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Florida doesn't look good!
- Thread starter gajinoz
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My aunt and uncle got hit pretty hard. They lost the roof to their garage and part of the house. Windows blown in, water damage, no power. My uncles Harley is nowhere to be found. They are doing fine and are unhurt. Right now they are in the clean up and rebuilding stage. I have a good feeling that we will be seeing the military step in and offer assistance as they did after Hurricane Andrew back in 1993 which I was able to take part in.gajinoz said:
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I really feel terrible for them too. 
My aunt Carmella and uncle John live in Port Charlotte, Florida. My grandmother finally reached them yesterday evening by telephone. They're staying with their daughter in Tampa right now. Their home was damaged but not destroyed. Right now they don't have any electricity or water available. My cousin Ralph, on the other hand, didn't fare as well. The storm ripped the entire roof off of his house. He and his family also live in Port Charlotte, Florida.
It's crazy when you think about it. The storm trackers were telling us that the storm was headed right towards Tampa. I was worried about my cousin, in Tampa, getting hit not my aunt. I'm wondering if my cousin stayed put in Tampa or ran to Port Charlotte to get out of its path. I'm wondering how many people ran to Port Charlotte to get out of the storm's path.
That's probably what I would've done. You wouldn't run North since the storm is moving North. You'd move South. Then the storm hits further South than anticipated.
I always worry about all of the people in the mobile homes. My husband and I were trying to think of anyone we know who lives in one so that we could call them and invite them over here. Most everyone we could think of had family in the area living in stronger structures. Surely, they went to stay with their family. The ones we could think of weren't answering their telephone so they must have gone somewhere else. A lot of elderly people live in mobile homes as well. It terrifies me to think about how scared and alone they must have felt when the storm was right on top of them.
My aunt Carmella and uncle John live in Port Charlotte, Florida. My grandmother finally reached them yesterday evening by telephone. They're staying with their daughter in Tampa right now. Their home was damaged but not destroyed. Right now they don't have any electricity or water available. My cousin Ralph, on the other hand, didn't fare as well. The storm ripped the entire roof off of his house. He and his family also live in Port Charlotte, Florida. It's crazy when you think about it. The storm trackers were telling us that the storm was headed right towards Tampa. I was worried about my cousin, in Tampa, getting hit not my aunt. I'm wondering if my cousin stayed put in Tampa or ran to Port Charlotte to get out of its path. I'm wondering how many people ran to Port Charlotte to get out of the storm's path.
That's probably what I would've done. You wouldn't run North since the storm is moving North. You'd move South. Then the storm hits further South than anticipated. I always worry about all of the people in the mobile homes.
My husband and I were trying to think of anyone we know who lives in one so that we could call them and invite them over here. Most everyone we could think of had family in the area living in stronger structures. Surely, they went to stay with their family. The ones we could think of weren't answering their telephone so they must have gone somewhere else. A lot of elderly people live in mobile homes as well. It terrifies me to think about how scared and alone they must have felt when the storm was right on top of them. 
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
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- 3,411
While I hope no-one here has been too badly affected by the events in Florida, perhaps we could spare a thought for for the inhabitants and holidaymakers in Cornwall, which was devastated overnight by freak floods. According to the latest TV news, there are still 15 people unnaccounted for in the village of Boscastle.
Over 100 People were airlifted out last night by RAF helicopters and they are busy again today.
http://www.channel4.com/news/2004/08/week_3/16_bude.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3571844.stm
These reports give little idea of the scale of the devastation as currently being broadcast on TV.
Andrew.
Over 100 People were airlifted out last night by RAF helicopters and they are busy again today.
http://www.channel4.com/news/2004/08/week_3/16_bude.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3571844.stm
These reports give little idea of the scale of the devastation as currently being broadcast on TV.
Andrew.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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- Apr 6, 2000
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That's a scary thought.
I hope they do locate everyone and find they're all right. It's hard to imagine being outside in something like that.
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A.W.U.K.,
I will pray for the people in Cornwall. I sincerely hope that the losses are as minimal as possible. Please keep us informed.
I was talking to my mother earlier about the Florida hurricane. She actually spoke with my aunt Carmella so she was able to give me some more information about their experience. My aunt and her family wound up riding out the storm in their home in Port Charlotte. She said that the Florida weather forecasters did say that the storm might hit Port Charlotte a couple of hours before it hit. However, the national weather service was saying that the storm was going to hit Tampa (about 70 miles North of Port Charlotte.) They were getting mixed information so they called the national weather service hotline and asked which was correct Tampa or Port Charlotte. They were told that the Florida forecasters were wrong, and they had the most accurate information. It wasn't until about 30 minutes before the storm hit shore that the national weather service changed its tune. This is the story that we're getting from her. I cannot remember myself when the information changed, but I do remember it changed rather suddenly. Anyhow, 30 minutes notice wasn't sufficient to do anything more than hunker down and pray. So that's what they did. Apparently, it was a terrifying experience for all.
I think this is important information for anyone living in areas affected by hurricanes. I remember living on Hutchinson Island when Hurricane Andrew hit and the Coast Guard station up the street told us that we had to leave because the storm was headed our way. They said that they were tracking the storm and swore by that information. It wound up hitting about 90 miles south in Homestead, Florida. Depending upon where you are located you only usually have two choices...North or South. Most of the time East or West is too much of a gamble. The next question is how far? At this point I'm thinking that the storm can hit anywhere within 100 miles along the coastline from the anticipated point of entry. That leaves a lot of room for error.
I must add that I am very impressed at the job they are doing down there in Port Charlotte. They seem to be very much on the ball when it comes to issues like looting and price gouging. This was a BIG problem during hurricane Andrew. They also seem to be providing good feedback to the homeowners relative to the costs associated with fixing their damaged homes and businesses as well as methods for identifying trustworthy contractors. This was another problem following Hurricane Andrew where scam artists came in with extreme prices and half of them didn't even finish the jobs. As if these poor people haven't been through enough already, it really sickens me to think that people would take advantage of others' misfortunes in such a disgusting manner. :barf:
I'm also really impressed by the news story of the mobile home complex manager who went door to door before the storm literally scurrying people off to the local shelters. That particular complex was devastated by the storm. That man probably saved many lives that day. It's amazing how much one man can accomplish.
I will pray for the people in Cornwall. I sincerely hope that the losses are as minimal as possible. Please keep us informed.
I was talking to my mother earlier about the Florida hurricane. She actually spoke with my aunt Carmella so she was able to give me some more information about their experience. My aunt and her family wound up riding out the storm in their home in Port Charlotte. She said that the Florida weather forecasters did say that the storm might hit Port Charlotte a couple of hours before it hit. However, the national weather service was saying that the storm was going to hit Tampa (about 70 miles North of Port Charlotte.) They were getting mixed information so they called the national weather service hotline and asked which was correct Tampa or Port Charlotte. They were told that the Florida forecasters were wrong, and they had the most accurate information. It wasn't until about 30 minutes before the storm hit shore that the national weather service changed its tune. This is the story that we're getting from her. I cannot remember myself when the information changed, but I do remember it changed rather suddenly. Anyhow, 30 minutes notice wasn't sufficient to do anything more than hunker down and pray. So that's what they did. Apparently, it was a terrifying experience for all.
I think this is important information for anyone living in areas affected by hurricanes. I remember living on Hutchinson Island when Hurricane Andrew hit and the Coast Guard station up the street told us that we had to leave because the storm was headed our way. They said that they were tracking the storm and swore by that information. It wound up hitting about 90 miles south in Homestead, Florida. Depending upon where you are located you only usually have two choices...North or South. Most of the time East or West is too much of a gamble. The next question is how far? At this point I'm thinking that the storm can hit anywhere within 100 miles along the coastline from the anticipated point of entry. That leaves a lot of room for error.
I must add that I am very impressed at the job they are doing down there in Port Charlotte. They seem to be very much on the ball when it comes to issues like looting and price gouging. This was a BIG problem during hurricane Andrew. They also seem to be providing good feedback to the homeowners relative to the costs associated with fixing their damaged homes and businesses as well as methods for identifying trustworthy contractors. This was another problem following Hurricane Andrew where scam artists came in with extreme prices and half of them didn't even finish the jobs. As if these poor people haven't been through enough already, it really sickens me to think that people would take advantage of others' misfortunes in such a disgusting manner. :barf:
I'm also really impressed by the news story of the mobile home complex manager who went door to door before the storm literally scurrying people off to the local shelters. That particular complex was devastated by the storm. That man probably saved many lives that day. It's amazing how much one man can accomplish.
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Some very narrow escapes but so far, extraordinarily, no bodies found.
Strange how this happened on the anniversary of the similar Lynmouth flood of 1952, in which 12 people died.
We are used to seeing pictures of disasters around the world but we are really not used to it in this country.
Andrew.
Strange how this happened on the anniversary of the similar Lynmouth flood of 1952, in which 12 people died.
We are used to seeing pictures of disasters around the world but we are really not used to it in this country.
Andrew.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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- 90,915
I don't believe most people realize just how densely populated many areas now are, and a lot of the density is relatively recent. Europe went through catastrophic flooding and much of the pain was because there are just so many more people in overbuilt areas: natural drainage has been all but eliminated and replaced by entirely inadequate sewers. We saw the same problem where I used to live north of New York City.
Florida is an extreme example. The population growth there has been explosive, the physical environment is naturally low-lying if not swamp, and the normally mild weather leads to flimsier home construction.
Storms of equal strength years ago and today would do many times the damage today because there is simply so much more to damage.
Florida is an extreme example. The population growth there has been explosive, the physical environment is naturally low-lying if not swamp, and the normally mild weather leads to flimsier home construction.
Storms of equal strength years ago and today would do many times the damage today because there is simply so much more to damage.
What the people who were devastated by the hurricane don't need now (and have in spades) is tourists and "thrill-seekers" driving through to take pictures and tie up the local phone system calling their buddies in (fill in the blank) to describe what they are seeing. Wouldn't mind reading that the National Guard has stepped in to fix that particular problem.
Everyone I know who lives in Florida came out okay - my nephew, my mother-in-law and several brother-in-laws. M-I-L lives outside of Live Oak in the panhandle in a mobile home but it has (so far) endured the weather up there. The house my grandfather built in Lake county back in the early 1920s has been through numerous bad weather situations and has survived them.
As Esav mentioned, the problem is people building houses in areas that are not naturally meant to have high population density. Combine that with "hurricane resistant" construction that Hurricane Andrew proved was not up to a force 5 hurricane and an infra-structure that is ill prepared to deal with disaster and it is not a good thing.
One note, if approached to donate to people down there, make sure the person/organization you are dealing with is legitimate. We had a woman of color and her 2 small children hustling people here in Arkansas for donations to the victims of Hurricane Andrew. When I requested her credentials, she gathered the children up and hauled ass. I find that sort of thing to be beyond repulsive, not to mention what ethics she was "teaching" her children. They were about 6 and 8 years old.........
Everyone I know who lives in Florida came out okay - my nephew, my mother-in-law and several brother-in-laws. M-I-L lives outside of Live Oak in the panhandle in a mobile home but it has (so far) endured the weather up there. The house my grandfather built in Lake county back in the early 1920s has been through numerous bad weather situations and has survived them.
As Esav mentioned, the problem is people building houses in areas that are not naturally meant to have high population density. Combine that with "hurricane resistant" construction that Hurricane Andrew proved was not up to a force 5 hurricane and an infra-structure that is ill prepared to deal with disaster and it is not a good thing.
One note, if approached to donate to people down there, make sure the person/organization you are dealing with is legitimate. We had a woman of color and her 2 small children hustling people here in Arkansas for donations to the victims of Hurricane Andrew. When I requested her credentials, she gathered the children up and hauled ass. I find that sort of thing to be beyond repulsive, not to mention what ethics she was "teaching" her children. They were about 6 and 8 years old.........