

Noon - Not much change. A bit rainy and getting a little rainy. The storm looks to be edging a bit closer. I am right on the edge of where 75MPH gusts drop to 65MPH gusts. ((well heck! lets light the BBQ up!)

My view is West over a nature preserve island about 1/2 mile wide and 3 miles long. The canal goes on one side of my house and a lake is on the other. There is a very small island right behind my house, about 1/4 mile circle. In thr first pic it is the cluster of trees on the right in the water.

Pay close attention to the marker in the water. I expect to see it much 'shorter' by this evening.

Oh, and spanish tiles make great projectiles in a heavy wind... :?(

My own roof is metal. Should weather nicely.

Its supposed to hit my area around 2p.m.

Put on some new pictures. It was clear one second, then raining a minute later. Wind is still mild, but picking up. The storm looks to be making an unexpected east turn, right towards my house. I may be heading to a shelter. Winds of 125 mph, and houses here are built to withstand 120...

Put on some new pictures. It was clear one second, then raining a minute later. Wind is still mild, but picking up. The storm looks to be making an unexpected east turn, right towards my house. I may be heading to a shelter. Winds of 125 mph, and houses here are built to withstand 120...

Abandon home Abandon Home! A Category THREE Hurricane approaching!

Good Luck Bozzy! I'll pray for ya.

Good luck bozzy, hope everything will be ok at yours !
Im from London, about the worst we get is flooding and about 2inches of snow that will bring the whole city to a stand-still.
Quite pathetic compared to what you have going on !

- wwa

Breaking News Breaking News!!!!

Officials Upgrade Hurricane Charley To Category 4 Storm, Minutes After Making It
A Category 3; Winds Are Now Up To 145 Mph

GET OUT OF DODGE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Breaking News Breaking News!!!!

Officials Upgrade Hurricane Charley To Category 4 Storm, Minutes After Making It
A Category 3; Winds Are Now Up To 145 Mph

Get Out Of Dodge Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCUAT+shtml/131716.shtml?

If you are reading this in Florida, hunker down NOW. This is a really, really strong storm. Hopefully nobody's reading this in FL, but if you are, get somewhere safe IMMEDIATELY.

Do Not Go Onto The Roadways, You Will Probably Not Have Time To Evacuate. Don't Get Caught On The Roads When This Hits.

(The following image is dynamic.) http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/FLOAT/VIS/20.jpg

Tampa Bay better be ready! Let us pray that this DOES NOT reace Category 5 strength! That'll be very very bad!

Tampa Bay better be ready! Let us pray that this DOES NOT reace Category 5 strength! That'll be very very bad!

oh god, don't even *think* that....

oh god, don't even *think* that....

Sorry but it had to be said. It is close to that now when you look at the sustained winds! I don't think it will but its better to pray that it won't than be caught off guard if it does. I hope Florida is prepared. If it does reach that strength it would be like the 3rd Category 5 storm to hit the US!

DB, you won't get struck by a hurricane. Where you are, they are called typhoons. And typhoons can get just as bad (if not worse) as our hurricanes.

In fact, Supertyphoon Ida was estimated to have sustained surface winds of 200 knots and contained the second-lowest barometric pressure EVER recorded in a tropical system- 877.0 millibars. And Typhoon Tip holds the world record- 870.00 millibars even.

So, if a typhoon of that intensity (which is equivalent to a strong Category 5 hurricane, such as Camille) scored a direct hit on wherever you were, your home would no longer exist in any coherent fashion. Neither would you, if you stayed there and somehow managed to avoid the mandatory evacuations.

Hurricane Camille erased portions of the Mississippi coastline. What makes you think you won't get erased?

BTW, AFAIK Charley is Cat 3 now, with 125 mph sustained winds, moving NNE at 20. Nasty-looking storm- well organized with a fairly good eye. If what you say is true and the storm is Cat 4, there will be some deaths. If the storm's sustained winds hit 155, it's lights out.

DB, you won't get struck by a hurricane. Where you are, they are called typhoons. And typhoons can get just as bad (if not worse) as our hurricanes.

In fact, Supertyphoon Ida was estimated to have sustained surface winds of 200 knots and contained the second-lowest barometric pressure EVER recorded in a tropical system- 877.0 millibars. And Typhoon Tip holds the world record- 870.00 millibars even.

So, if a typhoon of that intensity (which is equivalent to a strong Category 5 hurricane, such as Camille) scored a direct hit on wherever you were, your home would no longer exist in any coherent fashion. Neither would you, if you stayed there and somehow managed to avoid the mandatory evacuations.

Hurricane Camille erased portions of the Mississippi coastline. What makes you think you won't get erased?

BTW, Charley is Cat 3 now, with 125 mph sustained winds, moving NNE at 20. Nasty-looking storm- well organized with a fairly good eye.

Charlie is a Category FOUR hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph

http://www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/

Camille and Andrew are the only 2 Category Five hurricanes to hit the US Coastline! And before you say Andrew was a 4, it was looked with today's equipment and was upgraded.

BTW, Charley is Cat 3 now, with 125 mph sustained winds, moving NNE at 20. Nasty-looking storm- well organized with a fairly good eye.

New advisory coming through, apologies for all caps but I don't want to waste time converting them....

000
WTNT33 KNHC 131807
TCPAT3
BULLETIN
HURRICANE CHARLEY SPECIAL ADVISORY NUMBER 18
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
2 PM EDT FRI AUG 13 2004

...CHARLEY STRENGTHENS TO CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE AND HEADS FOR
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST...

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM THE
DRY TORTUGAS TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE...AND FOR THE FLORIDA WEST
COAST FROM EAST CAPE SABLE NORTHWARD TO THE STEINHATCHEE RIVER.

AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED FOR THE
SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST FROM COCOA BEACH FLORIDA NORTHWARD TO THE
SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A
HURRICANE WATCH ARE ALSO ISSUED FROM NORTH OF THE SOUTH SANTEE
RIVER TO CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS FROM
THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO OCEAN REEF...AND ALONG THE SOUTH FLORIDA
MAINLAND FROM OCEAN REEF TO SOUTH OF COCOA BEACH FLORIDA...
INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND FLORIDA BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH
REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE LOOKOUT TO OREGON INLET NORTH CAROLINA
INCLUDING PAMLICO SOUND.

AT 2 PM EDT...1800Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE CHARLEY WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 26.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 82.4 WEST OR ABOUT 60 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF FT. MYERS FLORIDA.

CHARLEY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 20 MPH. ON THIS
TRACK...THE CENTER OF CHARLEY SHOULD MAKE LANDFALL IN THE VICINITY
OF CHARLOTTE HARBOR FLORIDA LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 145 MPH WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE CONCENTRATED IN A VERY SMALL AREA
NEAR THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN WIND SPEED
MAY OCCUR BEFORE LANDFALL.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES... 45 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 105 MILES...165 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 954 MB...28.17 INCHES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS WILL BE SUBSIDING LATER
TODAY. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 10 TO 15 FEET IS EXPECTED NEAR AND
SOUTH OF THE WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE FLORIDA WEST COAST.
STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 7 FEET ALONG AND NEAR THE NORTHEAST
FLORIDA AND GEORGIA COASTS IS EXPECTED IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH
LESSER FLOODING TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH.

RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY ALONG CHARLEYS PATH
ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. THESE RAINS COULD
CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL
FLORIDA INCLUDING THE FLORIDA KEYS TODAY.

REPEATING THE 2 PM EDT POSITION...26.0 N... 82.4 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 20 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED
WINDS...145 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 954 MB.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
5 PM EDT.

FORECASTER LAWRENCE


$$

Will replace with public advisory when available....

You are right FD and Goob- 145 sustained now the official number. If it hits 155 sustained, it becomes Cat 5 ubercane. But it's less than 70 miles from shore... if it keeps explosively deepening, then parts of Florida will be erased.

http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm3/index_large.html

1:00 Update!

Hey Bozzy- do you live in or near Arcadia? My parents are building a double-wide trailer in a 55+ retirement community there. They're getting worried. :(

Hey Bozzy- do you live in or near Arcadia? My parents are building a double-wide trailer in a 55+ retirement community there. They're getting worried. :(

I don't think he's on Kelanis. I know I wouldn't be if a hurricane was hitting nearby.

More picture fun....

http://weather.gov/radar/images/DS.p19r0/SI.ktbw/latest.gif <--- Latest Tampa Radar Image

A cat 5 is bad, but don't underestimate a cat 3, it is no picnic.
Yeah, I didn't realize it'd get that strong until today. Still, it can't be as bad as Andrew, or Opal.
Also, I didn't fully realize that it was on a direct course with Tampa bay. I thought it might brush pass it, with perhaps a feeder band or two reaching the bay area. I didn't realize it'd hit the area directly.
And while I'm on self lamenting, I have a distant relative in Tarpon Springs. I hope she's okay.

Try this again!

http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm3/index_large.html

if anyone can see it let me know because it is not working over here on my computer!

Hey Bozzy- do you live in or near Arcadia? My parents are building a double-wide trailer in a 55+ retirement community there. They're getting worried. :(


Hey there.. I live here in Lakeland and the eye is supposed to now pass right under us which will put us on the north end of it by 20 minutes!!! I hope your folks are ok in Arcadia....

Please post to let us all know.

Hello to all from Lakeland, Florida. Since Charlie came on land where he did we are going to be hit worse. The eye is supposed to go over Bartow which is 20 minutes south of us. The wind has just started to really pick up and the rains are getting bad. I must admit... I am getting a little scared now... it was supposed to come in to Tampa Bay which we would have it bad but not like we are going to get it now. It is still a 4 which is really bad.... we have been listening to live reports from down in where it came on land and it was horrible... and there has been a death reported in Sarasota.. someone actually out driving in it ran off the road and hit a pole.

They have issued a stay put warning for all of Polk County now. Bozzy looks like we will get it worse than you but you will have the storm surge.. I hope you are ok.

I was in a typhoon in Hong Kong many many years ago "Typhoon Joe" and have been through category 3 hurricanes in New Bern about 8 years ago but nothing like this is expected to get for us.

I am shutting down lighting the candles and just waiting... please everyone I am not a religious person but please pray or cross your fingers or whatever for all the families in Florida that will have loss from this storm.

I know we all have our different storms in our parts of this world so everyone can understand and somewhat relate to this.

Good luck to all here in Florida.

Hey everyone... if you go to Bay News 9 website it will tell you what is going on here.... they just said Lakeland to Arcadia will be facing up to 120mph winds!! Wish us luck!!!

Friday the 13th Hurrican Charley threatened the Kingdom of the burn outs. Thankfully the mayor had just reed-up and there were plenty of buds for everyone. So instead of freaking out and going to stock up on water and food, citizens headed down the city hall and gathered as much chronic as possible and smoked their worries away. As should you. :p






///KOTBO prez...cara

We're all wishing you the best today, and our prayers are with you. Please let us know when you're safe!

Hey where do you live? I am in Sarasota right now. Was smei-bad. Winds got up to 109 mph. A few down trees, a few cars flipped, a few screens ripped. Not much damage. Power was down for like 4 hours here, but just came back on. How did you fair?

Info: Sarasota is central west Florida. It was perdicted to land here but went to the south. We got the Northwest band of wind, rain is about 2 inches where I am at, flooding to the west of me. I was talking on a phone with a pal in Arcadia when it was there. Seemed about same just wind was 120 mph and like 5 inches of rain. I got evacuated for a about an hour, till the local Florida National Guard got in and helped set up a closer safty area incase of a tornado. As well last storm like this was 1960 for west coast of Florida.

I'll upload a few pictures for you to see. Doesn't look as bad as it was.

My brother is down with my grandparents in Naples, about 1.5 miles from the beach, they go luck that the big storm surge didn't happen. They are in a new construction condo that was finished in March.

I believe Andrew was a cat 4 when it hit land, it was a cat 5 in the open ocean but dropped to 4 just before hitting land.

No Andrew was a 5 on land in Miami-Daton County.

I believe Andrew was a cat 4 when it hit land, it was a cat 5 in the open ocean but dropped to 4 just before hitting land.

IDF, the National Hurricane Center in Florida, when they looked back at it and used the technology of today, found that Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5! I'll dig up the article.

http://www.vefed.com/ussrns/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=3245#post3245
Don't want to use up my bandwidth so this is for USSR nations only. Heheh might work to get people into the region. I will use my brothers server soon for the rest to see.

According to the latest update, it now has sustained winds of 90 MPH! 15 miles SSW of Orlando and moving NNE at 25 MPH!

I heard it missed Tampa, but now I've heard that it hit Fort Myers. I have friends down there. I hope they're okay.

I heard it missed Tampa, but now I've heard that it hit Fort Myers. I have friends down there. I hope they're okay.

Well if it hit Fort Myers, Tampa Bay got hammered too! I hope your friends are ok Purly Euclid.

Well if it hit Fort Myers, Tampa Bay got hammered too! I hope your friends are ok Purly Euclid.
Thanks. Ft. Myers, btw, is about a hundred miles south of Tampa. I have family there. I guess Charlie knew my priorities :LOL:.

Thanks. Ft. Myers, btw, is about a hundred miles south of Tampa. I have family there. I guess Charlie knew my priorities :LOL:.

Still Tampa would've gotten hit from the outside bands and they were pretty rough probably by storm surge!

Btw, here's an article from the weather channel homepage

http://www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/

Its over Orlando now and moving towards Daytona Beach

Still Tampa would've gotten hit from the outside bands and they were pretty rough probably by storm surge!

Btw, here's an article from the weather channel homepage

http://www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/

Its over Orlando now and moving towards Daytona Beach
Yeah, I have a lot of friends and family across the state. I hope they're all okay.
But hey, they never complain when Upstate New York gets its annual blizzard. I never even hear about the Storm of the Century back in 1993, anymore.

why is it that people in the states live in such flimsy houses that gets torn apart by every hurricane that comes by. i mean, shouldn't the engineers and architects build stronger houses or something? do they not learn? i wonder...

hurricanes are hell for louisiana because we're under sea level. everytime a hurricane or a storm comes, you even have to worry about the dearly departed coming back if you know what i mean... anyway i wish you luck and god bless.

why is it that people in the states live in such flimsy houses that gets torn apart by every hurricane that comes by. i mean, shouldn't the engineers and architects build stronger houses or something? do they not learn? i wonder...
It's not because of the wind, but the water. Most homes destroyed are the coastal homes. There's no real defense against storm surge, other than to run away. There are sea wall, of course, but environmentalists bitch every time one of those things go up.

hurricanes are hell for louisiana because we're under sea level. everytime a hurricane or a storm comes, you even have to worry about the dearly departed coming back if you know what i mean... anyway i wish you luck and god bless.
I've heard that. Didn't Andrew barely miss New Orleans? It'd be a disaster if a strong hurricane ever hit that city. Its streets would flood, the port would be destroyed, and billions in damage would be left. I wonder, though, if there are enough evacuation routes from the city.

It's not because of the wind, but the water. Most homes destroyed are the coastal homes. There's no real defense against storm surge, other than to run away. There are sea wall, of course, but environmentalists bitch every time one of those things go up.

ah....well...don't live near the coast. if you know that every hurricane that comes around destroys your house, and you're rich enough to move, why do you still stay there???

ah....well...don't live near the coast. if you know that every hurricane that comes around destroys your house, and you're rich enough to move, why do you still stay there???
It's the lure of the ocean. 60% of Americans live about a hundred miles from the coastline, and oceanfront property is valuable. It's very nice to be on a private beach, listening to the surf all day, reading a book and drinking a magahrita. Besides, they have insurance.

I've heard that. Didn't Andrew barely miss New Orleans? It'd be a disaster if a strong hurricane ever hit that city. Its streets would flood, the port would be destroyed, and billions in damage would be left. I wonder, though, if there are enough evacuation routes from the city.in new orleans, it would be a disaster if a strong hurricane hit. if a hurricane comes, you'd best be on your way. there's two evacuation routes. one to the northeast which brings you to mississippi and one to the northwest that keeps you in louisiana, but the farther north the better. we used to live in grand isle (a small island a few miles south of new orleans) but we moved to southwest louisiana because hurricane andrew really sucked for grand isle.

in new orleans, it would be a disaster if a strong hurricane hit. if a hurricane comes, you'd best be on your way. there's two evacuation routes. one to the northeast which brings you to mississippi and one to the northwest that keeps you in louisiana, but the farther north the better. we used to live in grand isle (a small island a few miles south of new orleans) but we moved to southwest louisiana because hurricane andrew really sucked for grand isle.
So it came that close? That's pretty scarry. I hope, however, that these two evacuation routes are sufficient.
I remember a few years ago, when a hurricane (can't remember the name) barely missed Long Island. It'd also be a disaster if it hit. It's well above sea level, but their are three bridges off the Island, and all of them are in New York. They're impossible to cross during rush hour, let alone during a massive evacuation. Hundreds could have lost their lives there.

I was around for Andrew too, just north of New Orleans--we were without power afterwards for nearly a week. We were lucky. If Andrew hadn't weakened by bitchslapping south Florida around, who knows what kind of damage it would have done.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,128993,00.html

Looks like there is a high Death Toll :(

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/08/14/storms/index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5653487/
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3QLS3GE4QGGUICRBAELCFFA?type=topNews&storyID=5975926

My prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Charlie!

90 mph wind, out of my family room glass doors
http://www.vefed.com/ussrns/images/random/hurricane/MOV04258.mpeg
109 mph wind, out my bathroom window
http://www.vefed.com/ussrns/images/random/hurricane/MOV04261.mpeg
Birds have strong legs....I think it was 90 mph.
http://www.vefed.com/ussrns/images/random/hurricane/MOV04272.mpeg
Some videos, yeah....will only be up for a few days.

Sarasota got lucky, no real damage, but our houses were built for hurricanes.

I was around for Andrew too, just north of New Orleans--we were without power afterwards for nearly a week. We were lucky. If Andrew hadn't weakened by bitchslapping south Florida around, who knows what kind of damage it would have done.

I think Andrew did a little more than bitchslap Florida- more like drop-kicked. :(

Wow. Charley made ever forecaster I saw look stupid. The first course had it coming right at us in Tampa Bay. But Charley makes a sharp eastward turn and screws everybody up. I live in Southeast Hillsborough County (The one with Tampa in it) and Charley wasn't any worse than our normal afternoon showers. Lot of damage in Cape Coral, just east of Ft. Myers. Heard their airport was almost totally destroyed. Good luck with rebuilding.

i saw the footage, and saw rows and rows of WOODEN houses destroyed. BUILD YOUR HOUSES FROM CONCRETE, O MOST INDUSTRIALISED NATION IN THE WORLD!

Well we had damage at my house in Lakeland. Nothing to the house just a lot of trees down in the yard. I hope everyone and their loves ones are ok. I hope Bozzy is ok has anybody heard from him?

Well we had damage at my house in Lakeland. Nothing to the house just a lot of trees down in the yard. I hope everyone and their loves ones are ok. I hope Bozzy is ok has anybody heard from him?

I haven't yet :(

I also haven't heard from Biff Pileon either :(

I and my family are OK. This is my first chance to access a computer that is not heavily filtered all week. Thank you all for your concern and prayers.

My home was more than a little damaged, but it could have been much worse. I have photos to post, but cannot from here due to time and access issues.

I am using a Library PC with a 30 minute time limit. I am near the end of my time. I've been emailing family and friends.

I have shared pictures with them. The universal reply from them is that the TV does not convey the same sense of destruction as my photos.

All things considered Charlotte County is pulling through this with remarkable strength and fortitude.

I just got the 'time up' waive, sorry, gotta go, back again soon.
(Trying out my new dial-up modem tonight from the house I have borrowed)