Posted on 09/05/2004 3:09:18 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Just letting those know on here from the hurricane threads that I am fine here in Palm Bay,Florida. We encountered 110 mph winds for a few hrs but for the most part were sustained around between 70-90 mph for the duration of the storm.
Neighbors lost their roof's,lot's of tree damage around here...tons as a matter of fact,traffic lights out everywhere,a few structure collapse's,broken windows etc...
Rain believe it or not was not and still is not an issue yet. We got a total of 5 inches max in the last 30 hrs. The dry air that entered the storm from the gulf made it heavy dry winds mixed with very light showers.
We NEVER lost our power once. Local marina's are all flooded and or destroyed completely. About 7 yachts valued around 3-10 million each are currently sitting in the Indian Atlantic River if anyone care's to go pick one up out of the water.
It currently is winds about 40 mph...with sporadic showers. Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center is most likely in very very bad shape. But nobody has been over there yet with a chopper because they are getting pounded STILL at 6:07 PM.
The surge was half of what we expected. Trailer parks have heavy damage as expected.
That is pretty much it for now. 80% of the county is without power...I guess I am one of the lucky one's.
I will report whatever else I hear or see. Bottom line is...we lucked out regardless. If this would have been a strong 3 or 4...there would be nothing left.
Thanks for reporting in. A lot of us are worried about you folks in Florida. And NOW you've got Ivan on the way! Good luck.
Stay safe!
Glad to hear you're okay. PHEW! Whadda day!
Thank you for the report. I'm glad you are alright.
Have you heard anything about Kissimmee FL?
Exactly where ARE you that you can use your computer, etc? Just wondering how you managed to get to us...
Thank heaven! We are concerned for all the Florida residents and hope that everyone is safe and well. Boats and roofs can be replaced, people cannot.
Logan (by his Nana)
Glad you are OK.
They are saying this may be the costliest natural disaster in US history.
Yes, Kissimmee did not get hit as hard this time compared to Charley. They got 70 mph winds to near 80 in gusts. But from what I understand from friends over there the really rough winds ended at Holopaw and Harmony which is just outside of St.Cloud. Harmony got 85 mph sustained.
Right before you get to Exit 71..about 2 miles east of 95. Power is on in my house and cable..just ZERO cellular service.
St.Lucie/Stuart/Vero Beach is where this one socked it. Being in the north quad of the storm and we got within 5 miles or so of the eye eventually..it got crazy for a bit there.
Glad you're okay, MFH. You can relax for a while until Ivan.
We been worried 'boutchya!
Glad to hear everything is ok. It sounded touch and go for a few days there and not Ivan is eyeing you. Take care.
Did anyone see that bozo CNN reporter last night? Before anything hit, he was out there taking a step back and a step forward like he was going to be blown away any second. The only problem was the trees were hardly blowing, his rain coat wasn't flapping, and the camera guy was steady as could be moving the camera side to side staying up with the reporters antics. Barf, what a lying jerk. That's the Clinton News Network for ya.
Thank you very much. I have a son and his family there. Have a great a day as you can in a storm.
I'm on the other side of the state north of Tampa at the "gentler, kinder" end of the storm path. So far have had the top of a huge sycamore get blown off and come down on the back of the house, but no apparent damage though since its lower limbs broke its fall. Will sharpen up the chainsaw and see later. When wind-powered sycamore balls hit a house it sounds like a drive-by shooting.
Have one pine tree leaning sharply over and it's anyone's guess if that will squash one of my outbuildings. A massive foot-thick wisteria vine "trunk" appears to be holding it up... so far. If the pine doesn't get deflected by another tree on the way down it might safely collapse in the feild. If it doesn't come down all the way it's going to look really stupid.
All the other pines holding up very well to my surprise but they have been cleaned nicely of old needles. I will have a LOT of mulch and pine cones to rake up. The pines have been dropping monster pine cones like bomblets.
Palm trees are solid. Maples lost some minor limbs, banana trees are flattened but I can just push them back in place later. They would make a nice background for some of these weather reporters at that angle.
During one big squall a hummingbird was frantically cruising around trying to find something to eat- I give him three stars for perseverence as he had quite a time lining up on what's left of the flowers. He's going to want a cold frosty beer after a workout like that.
A flock of 13 wild turkeys has been making the rounds - I notice they are staying clear of any big trees and out in the open. I put some seed out during a lull and the songbirds are going after it like sharks.
Power's gone out but only temporarily.
Rain has been steady but not even as hard as the typical gulleywasher, though if this is prolonged it could get annoying. We may have an area of wind yet to go though though, and who knows what it'll do over the Gulf yet.
I'm thankful this thing lost so much steam. I can only imagine what it would have done had it held its strength.
Glad you are OK and I hope few others were hurt by this storm.
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